They don't promote like the active army does. Active Army you go in front of a promotion board full of 1st Seargents and your Battalion Seargent Major. After being grilled with quesitons on basically everything, you get a score from the board. If you have enough points the month those become active (meaning you passed the board) you get your rank you earned. The Guard uses a "slot" like system. No slot = No rank. Not to mention you have the buddy buddy system working in the National Guard too. But like everywhere politics and ass kissing can get you far...............to a point.