Posted on May 20, 2015
Is sponsoring a Soldier a task that a first line supervisor should embrace, or a task for any NCO within the section to perform?
5.24K
11
10
1
1
0
In my unit, I've seen NCOs that don't want to take their soldiers to the board, simply for the fact that they don't want the soldier to get promoted. Mind you, the soldier is an excellent worker, studies on a regular basis, and shows plenty of interest in wanting to be in the military. I get it, it could be that there is other issues within that soldiers section, and it's wrong for his supervisors to be debating on who the sponsor is going to be. But c'mon now, you can't hold a soldier up from progressing, especially if there's no paper trail stating that the soldier is messing up. How do other members within the RallyPoint community feel about sponsoring their soldiers?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
If leader does not want his soldiers to get promoted, then they are not a leader and they need to get out of the way and let someone else lead.
(2)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
I agree wholeheartedly. However, I also see that there is a failure in the education department as far as those NCOs not leading their Soldiers in the right direction. This is actually a current issue in my unit, which I plan on addressing their platoon sergeant about and give his NCOs a bit of education on leadership and history lesson on the Noncomissioned Officer.
(2)
(0)
It is absolutely the first line's duty to sponsor a soldier. I will be fair and impartial when recommending reward and punishment. Just because a soldier falls short of expectations doesn't warrent non-advancement. Like SGT David Thomas said monthly counselings will help validate if the soldier is ready. A key indication that it is not the soldier and a leadership issue is if there is no packet to reflect non-recommendation.
(2)
(0)
I was really big on it when I was in. I always recommended the promotion board unless I had documented reasons why they shouldn't attend. If they corrected those reasons then I recommended it. Of course the last time I made the recommendation the Soldier got an Article 15 and the point became moot. However, last I heard she was a Staff Sergeant now, so I guess it all worked out.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next