If you are active duty at the time then you will be considered for promotion and most likely pick it up. Remember the boards meet well before you actually promote. And then a message comes out with your promotion date. Should you be out the that message will not include you but another exactly same msg will come out on the Reserve side of the house. You will not promote ahead of schedule just cause you are getting out. I have seen a dude put on 0-4 a week before he was getting out. The system in regards to promotion is smart. As hard as I try, I still can't get lost in the voids. BOL is about the only one piece of automation that does what it is suppose to. Although be patient with Correspondence Courses (IRR Points) because it does take it a long time to 'find' those.