What is one objective of the Promotion System?

The objective of the Promotion System is primarily to maintain needed strength in each grade and Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). This ensures that the organization has the appropriate number of personnel at each level, equipped with the necessary skills and qualifications to fulfill operational needs effectively. By doing so, it helps to ensure a balanced force capable of meeting mission requirements, which is critical for operational readiness.

Promotions based solely on seniority or without qualification assessments could lead to inefficiencies and potentially diminish the overall capability of the unit, while promoting all Marines equally would ignore the varying levels of performance and skill among individuals. Therefore, the Promotion System's design is centered around sustaining an effective and capable force rather than distributing promotions uniformly or based purely on time served.