Battlefield Promotions Better/Harder Requirements?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 10:33:47 -0400

Ok so I am sure a lot of people downrange have witnessed something like this. Battlefield Promotions given to people who don't deserve it over people who do. For example we had a Specialist who wasn't even a SPC for a year and who had only been in less than three years. We had two other SPC's who had been in over 4 years each. Now before this SPC got his Battlefield Promotion to SGT, he was always the "HUAA SSG, ROGER SSG!!, I'LL DO THAT FOR YOU SSG'' kind of Soldier. But as soon as he got his SGT handed to him (While the rest of us were working our asses off to make points, and he never once did any Correspondence Courses, just Facebook) he became the laziest NCO we had in the group, even when there were other NCO's doing work. Could never get him out of his seat to do anything without him complaining.

The point of my discussion is this: I think the Army needs to look into the standards of Battlefield Promoting someone. I know the Regulation states Time in Service and Time in Grade does not matter, but don't you think competency, leadership skills, professionalism and everything else should?? I don't think someone should get Battlefield Promoted just because someone else wants them to get promoted. There needs to be a basis as for the reason why they deserve it. Not just because he/she is the first one out of their seat when a task is given out. I know you can't take away from the Regulations but I think we should add to this one. Too many wrong people getting Battlefield Promoted over Soldiers that actually deserve it. Feel free to share your thoughts.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Sep 14 at 2014 2:55 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:55:35 -0400

I have only known one person who received a battlefield promotion. He is now a SSG and actually a very good one who deserved it. He knows his MOS better than most I have seen in his specialty. You may need to bring up to the NCO you are mentioning about his performance and express your observations of his work ethics. Sometimes doing this will make a NCO change, especially if you word it right that others feel the same way as you to towards him. Could be a good wake up call for him to start doing work again.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Sep 14 at 2014 3:07 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 15:07:10 -0400

Makes me glad that the AF doesn't promote that way.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2014 4:30 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 16:30:01 -0400

I saw one battlefield promotion. Well, combat theater, anyway. GEN Petraeus, when he was CENTCOM Commander, was given a briefing that would have been hard for anyone on the inner workings of the TNOSC at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait by a junior SPC (had been advanced only a few weeks prior). Petraeus gave him an on-the-spot promotion to SGT. He excelled afterward, so I offer this anecdote if only to say battlefield promotions aren't always a bad thing.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2014 7:29 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 07:29:58 -0400

I know it depends on the person getting promoted, but it also depends on the NCO submitting the battlefield packet for the Soldier. After personally reading the memo on why he was promoted and saw how much they lied to get this guy promoted. I know we as a group are not the only ones in the entire Army who witnessed something like this. I also understand the mentoring thing. We tried. We would quiz this guy on common Warrior Tasks and question him in his MOS and push him to better himself, but you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. He refused everything and thought we were making fun of him or being hard on him even when we told him our intentions. Personally I think they need to set higher standards for ones that want to get Battlefield Promoted, at least to SGT.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2014 7:47 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 07:47:31 -0400

SGT Del Rosario, you will always encounter a "bad apple". There are sergeants (I intentionally did not use NCO) who get promoted even through the normal promotion system that display the exact same behaviors that you describe here. I am certain that the leadership felt they were doing the right thing when they promoted that individual with the battlefield promotion. That being said...... A battlefield promotion does not stop one form being reduced back down by means of a reduction board if the board sees fit. Reduction boards are few and far between these days, but in cases like you describe they are fitting in my opinion. I also want to point out that there are always two sides to every story. Not that I don't believe you, just that you are speaking one perspective on what is going on.

Talk to him, mentor him, guide him, lead him if need be. Try to help him out before we decide he is not fit to be a NCO.

Purpose, direction, and motivation!

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2014 10:58 AM

CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 10:58:23 -0500

I've seen them handed out by quota (one per battalion) which is such a mistake because the focus is no longer on the merit.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2014 4:44 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 16:44:42 -0500

(just posted this on a related Q) As one of the last "direct commission, dual-component officers" (AR 600-39) here is a bit of perspective. Direct commissions (see AR 135-100) are still granted in many fields such as medical, legal, medical service, and USAR, NG, etc). "Battlefield" commissions are but one type of "direct" or even "Temporary" commission (see AR 601-50) usually USAR or AUS with immediate activation; that remain authorized in Title 10 and other laws. During the 70s pre and post Vietnam, and 1980s it was not uncommon for a soldier in basic training to receive a direct commission and usually a concurrent call to active duty. That was most common for women filling the officer ranks in the WAC through 1976, or in cases like mine, to fill "mobilization army" authorizations that we were encouraged to apply after taking the PreCommission Course. However, during Desert Storm, for the first time, a command message went out that there would not be any battlefield direct commissions. In my view that was rather pointless on the eve of battle. As some here relate, there were by then plenty of USAR, NG, OCS and Dual Component Officers and of course senior NCOs who could quickly fill a vacant leadership position. Those of us with dual component status were in very rare cases called to AD in our commissioned status status under Chap 16, AR 600-200 (Selected Changes in Service Obligations).

Response by SGT Alicia Brenneis made Nov 23 at 2014 5:48 PM

SGT Alicia Brenneis — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 17:48:20 -0500

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought Battle Field Promotions were meant to replace the losses of leaders during combat. I do not agree with current "battlefield" promotions based on my experiences. On my last tour 3 solders were promoted to E-5 encourage them to re-enlist. Apparently each company was given one slot every 2 or three months. One of them was ok. I don't know if she was ready but she was a good soldier. The last one pissed EVERYBODY off. She did not want to be promoted. She refused to go to any board, WLC (twice), or even do correspondence courses. She worked in the mail room and wanted no part of any other position. She was admit about getting out and was outright hateful. When they called her name, even she was shocked. When 1sgt told her to say the NCO creed she just told him she didn't know it. He laughed it off and told her to learn it. She ETSed 3 months after we got home. I don't know what the other two did.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Nov 24 at 2014 1:20 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 13:20:11 -0500

The buildup of forces during the Vietnam war was handicapped by a lack of commissioned and noncommissioned officers. OCS was expanded to address the one need. However, it was a couple of years before the Army created an NCO academy to address the other. When I arrived in Vietnam, I was handed SGT stripes and told to give them to the most likely candidate. Most LTs played a game of musical chairs with them. I got lucky and the stripes remained with one man.

Now that we are downsizing the military precipitously, I fear that we will see the same thing happen again during some future need.