Posted on Aug 25, 2015
How do we make Corporals in the Army relevant?
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If I could wave a magic wand, I would automatically make all promotable Specialists Corporals. If they don't deserve Corporal; stripes, they don't deserve Sergeant's stripes. If they lost their promotable status, they would then revert to Specialist. This would make the enable leadership to promptly identify and place hard charging E-4's in positions of greater responsibility without deference to senior E-4's who are not motivated to go through the promotion board process. Thoughts?
SFC (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) 1SG (Join to see) SGT Ben Keen MAJ Laurie H. SPC Tyler Frampton @
SFC (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) 1SG (Join to see) SGT Ben Keen MAJ Laurie H. SPC Tyler Frampton @
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Promotions SPC
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 32
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How to make them relevant, do what my 1SG did with me when I was a CPL, trust them and empower them to take charge. You'd be amazed at the real talent we have in our formations if you simply trust your people! Give them guidance, ensure they trust you enough that they can come to you for additional guidance if needed and allow them to surprise you with their initiative and injenuity.
SSG David Dickson you are spot on with your thoughts and I completely agree. I often get pushback from senior leaders not wanting to go along this same route...."the CPL is an NCO and should be serving on an NCO position"....my thought is the CPL is a 10 level position, let them learn about themselves, let them learn about leadership before they are a hard striped SGT....keep pushing your idea and get traction where you can - you are on the right path to leader development!
SSG David Dickson you are spot on with your thoughts and I completely agree. I often get pushback from senior leaders not wanting to go along this same route...."the CPL is an NCO and should be serving on an NCO position"....my thought is the CPL is a 10 level position, let them learn about themselves, let them learn about leadership before they are a hard striped SGT....keep pushing your idea and get traction where you can - you are on the right path to leader development!
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CW3 (Join to see)
I'd say if you've sent a soldier to the SGT board, and they're promotable, and they're constantly earning points....let them be a CPL. It's an NCO rank. Also, they're no longer evaluated...this is wrong.
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SSG David Dickson
Hooah CSM! Great local unit level leadership. Just wish it wasn't such an onerous process putting stripes on hard chargers.
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CSM Michael Poll
I have worked with the Marines on GTMO, they put much emphasis on the Corporal as well as the Lance Corporal. I saw a truck running around to the points with the title "Lance Corporal of the Guard" I was extremely impressed with the professionalism and leadership of this E-3. The 1SG talked to me about this at length. Love the responsibility and trust he had in his "Devil Dogs"
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SGT William Howell
Capt Richard I P. The Corps is totally different. I have seen shit hot LCPL as team leaders. I have never seen a PFC in charge of anything more than detail unloading trucks. I think the USMC has it right. You start grooming Marines to take progressive leadership rolls from the start.
My experience in the Army is you got the PVTs, the SPCs, the Jr NCOs, and Sr NCOs. Rarely do you deviate out of your group. PVTs are never groomed as they they are biding their time till they get to SPC and then SPCs start getting groomed. The same with Jr NCOs. Once you hit SSG you start getting groomed for E-7. I have seen Marine Staff Sargents that own their AO. That rarely happens in the Army.
My experience in the Army is you got the PVTs, the SPCs, the Jr NCOs, and Sr NCOs. Rarely do you deviate out of your group. PVTs are never groomed as they they are biding their time till they get to SPC and then SPCs start getting groomed. The same with Jr NCOs. Once you hit SSG you start getting groomed for E-7. I have seen Marine Staff Sargents that own their AO. That rarely happens in the Army.
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I think that is spot on. When I passed the E-5 board there was a freeze on spending, so all promotions were frozen. I was slotted for a squad leader spot. So they gave me a lateral promotion from Spec. 4 to Corporal. Then I could fill the squad leader spot. It was kind of cool, I was the only Corporal in the whole Battalion. I think it would be the best way to set these E-4's apart from the others and give them some leadership training and better prepare them to be NCO'S.
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