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I fought this for quite some time. So many factors go into this decision. First is how happy you are as a SGT. Your Tour, your Overtime, your Commute, the LT/CAPT you work for, how many years do you have left. These are all factors that no one here can be able to differentiate for you. Can you take a day of anytime you want? If you have all the above working for you then take SSA. Because ultimately youre giving up all that as soon as youre promoted. I had it all. I wanted to stay and grab SSA. But you know what I learned? At any moment, it can all change. New CO and youre replaced. Or they move you to an office that destroys your commute. A new LT comes you dont work well with. Anything. Then you realize that maybe you shouldve took the promotion but itll be too late. You can always get back to where you want to be logistically as a LT, just gotta give it time. So unless youre set for life where you are, dont pass up the promotion. At the end of the day, the pay isnt that much different, and both take 3 years to top pay.

i think it relies heavily on how much time you have one.. if you aren't going to stick it out till top pay LT + 1 year (at minimum) then maybe stay SDS/SSA. Most tier 3 should almost always take a promotion. Higher base pay = higher pension ultimately.