At what level of promotion are a Sergeant and Staff Sergeant typically promoted?

The correct answer is that a Sergeant and Staff Sergeant are typically promoted at the semi-centralized level. In the Army's promotion system, semi-centralized promotion is designated for these ranks, meaning that while some aspects of the promotion process happen at the unit level, it is still subject to oversight and guidance from higher levels of command.

This level allows for local commanders to have input into the promotion process, ensuring that the candidates being recommended for promotion are suitable and meet the necessary requirements. However, it also ensures that these promotions are vetted through a semi-centralized system to maintain consistent standards across the Army.

The other options—decentralized, centralized, and unit-based—do not accurately describe the promotion process for these ranks. For example, decentralized promotions would imply that there is no oversight from higher-level authority, which does not reflect the semi-centralized nature of Sergeant and Staff Sergeant promotions. Centralized promotions, in contrast, apply to higher ranks where a selection board at a higher command level makes the promotion decisions. Unit-based might suggest that promotions are solely made at the unit level without higher accountability, which again does not apply here.