Is a broadening assignment absolutely necessary in order for an E6 to make E7?

2021-04-10T10:09:26-04:00

I have been offered Drill Sergeant after my re-class however, I would like the gain the experience of the MOS before I abandon it and I don’t know if DS school is for me. Will I eventually have to take a boardening assignment to make 7?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2021 10:49 AM

2021-04-10T10:49:07-04:00

Yes. I think its something the look at. You need to make yourself stand out and just being in a company doing your normal job won’t do that. Drill Sergeant, Instructor, a degree, airborne air assault are things you will need to stand out among your peers in your MOS. I am in a really small MOS and we don’t have many opportunities to make 7. Most of the ones that have have done something like drill sergeant or recruiter.

Response by SFC Richard Dutton made Apr 10 at 2021 11:03 AM

2021-04-10T11:03:27-04:00

As a staff Sargeant you should be looking to accept any schools that are available to you and any schools that you are selected to by DA. Getting selected for E-7 is getting harder and harder to achieve because they are fewer slots than SSG. If you are the individual sitting on the promotion board and they look at individual records and your is identical to another person's and you have the DS school and they don't who do you think they will select. The DS school is not a school to be taken lightly. Things have changed since I was a DS from 82-85 but the knowledge, discipline and professionalism has not. You are given a opportunity to make civilians into soldiers and to invest part of a you into these soldiers. So if you are a dirt bag (which I doubt you are) then they will be too.
It is also your responsibility to maintain your individual skill level plus the next higher level. The DS school in my opinion is one of the most professional and disciplined school you will ever attend in your career. You will spend a lot of time with these soldiers who will look up to you and respect you as a leader and will remember you forever. So I would choose to go to the school and be the best of the best. Not everyone will get the opportunity to be selected for this school. It is a serious career builder.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2021 11:07 AM

2021-04-10T11:07:40-04:00

I once feared the drill/instructor/recruiting assignment. And when I was in a competitive MOS, it was hard to separate yourself (insane OPTEMPO in CA) and then I got put on Recruiting, and like every other 38B who ends up Recruiting, got picked up for 7.
Not only is it an assignment to truly separate yourself, but it's the chance to give back to the Army. You as the DS get to shape the new Soldiers.
Broadening is good, very good. But there is more than just DS out there as well....MUCH more that branch managers and retention don't know or won't talk about.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2021 12:14 PM

2021-04-10T12:14:45-04:00

I'm guessing you're in the Reserves?

Just go for it, career progression is different in the USAR than active duty.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Apr 10 at 2021 12:26 PM

2021-04-10T12:26:00-04:00

Technically, no. Statistically, yes.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2021 1:54 PM

2021-04-10T13:54:16-04:00

If you are are a Reservist, and if you're in an MOS that has not a lot of you in the Reserves, I would recommend you take DS as this will certainly set you above your peers when being looked at for SFC. But that's just my two cents.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2021 3:23 PM

2021-04-10T15:23:53-04:00

Take the DS gig and do your very best. I got promoted to SFC without any of those schools. I did have other Broadening assignments though at D.I.A. I made SFC at 13 years, but most likely wouldve been promoted faster had I applied for DS/Recruiter/Instructor, etc and done well at them. If you wanna expedite this promotion, then I think taking this position without a fight will give you that leg up.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2021 3:40 PM

2021-04-10T15:40:37-04:00

It definitely can't hurt your chances. There might be other training or force generation type positions available to you. You'll have to work with your career manager & higher enlisted personnel in your unit to help you determine future assignments.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2021 9:24 PM

2021-04-10T21:24:10-04:00

After your reclass? Straight from AIT to DS school? Terrible move. How would you become a SME in the new MOS if you have never done anything more than the brand new private in the platoon. 600-25 lays out your career path. Eventually a broadening assignment is in your future but to become a competent leader in the new MOS you need to go learn that MOS as the SSG level.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2021 9:32 AM

2021-04-11T09:32:22-04:00

A broadening assignment is one of the way that is looked at to set you apart from your peers. Even though you’re a re-class your were KD complete in another MOS that’s what the army see’s. Oh and heads up as a past Drill I will certainly say Drill isn’t one of the army’s broadening assignments you can turn down, so I’d advise you get ready.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2021 1:18 AM

2021-04-12T01:18:20-04:00

Not by regulation but it may be necessary because of your peers and what makes them competitive against you. Even if it is necessary to remain competitive, you may put yourself at a disadvantage if you complete it at the wrong time in your career. This series talks more about this topic. https://www.soldiersspot.com/post/part-2-schools-and-courses-how-to-get-promoted-to-sfc-in-the-army

Part 2 Schools and Courses How to get promoted in the Army

What else can you do that will be more prestigious and get you a better spot on the OML? Think about nominative assignments that require an

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Apr 12 at 2021 11:40 AM

2021-04-12T11:40:37-04:00

I hesitated as long as I could on doing the special assignment after picking up E-6 and it cost me several years towards picking up E-7 and potentially making it to E-8 before 20 years TIS.
Conversely, a very good friend of mine went DI as a very junior SGT (E-5). He didn't want to go, but he figured out a way to excel anyway. He ended up retiring as a Sgt Maj.
20 years from now that year or 2 experience in your new MOS won't matter. The difference between retiring one or 2 grades higher will.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2021 3:01 PM

2021-04-15T15:01:17-04:00

No. I have MANY buddies who have pinned 7 and never had a broadening.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2021 6:38 PM

2021-04-17T18:38:01-04:00

I think thats a good idea. It would be very difficult to teach privates without having experience. You're given a Program Of Instruction (POI), but speaking from experience, I used personal experiences to reinforce the training. Some would agree that being an NCO could apply across the board and MOS specifics are only applied at certain times. Thats true. Like someone else said, you could do another type of broadening assignment as well. If beinga DS is your passion, get some experience first then go. Hope that helps.