Can a soldier be barred or denied re-enlistment over mock promotion boards?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 12:13:27 -0500

So basically , soldiers in my unit are being bared or threaten to be bared for re-enlistment due to them not passing mock boards (my understanding is that mock boards are used to help the soldiers prepare for the board so they can study what need to be worked on for the actual board) and are getting little notice before these mock boards and not being able to properly study or have time to study due to staying late or being busy with other stuff. Is this a actual thing or is there a way to prevent the baring of soldiers over a mock board ?

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Feb 17 at 2022 8:33 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 20:33:16 -0500

It would be interesting to read the reason listed on that bar. -
Is your CO is telling you this? Or an NCO supervisor?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2022 8:50 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 20:50:16 -0500

When someone tells me things like this what I like to do is try and look for the regulation itself that will support it. If I out rank them I can ask for the regulation to save myself the time, or if they out rank me, and I know better I'll hunt for it myself.

I suggest you look up the regulations that list all the reasons for being barred from re-enlistment. If what you are being told is correct, then it will be in there. If not, then............ you can quietly keep it to yourself knowing a bar can't be done.

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I put it on par with my time in TRADOC, when getting yelled at for being in the back of the running block, and those of us in the back would be recycled or discharged. I didn't know a lot back then, but I did know my APFT scores were passing, so there wasn't a way to kick me out in regard to my physical fitness when I met the Army Standard.

But I had to keep that to myself and continue to push myself through the runs.

You in this case with the mock boards need to push yourself and your peers to do better in the mock boards because your NCO's don't want to present idiots to the CSM for these promotions when it is the real deal. That's what's probably going on here.

Now.......... don't go telling your chain of command this CPT Lesher guy in the USAR is telling you this. Cite the regulation. The only one with the power to discard a regulation would have to have the power to WRITE a regulation. That's not going to be anyone on your entire base.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2022 3:42 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 03:42:52 -0500

Soldiers can be barred if their leadership does not believe they are candidates for promotion.

Only Commanders can recommend a bar.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2022 11:14 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 11:14:33 -0500

CPT Private RallyPoint Member and SFC Private RallyPoint Member are right.

Always research the reg, if you have trouble finding it or understanding it reach out. Also, always know that actions like these are command initiated. That means anyone with stripes can recommend it, but can't actually do it even if they're threatening it.

Getting barred for not passing a mock board? With all of the mentally challenged individuals wearing stripes or polishing brass... I bet retention and higher is really going to appreciate actions like that. Now that my dripping sarcasm is out of the way, I'm willing to bet that these are idle threats from someone with a poor sense of leadership style. I could be wrong of course, I've seen a lot of weird things from commanders in my time.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Feb 22 at 2022 5:50 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:50:48 -0500

I feel like we don't have all the info...

AR 601-280:
(1) Fails to qualify for mandatory appearance before a promotion board upon attaining primary zone time-in-service or time-in-grade eligibility because they did not complete mandatory Distributed Leaders Courses (DLCs).

Are these mock boards a regular thing? As in are they on the training calendar or published in advance? If this is something that happens every month, then those who are closing in on primary zone for promotion should be preparing for them and be ready to go. If they are for soldier of the month, that seems a bit much to be initiating a bar to continued service on that.

I guess we just have a snippet of info so it's hard to gauge what's really going on.