Can I be forced to go to the board even if I’m not ready?

You’ll embarrass your company 1SG by not showing up. Read the promotion reg and you’ll see everyone is required to go to the board of hen they hit the primary zone. Refusal to go to the board will result in being barred

Forced is not the appropriate word to use. Ordered to go. That's the phrase you're looking for. And yes, you can be ordered. However, if you feel that you are not ready, talk with your NCOs and your Chain to see if you can have more time to prepare and study. If you approach them professionally with your dilemma/concern AND with a plan of action, they may acquiesce to your request.

Yes. They can. Get as prepared as you can.

I went to both my SGT and SSG boards in Iraq. The SGT board I rocked. I had time to prepare. A friend of mind would sit and just ask me questions from the study guide every single day. At work or off work whatever.

The SSG board - I wasn't so hot. It was right after my R&R which I had to get extended a week because I found out (when I went home and to the VA hospital) I had gotten MRSA in Iraq. I also had a huge boil that I brought to a head and had a gaping hole in the side of my abdomen. So the doctor said you can't go back with that - got extended a week (worst R&R ever by the way).

I came back after all that and I was friends with the S1 clerk. She says "oh by the way you're on the list for promotion board - it's Friday." I got back on like a Sun or Mon. I had four days to study.

I tried - but I wasn't ready. On top of that they had taken away my 249 (my NCOIC said NCOs shouldn't have a 249) and I hadn't had a chance to qualify with M16 yet. So I only had my 249 card in the packet.

So I'm at the board. Did functions check, put my M16 up there to inspect. I hear CSM go to my 1SG "Why does she have a 249 card but has M16." She said she didn't know.

Okay so then I'm going through questions and I honestly blanked. I was nervous. The CSM even said "Are you nervous?" I said no Sergeant Major. Not at all." He said "I've never seen you nervous." He was a guy who if you said "I don't know" three times he kicked you out. I had gotten to two. Then he stopped it and said "I can't send your packet to brigade with an invalid weapons card." He told me if I could qualify before it was due to brigade, I'd be promotable. If not, come back next month.

I went to S3, found a Reserve unit going to the range at our FOB and went out with them. Didn't do amazing but I qualified.

I also got tagged to go to a NCO of the month board literally last minute and I didn't think I did that great. There was only one other soldier that went for NCO of the month. He won. But I did the best I could.

You should just be studying all the time anyway - most of what they ask is stuff you do every day. Anymore, NCOs ask more scenario based questions than just study guide questions.

If you go and you don't do so well - you know what your weaknesses are and what to improve on.

My mock board before I went to SGT board - was a damn nightmare. I apparently said "shit" like 3 times when I said the NCO Creed (which I never said at either promotion board). My 1SG said "there's no shit in the NCO Creed." I was confused and he told me I said it. I didn't even remember doing that.