Posted on Jul 1, 2016
SSG Instructor/Writer
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Posted in these groups: 79ad2ecb Promotion PointsArmysgt SGTArmyssg SSG
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1SG Bn Ssa
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Instead of promotion boards we should have technical and tactical tests. Soldiers should have to prove that they are up to the task of becoming a leader. I've been on boards where I recognize the name being boarded and know this Soldiers to truly be a piece of garbage but his NCOERs make him look like he walks on water. The promotion system is broken and has been for a long time. The most squared away Soldiers can be stuck in MOS's that just do not promote. And the unit's refuse to reclass them to another MOS because they are mission critical. So until the powers that be revamp the system we will continue to look over qualified leaders and promote dumbasses just because they are in a certain MOS that is easy to get picked up.
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SSG Recruiter
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
I completely agree with technical and tactical tests. We should want to see how a Soldier performs in a given situation, how well a Soldier knows his/her job. I wish it were easy enough to conduct scenario based training as part of the evaluation. Throw the Soldier in a situation, see how they handle it, what actions they take, and the reasoning they used to decide on the actions they took. It'd give so much more insight on the readiness of the Soldier to possess a higher level of responsibility as they move through the ranks. I do see improvement made on the new NCOER to help with the "walks on water" epidemic, though. Hopefully more good changes are to follow!
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SSG Robert White
SSG Robert White
>1 y
So what would be the tactical skill for a Cryptanalyst (Code Breaker). He/She works for NSA. Only 20% of forces are combat arms. Even though the Army has supposedly taken the USMC's attitude that everyone is an infantryman. That is the theory, but not the reality. I don't see pilots, or JAG officers being used as infantry soldiers. The reality with a insurgent conflict with no FEBA, everyone is expected to man a post, do security patrols and respond with their firearms if attacked. Having worked for the Army Wounded Warrior Program at Walter Reed (2008-2010), the most causalities were from the Non-Combat Arm's individuals. When I was RA (this is the old MOS) I left as a 98C3T9 (EW/SIGINT Analyst/EW/Cryptologic Cryptanalyst). Though I started out a AR as a 11C1 in Co A, 2nd Bn, 11 SF (this is about 8 yrs before the 18 series came out). Other than DnC, neither one of these jobs has nothing common. How would you screen for both and be fair?
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SFC Cannon Crew Member
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
A lot of MOS's already have tests in place for certification purposes.
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SGT John Adam Prolo
SGT John Adam Prolo
8 y
That's exactly what happened to me. I was an E-5 in for 15 years and 8 months. Because I was in a shitty MOS and the cutoff score never dropped below 798. But, the Army kept bringing in 52C's I seen one of the guys that worked for me ended up able to retire with 20 years. The only good thing I have to remind me that I was in the Army is 50% disability from jumping out of Airplanes and my 10% discount I get at Lowes and Home Depot.
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SSG Small Group Leader
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I personally hate promotion boards. Any shitbag can memorize a creed, some questions, and some general info for a day. How many NCO's have you met that can't do there job? How many times have you wondered "How the fuck did this person get promoted." I've seen people buddy buddy, kiss ass, and many other methods to the top. I feel a Soldier should be promoted based off performance of those who see them perform on a daily basis and for combat NCO's a field environment as well. I've met many deployed grunts that I wouldn't pick to be on my laser tag team and some squared away people who just never got the chance to earn that combat patch.
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SSG Robert Webster
SSG Robert Webster
>1 y
SSG (Join to see) - Did you know that you can edit your comments/remarks after they are posted? Re-visit one of your comments (using a computer/not a smart phone), such as this one and look just above the Vote Up item in your comment and you should see the word Edit, Click on it.
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SSG Small Group Leader
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz - Please tell me where I said everyone is a shitbag? All I stated was there are people who get promoted that don't perform up to par but obviously you are reaching to find drama in my reply. If you feel that every NCO with stripes deserves their stripe then you have been lucky enough to have great people in your unit. No one has every been under my thumb and I have sent many deserving Soldiers to the promotion board. On another note I don't give 2 fucks how you feel about me my only concern is with the Soldiers to my left and right not someone who makes an assumption via the Internet.
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SGT Robert Vollentine
SGT Robert Vollentine
>1 y
SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz - This response is the perfect example of how an E-5 thinks vs a SGT...
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SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz
SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz
>1 y
SGT Robert Vollentine - That's correct any shitbag can be an E-5 or a SGT however, only a NCO can be a leader. Anything less and you are worthless.
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WO1 Ierw Student
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Because 798 that's why.
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CW5 Andrew J. Foreman
CW5 Andrew J. Foreman
>1 y
Max points is a force shaping tool for E5/6. 789 means too many in a particular MOS. A centralized board would do the same thing by putting floors (must promote minimums for an MOS) and ceiling (max number promotions for an MOS). You cannot promotion in overstrength MOSs regardless of how you select.
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SSG Robert White
SSG Robert White
>1 y
What I'm sure none of are aware of, but EVERY flag officer can promote EIGHT people per star per year. It is rarely done in the Army, but the NAVY has a system in place to utilize the Admirals ability to promote (or demote) individuals. Why can't the other services do this, I don't know.
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SSG Mike Busovicki
SSG Mike Busovicki
>1 y
Interesting approach - I'm happy to see that a chain of command can go to bat for a young service member and get them promoted, despite a flawed promotion system.
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SSG Mike Busovicki
SSG Mike Busovicki
>1 y
Yep; especially in a reduction in force era... I don't see the points going down any time soon.
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