FY 14 MSG Board result

While this is an unfortunate gut punch, leaving many people in limbo, in the end it is a matter of of self preservation. I routinely go over my ERB checking for errors, or improper changes, and immediately make corrections. I understand that not everyone has the luxury of being able to spend the time to do so, to me it is a matter of how much the individual is invested in their career. It is already fairly well understood what milestones we as senior NCO's need to reach in order to ensure progression, and waiting on board results is not really a valid reason to postpone career planning. Continue to look for avenues for self improvement, and plan for your next assignment in either the current rank, or as a contingency in the next rank if you are being considered for promotion. As long as you are looking forward, and working towards what needs to be done, even a short turn around between boards like this will not be a hinderance.

I think the 2nd/3rd order affects are huge!  It not only contrains those who are not selected, it puts additional stress on our senior leadership to ensure they position those NCOs for success according to the AAR comments/concerns.  For those units that are already struggling to fill MSG/1SG billets, its an even bigger deal.  With the ever changing "patch chart", cuts, drawdowns and senior leaders leaving the Army, it DEMANDS our senior leaders get involved with manning units with NCOs who are fully capable and competent, not to mention who WANT to be in the position and do the job!  As far as preparing in the short amount of time, I think you take the harder positions in the places others do not want to be.  Read into the AAR, which we probably already know what that says, and apply it the best we can.