Cadet Promotions

The Cadet Battalion Commander {BnCmdr} has the responsibility to assemble and conduct the Cadets Promotion Board. Before the board opens the BnCmdr will provide specific instructions to board members, reminding them the importance of their responsibilities. It takes Board Members 5-7 days, meeting before and after school to complete their board responsibilities. Promotion Board Members are comprised of 30-cadets from the battalion, company, and platoon leadership teams. They are tasked in selecting the best qualified cadets for each rank. 

Platoon Commanders from each platoon will brief the status of every cadet to the Promotion Board. This is their opportunity to provide evidence about each cadet under evaluation and give specific information to the Promotion Board why their cadet should receive a promotion. During this process, board members can become very competitive. This tests Platoon Commanders ability to communicate their thoughts effectively. After each briefing Board Members will vote, Yes or No to approve or not approve a promotion, this is easier said than done. The Promotion Board must reach a majority vote for cadets to earn a promotion. At Southeast Academy there are nine focus areas the Promotion Board will use to evaluate each cadet. Each focus area is worth 100-points, we call this point system the cadets cutting score. A reporting period equals one school quarter or 10-weeks. Cadets will earn a new cutting score after each reporting period. The Southeast Academy Board Members will primarily focus on the following areas: 

• Academics & GPA
• Attendance & Tardy
• Teachers, Counselors & Staff Remarks
• Platoon Leaders Evaluation
• Leadership Responsibilities and Observations
• Proficiencies and conduct on and off campus
• Physical Fitness Score
• Graded Uniform Inspections
• Daily morning Inspections

*Recommendations and comments from board members are also considered during the open dialog session.

Cadets are evaluated on the following categories:

• Academic achievement
• Attendance
• Physical training
• Daily and graded inspections
• Leadership abilities
• Community service
• Recommendations from their chain of command and teaching staff.

Cadets can earn extra points if they earn any ribbons during the reporting period.  We call this point system the “Cadet Cutting Score.”

To be eligible for the ranks Cadet Second Class (CSC) and Cadet First Class (CFC), cadets must pass all their classes with a minimum 2.0 GPA and have a qualifying cutting score. To be a Corporal and above cadets must pass all their class with a minimum 3.0 GPA, with a qualifying cutting score.

There are additional opportunities cadets can source to increase their status to be competitive among their peers. Memorizing Leadership Traits will earn cadets 60 bonus points towards their cutting score. Memorizing Southeast Academy Creed is an additional 100 points. Every community service event a cadet attends, or ribbon earned, an additional 20 points will be added to the cadet's cutting score. There is no limit on community service events, or ribbons cadets can earn during a reporting period.

Cadets will learn hard work, commitment and consistency is what's needed to earn a promotion. 

The Academy holds four promotions each year, one each quarter. However, Cadets can be promoted at any time based on merit. A notification letter is sent home 24-48 hours before the promotion date.

During the ceremony, the Director pins the right side of the Cadet’s uniform collar, while the Cadet can choose someone to pin the left side.

The number of promotions per rank is determined by the Director, based on the Academy's needs.

For those cadets who did not receive a promotion, please know many cadets who earned a promotion understand exactly how that feels. Cadet leadership teams will be working with those cadets reflecting and answering questions like: "Why wasn't I promoted?" "What could I have done differently?"

Leadership teams will reflect on daily performances, academics, attendance, and leadership qualities. We want to teach cadets how to seek support. Retrospect offers cadets the opportunity to make corrections and stay away from internalizing the experience as "I'm not good enough to earn a promotion." Knowing how to deal with disappointment and having an action plan is a bounce back plan for success.