What criteria do you think matters most in how NCOs get selected for promotion ahead of their peers?

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 04:31:37 -0400

Although the AAR is published after every board, in your opinion what do you think weights more to getting promoted ahead of your peers?

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Nov 2 at 2013 5:38 AM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 05:38:15 -0400

I don't think that there is one area that weighs more than another. There are some things that you need to ensure are straight before validating your records for board review. Ensure that you have a current photo. When getting your photo done, have a peer or mentor go with you to make sure that your uniform and the photo is good to go. Make sure that your what is on your uniform matches what is on your ERB and both of those match what is in your OMPF. Also, when it comes to assignment history on your ERB, make sure that it is accurate, coincides with your evaluations and that there is no "incoming personnel" or "known loss" listed. Make sure that your civilian education and military education is updated. A CSM told me that you should try to have an entry in your military education section at least once a year. That shows the board members that you are continuing to grow. Add your COAs to your awards section on your ERB.

This is a lot of information, and it is scattered, but I got this straight from a BDE CSM who sat on previous Senior NCO Boards. I hope this information helps you out. Good luck.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Nov 2 at 2013 3:47 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 15:47:56 -0400

I think that the entire system is ridiculous, at least for SFC. Once a year, less than a handful of our highest ranking get together and go through thousands of people who they don't know and have probably never seen perform and decide who should be promoted to the next rank based off of their ERB, photo, and what some evaluations say that they probably wrote themselves at least 80% of the time.

Mid managers, which is what SFC's are, should be promoted by the people they actually work for just like in any other institution.

Each command should be allocated slots to promote those who are best deserving by those who actually observe them.

My entire career and its future should have more time invested in it that 30 to 90 seconds and assigned an almost arbitrary number by someone who has no idea who I am.

And when you don't get selected it not like they pull you in a room and tell you why, they tell you what they think that maybe you could have or should have done. I was told one time that I needed to go to ranger school by my regional CSM. I am a nurse, but ok, I said send me to ranger school then. "We don't have slots to send you to ranger school" is what he said. So then why did you even say that? I'll tell you why because he has no idea other than to point out things on a list to do that I haven't checked off, whether its in my control to check it or not.

Response by CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2013 12:00 PM

CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 12:00:17 -0500

When I was an NCO, I read every AAR for all the enlisted ranks after every board, and I did this every year. The priorities change because the board members change. What was a plus last year, may not be a plus this year. The best thing to do is to diversify. I know it is hard to do and sometime out of your hands, but try. Awards, schooling, both military and civilian, and the best NCOER you can make. I know if you are not a 1/1 that is a disadvantage, and get someone or two to read it before you sign it. Strong success are just as equal as an excellent, and board members know this. Try to find the hard assignments. If you have to apply, then it's worth it. And Photo, get that thing done, in ASU's not Class A's.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2013 2:02 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 14:02:52 -0500

I look at them every year to see what the the board was looking at more. I then ask my NCOIC to look at my ERB and OMPF to ensure that I have not looked over anything. I take a DA Photo every year. I just wonder if the board can determine if a NCOER was written bad because of negative bias towards a Soldier.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2013 8:14 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 20:14:57 -0500

Well I would like to state that it took me a long time to make SFC I wore SSG for 9 years and I read every AAR after the board and took on the so called hard assignments meaning that I've been to Korea 3 time and my ncoers were 1/1 so I dint understand what the board members were looking at...and I had a college degree and was an instructor for my perspective MOS...so go figure....I don't agree with the promotion system

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2013 10:03 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 22:03:41 -0500

Duty Performance out weighs everything IMO. College, Military schooling and awards earn the +/ - , but the way you perform your job makes the difference. I think the new NCOER will give deserving NCOs due justice.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2013 7:52 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:52:55 -0500

I received a "needs improvement" under competence on my NCOER in 2008. Five years later on my fifth look I made the cutoff. I believe the board sees how an NCO improves throughout their career and make decisions on the potential the NCO has from how the NCO performs.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2014 9:57 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 09:57:20 -0400

I think being in a position above your grade and getting rated time for it is key. Not a bullet on your NCOER as a SFC saying that you filled in as the 1SG while he was on leave, but actually getting the opportunity to be a 1SG. Excell in that position and get 1-2 annual NCOERs rated as an actual 1SG. And like SGM Brainard said. SR rater comments will make or break you.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Apr 11 at 2014 10:24 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 10:24:27 -0400

I went over the AAR comments every year following the SFC and MSG boards and just usually ended up shaking my head due to the fact that I had "hit" everything that the board said they were looking for. I was a SSG for just shy of 9 years and know that it was at least 3 years longer due to my first 2 NOCERs while a recruiter, my SR 3/3 blocked me because I wasn't the USAREC ideal recruiter. As a SFC, I ended up retiring due to RCP and had 11-years TIG; now I could understand had been a less than stellar performer at any point during my time as a SFC, but this is far from the truth. Looking over the AAR comments and even the across the board breakdowns of who was selected, I could "tick off" all of the areas that seemed to have gotten others selected; the only conclusion I could draw after looking at all this info, and also looking at some of the individuals getting selected was that I had gotten to the point where I had too much TIS for the boards to select me as I would give them "less bang for the buck" than someone who had half as much TIS than I did. I hit all the right progression marks: PSG time, staff time (both of these in garrison and in combat), specialty time as an Instructor in the Armor School, 3 years rated time in/as a MSG while Training Committee NCOIC and as Operations NCOIC in Kuwait. All I know is that sometimes you can do everything that you are "told" to do and still not be selected......