Do you feel enlisted promotions (E4 to E6) should be based on performance alone and not a board?

SFC Cordoba, Thanks for your reply. I would love have more (hands on time), with my soldier, and maybe I should've stated that I am a Garrison Military Police. I do not have the luxury of have face time with my soldier as I used to have when I was a Chemical Soldier. However, I do try my best to teach, and mentor him to the best of MY ability. Oh, and I will not take being told "failing my soldier, or not being ready for the position I hold" as an insult. My soldier is only a PFC who will fast track. There is time for him to mature, and I am sure he will. He's also destroying most Senior SPC, and SGT's at all of the boards that he is competing at. So with that said, should he be automatically promoted above those he has out performed? If that was the case, he'd be looking at getting promoted to E-6.

SGT (Join to see) - SGT Francis the ONLY time you HAVE to send a Soldier to a promotion board is when they are in the primary zone and you fail to counsel them on why you wouldn't want to send them. If you are doing the counselings and then forced to send someone, then that is a big NO GO and some people shouldn't be holding their jobs.

I totally agree. My case involved sending a soldier not only going to his first board (Promotion Board), but was told by my (at the time) section officer (1LT-XO), that he was going to the board.The Platoon Sergeant and I agreed that the soldier was not ready, but when an Officer says jump; you say how high. You can only worry about the landing on your way down. I am aware of the Non-Rec counseling procedures, and have been able to implement them in other cases where I felt necessary but unfortunately WE were out ranked.

The PSG is an advisor to the PL just as the 1SG is to the CO. You also have to realize that the PSG and NCO is almost 80% of the time going to have more TIS as the LT coming out of college. The PSG can't just say that he doesn't want the Soldier to go to the board, but also has to try and make the LT understand why the Soldier is not ready.

I agree. However, if you're an spc performing like a sgt and it's anotated with paperwork than you should get the opportunity to go to the board. I've seen nco's try to get soldiers promoted just to make themselves look good and they're soldiers are not ready for that responsibility.

I cannot in good conscious speak for the motivations or actions of others. However, is this problem perceived by the masses or is it isolated? I think the answer to this question will be a good indication of whether it is a systemic issue or a simple lack of information shared by all involved. One of the most important jobs of an NCO is to take care of the soldiers in their charge. This includes guiding and mentoring the careers of the soldiers that work for them, to include getting them to promotion boards when deserving.

In order to properly mentor and support ones career, transparency is vital. Supervisors need to provide a measure of transparency as to why or why not they are supporting or not supporting ones desires or requests. The need to be transparent is even more evident when a soldier thinks they are ready but is not selected. There is always a reason why and a path the soldier can embark upon to improve, knowing this reason can provide motivation and compel individuals to improve.

With all of that being said, at the end of the day you are responsible for your own career. You need to do the right things and take on responsibility to help yourself, others around you, and your chain of command. Also, when you are in a position to guide and mentor soldiers make sure you provide the measure of transparency you want now. Do not perpetuate a cycle that you think is unfair or does not provide you with information reasonable for your inquiries.

SGT(P) (Join to see) - I do agree with you that it should reflect this, However i find far to often that even a Monthly based counseling are hard to come by, (in turn a single "your ready" will do it in my opinion). Without even a verbal counseling soldiers don't know where they can progress, so the same bad habits stay there, and they don't even really improve, in turn motivation is lost. With those soldiers who are promoted not being ready are set for failure, those soldiers who work as a Sgt are overlooked and turn to not give a damn over time, then you have the few that actually are ready and receive the chance after MONTHS of asking for the opportunity to prove him/herself.