Is the promotion from SPC to SGT working, or are we giving it away to soldiers that answered some questions at the promotion board?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 08:03:15 -0500

I haven't been in the military for nearly as long as many of you senior NCOs and Officers but I have noticed that soldiers who have NO leadership potential go to the promotion board to "earn" their promotable status.

Answering some questions, being polite and lying to the CSM face (yes CSM I wanna be a jump master) just to get the promotable status is not that much of a challenge.

I understand that the board members take a look at the soldiers file and all the good stuff in it, but in most cases that does not reflect on the ability to lead soldiers.

I am not wiling to just be one of the NCOs that, do not know how to get the job done, but I wanna have the stripes on my chest so I can tell somebody else to go get the job done.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Dec 22 at 2013 9:27 AM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 09:27:29 -0500

SPC Andrejco - Let me start off by saying this, before a SPC is sitting in front of a CSM and a panel of 1SGs for the Promotion Board, that SPC is recommended by his/her Squad Leader, PSG and 1SG.  Second of all, I am very disappointed in the wording of your last paragraph.  If the reason that you want "stripes on your chest" is "so you can tell somebody else to go get the job done," you are not ready to put stripes on.  There is so much more to being a Noncommissioned Officer than telling "somebody else to get the job done."  I suggest that you do some research and take some time and sit down with your NCO Support Channel and talk to them about what becoming a Noncommissioned Officer is all about.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2013 9:30 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 09:30:27 -0500

SPC Andrejco, I have been wondering the same thing. Sometimes I'm befuddled as to how some soldiers were recommended for promotion by leaders who otherwise show good judgement, so there must be more to the story that I don't know.

Response by CPT Daniel Walk, M.B.A. made Dec 22 at 2013 9:34 AM

CPT Daniel Walk, M.B.A. — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 09:34:20 -0500

I don't think we are giving it away. However, like so many other areas, we are diluting the search for diligence and perseverance.

Many, many years ago, my SGT and SSG boards were conducted from study guides. You knew that all questions would come from the study guide. The form may be the direct question or it may be scenario, but you could bet your 6 the answer was in the study guide.

Maximizing the number of correct answers was a measure of your willingness to do what it took to learn the answers. It seems that we are trying to get our SPCs to memorize such a wide berth of information from Armystudyguide.com that they do their best but realize the futility in learning it all. Consequently, they don't seem to put the same effort forward.

Along the same lines, forward promotion boards seem to be very weak. Though I must acknowledge I have not sat in on any, many Soldiers remark about going into the board and coming out without a question asked. Because they were deployed they got a free pass.

We are conducting boards without having any idea what we are truly looking for from our juniors.

Response by Sgt Brian Mauk made Dec 22 at 2013 10:32 AM

Sgt Brian Mauk — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 10:32:36 -0500

I have been out of the marine corps since 1990. there are some questions on those promotion boards ( in my own opinion ) that have nothing to do with your MOS. which i think is way out of context.. If you know the so called guide book. an present yourself very well... you will get promoted.. its wrong... should be done on your MOS. period.. for instance i went before a promotion board. an was ask a question about the proper length of a woman marines skirt... what does that have to do with being in the infantry? that was years ago. but now who knows... its to easy...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2013 1:12 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 13:12:32 -0500

I don't feel that the system is "giving away" the promotion due to how you perform at the board. You have to be recommended to attend the board first of all. If you attain your promotable status then it is still ultimately up to you to receive the amount of points needed to make cut off according to your MOS.

I had to re-class to another MOS just to try and make a reasonable cut off score. I eventually made it with 659 points.

The number one question I receive is " How do I get points?" You have to go above and beyond in all areas to receive points.

The response I get is " Well I have points in all these areas but I don't have any awards, this command never gives out awards." I received 7 AAMs and 2 ARCOMS in one command. I did it by going to boards, volunteering for competitions, and always doing my best at my job, even when no one was looking. Once a soldier realizes this and starts being proactive they figure out how to get it done.

As for the other aspect of actually getting recommended for the board.. I read a response saying it's all about who you know not what you know. I would have to say that's absolutely incorrect. That is what every soldier comes to in there mind when there not getting to where they want to be and don't understand why. I showed up to a new command with a brand new MOS, transferred from forscom to medcom, so I was completely out of my element. But I just worked my butt off and kept fighting for what I wanted, I got told I couldn't go to the board because here were others at this command that still needed to go before me. So what I did and I recommend to all soldiers in this situation is say "Roger that, may I at least go to the soldier of the month board?" If you are asking to go there is no reason to say no. You go to that board and blow them out of the water. I guarantee that you will be on your way to the promotion board in no time. If any soldiers are struggling to go to the board or get points feel free to contact me for advice. It was a battle for my promotion so I understand your frustrations. Best of luck!

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Nov 17 at 2015 3:14 PM

SSG Audwin Scott — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 15:14:56 -0500

I hear what you are saying, I think the Army should bring back the SPC5-SPC9 positions, everyone is not cutout or wants to be a leader, for example I could have been just a SPC6 and drove trucks for a living.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2017 4:13 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 16:13:29 -0400

the army promotion board needs a serious overhaul. it should be based on how well you know, and perform your job. not what you can memorize from a book.

Response by SPC David Willis made Mar 19 at 2018 2:16 PM

SPC David Willis — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 14:16:44 -0400

I agree with you in that it does need an overhaul, also the "get promoted or get out" mentality leads to soldiers who are self aware enough to know they may not be the best leaders taking promotions simply to keep their job. If you want to kick down doors or turn a wrench for 20 years and your body can take it you should be able to do it.

Response by SSG Mark Matteson made Sep 2 at 2019 8:01 PM

SSG Mark Matteson — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 20:01:39 -0400

Sounds like you need a lot of training