Promotion Denied Due To Deployment.

Location: Florida, US.
Hi all. Title says the broad statement but I have more context below.

I am currently enlisted in the Florida Army National Guard. We normally drill 1-2 days a month. I however am also a Federal Technician/ Surface maintainer at a FMS (Field Maintenance Shop) where I work on military vehicles full time with Federal Employment under Title 32.

I started the technician program about two years ago and I’ve been on time never written up or had any infractions in those two years. I performed all my duties to the standard while volunteering for orders for the shop where others couldn’t and going to schools as much as I can that would benefit my career in the shop. As well all of my reviews/appraisals have all been to standard on a scale rating of 1-5 always being above 3/5. I perform 3 additional duties as well at my shop which in the position I applied for normally does 1 or 2.

I am soon to be deployed in about a month or so and my boss has been aware as soon as I had volunteered for it. A slot opened up also for a direct promotion in my job as a mechanic. I applied immediately and interviewed and felt like I did really good on the interview. I answered all the questions to the best of my ability, and I felt pretty confident. We were told we’d know by June 17 who was selected. June 17th passed and we were never told who was selected.

Some more context is that the other person who has applied is unanimously agreed upon in the shop to have poor work ethic. I’m not going to bash the guy of course since none of this was his fault but general consensus in the shop was that I easily had the position.

Friday June 26, 2026 at 3:01 pm I was called into the office to speak with my boss.

While in the office I was informed of my passing over of the WG-10 Slot. When I inquired as to why he proceeded to state that (other employee) was chosen and acknowledged to the fact of (other employees) shortcomings and poor work ethic attributing to his decision. He then states hypocritically he based this not off experience nor work ethic. My boss proceeded to state that the decision was heavily based on the fact I was deploying away from the shop for a year as the main cause of my denial for promotion. The conversation was as such in a paraphrased conversation that is 99% accurate:

Boss: “I wanted to talk to you about the WG-10 position and you were probably wondering who was selected and after thinking on it I have chosen (Other employee) as the 10.”

Me: “Alright boss.”

Boss: “ I know I’m aware of (Other employee) as a shit bag, I hear it from (Inspector) and everyone else about him sitting in the back on his phone and such. He was just an E-4 and what E-4 really wasn’t a shit bag? Everyone is on their phones, we all do it. Now that he’s picked up E-5 (SGT) he hopefully should pick up some speed and straighten out. This decision wasn’t personal, or to jab at anyone but the decision came down on the shops future in the next 6months to a year. This wasn’t based on experience nor personal reasons of course but your deployment weighed the decision heavily.” I don’t want to see (other employees name) spiral down the drain if you got promoted and we are at the new shop while you’re deployed. I want to mentor him and advise him so that doesn’t happen.”

Me: “Alright boss, but say if I wasn’t deployed would I have been chosen?”
Boss: “I can’t really say that, but it did weigh heavily into deciding the decision for the 10.”

I then proceed to finish up at work, and leave at the usual 4:30 time frame. I didn’t speak up at the time because I believed if I were to speak up I’d get emotionally charged and wanted to save any other future conversation for when my head was clear with what I need to do.

I really feel discouraged and disappointed in the decision made and I feel that me picking up additional duties, volunteering and working my ass off coming up to this was all for nothing. I’ve never been written up, talked to about my performance, or scored under standard on any review or appraisal and now I feel my rights are being violated. Is there anything I can really do in this situation without written statement to my denial of promotion?

Edit: I originally stated it was a lateral promotion. I used the wrong word to describe it as it was a promotion of my current job.

Update: Hi everyone. I’ve decided that after researching into it and then seeing everyone’s perspectives and responses in this thread that the best course of action would be to sit this out. Did not getting the promotion suck? Yeah. Did what my boss do and say suck? Yeah, I think so. Is it the end of the world? No. I still have my job and career in the FLNG and I’d honestly like to keep it that way to continue supporting myself and my family. I try to be optimistic towards life so hopefully another position opens up when I return from deployment who knows. Thank you guys for your thoughts and replies.