NCO Career

Non-commissioned Officer Career

An active NCO of Armed Forces is the Albanian citizen who has completed the high or university education, the respective NCO training, and has sworn the military oath. A professional soldier/seaman is the Albanian citizen who has completed high or university education, compulsory active military service, or respective professional course (basic training) and has sworn the military oath.

Level of Designation	Land/Air Force Rank	Navy Force Rank
NCO	Sergeant Major	Senior Chief Petty Officer
	Staff Sergeant	Chief Petty Officer
	Sergeant	Petty Officer 1st Class
	Corporal	Petty Officer 2nd Class
	Private First Class	Petty Officer 3rd Class

Soldier	Private E-1	Seaman
	Private E-2	Seaman Apprentice
	Enlisted	Seaman Recruit

The maximal and minimal time of service at a rank to promote to the next one is:

Rank Land/Air Force	Rank Navy Force	Max/min. years of service
Enlisted	Seaman Recruit	9 months/1 year
Private E-2	Seaman Apprentice	1 year/6 years
Private E-1	Seaman	1 year/6 years
Private First Class	Petty Officer 3rd Class	4 year/12 years
Corporal	Petty Officer 2nd Class	4 year/20 years
Sergeant	Petty Officer 1st Class	5 year/22 years
Staff Sergeant	Chief Petty Officer	5 year/27 years
Sergeant Major	Senior Chief Petty Officer	/30 years

The military NCO is eligible for next promotion when he/she fulfils the following conditions:

a)    Time limit of service at a rank;
b)    Required education and qualification in military and civilian schools and courses;
c)    Yearly work performance results.

NCOs aspiring to rise to a higher rank have the right to be considered and evaluated by rank and career commissions for each rank only 1 (one) time.

The education and qualification criteria to promote to a higher rank are:

Actual Rank	Next Rank	Qualification	Duration
Recruit/ Seaman Recruit	Private E-2/ Seaman Apprentice	Basic Individual Training (SIB)	9 weeks
Private E-2/ Seaman Apprentice	Private E-1/Seaman	Advanced Individual Training (SIA)	Institutional/Functional
Private E-1/Seaman	Private First Class/ Petty Officer 3rd Class	Elementary Course	9 weeks
Private First Class/ Petty Officer 3rd Class	Corporal/ Petty Officer 2nd Class	Basic Course	13 weeks
Corporal/ Petty Officer 2nd Class	Sergeant/ Petty Officer 1st Class	Advanced Course	10 weeks
Sergeant/ Petty Officer 1st Class	Staff Sergeant/ Chief Petty Officer	Senior Course	16 weeks
Staff Sergeant/ Chief Petty Officer	Sergeant Major/ Senior Chief Petty Officer	Sergeant Major Course	6-8 weeks