What assignment did you receive that others called it “A place to kill your career”?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 11:56:52 -0400

What assignment did you receive that you knew it was the end of your career? Knowing those before you never made it past it?

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Oct 29 at 2018 12:54 PM

Capt Jeff S. — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 12:54:39 -0400

This question is more for those in the Field Grade and above in my opinion. I took assignments others didn’t want and always found something to like about every job and duty station I was assigned to. If I was a field grade officer and got assigned to a non-FMF command, such as ROTC Commanding Officer at a school that is a bastion of Liberal idiotology, I’d pour myself into it and try to win school officials over. And I’d work overtime to insure the cadets were doing well academically and had all the help they needed. What might have been the kiss of death may be a blessing in disguise and just another challenge to overcome. Of course the higher up you get the fewer opportunities for advancement but the cream always floats to the top.

If you find yourself at a dead end you have to look inward to assess what may have happened earlier in your career that is influencing it now.

Response by TSgt David Holman made Oct 29 at 2018 12:59 PM

TSgt David Holman — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 12:59:04 -0400

I have been pretty fortunate, and been able to find something positive of all assignments, but Minot has been the most taxing of mine. It has nothing to do with the weather, or being so removed from town. There is just something I can't put my finger on (or at least not in an online forum) that seems to drag good people down...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2018 3:54 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 15:54:32 -0400

I keep hearing how TRADOC puts folks in a rut, but I think it can be a plus for low density MOSs.

Response by CSM Michael Chavaree made Oct 29 at 2018 4:34 PM

CSM Michael Chavaree — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 16:34:21 -0400

I heard ROTC cadre as a senior enlisted was a terminal assignment... but I have no first hand experience. I heard TRADOC was a dead end as well, but I was promoted out of it and the Ranger Cadre were selected for senior NCO promotions with great haste. I dont think its the position that hurts, it may be the overall assignment history that slows folks down. Back to back assignments in similar duty positions or being in poaitions where you do not lead troops or innovate your career field.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2018 4:59 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 16:59:52 -0400

I like to consider myself a realist, and with that being said, no unit itself will kill your career, that is up to you... every unit is unique that is for sure, but none will decide your fate as a career Soldier.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Oct 29 at 2018 5:06 PM

SGT Tony Clifford — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 17:06:01 -0400

The obvious answer was Korea. I've seen a lot of soldiers come back from their a rank lower than when they left. In my platoon, we had a SSG get railroaded out of the army. I've had soldiers get arrested for waiting in line to enter post as the curfew hit (usually one soldier every month). The worst part is, given enough time, everyone will eventually get orders to Korea.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2018 5:21 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 17:21:17 -0400

I'm not saying my current assignment is the end, I just know many-many- other officers who submitted a REFRAD after being here.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 29 at 2018 6:04 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 18:04:12 -0400

I took an assignment to a little known Unified Command, United States Readiness Command (REDCOM), in 1986. Most of the officers assigned there were in pre-retirement mode waiting for their 20 or second pass over for the next rank. Located at MacDill AFB, FL, it was a good place to retire from. I'd been there about a year when the Goldwater-Nichols Act was passed. Suddenly a joint assignment was necessary for an officer to be promoted to General or Admiral. All of us at REDCOM were automatically credited with a joint service tour and designated Joint Service Officers. Instead of a dead end it now became a sought after assignment. Quickly, the sands shifted and REDCOM was disestablished and its missions assigned first to US Atlantic Command, then then split among US Northern Command, and US Forces Command. US Special Operations Command took over the building at MacDill and many of the people at REDCOM took assignments to other locations. I went to US Transportation Command.

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 29 at 2018 10:22 PM

Maj John Bell — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 22:22:31 -0400

Neither MSG Duty or Barracks duty were considered career enhancing. They are high visibility, high risk (send a relatively high number of Officers and SNCO's "home" early), and you are ranked amongst a small group of peers in the truth teller. But I never actually served in a bona fide career killer.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Oct 29 at 2018 10:23 PM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 22:23:54 -0400

Recruiting....it did not kill my career, but I saw more than one career go down in flames while I was a ‘cruiser.