SPC Scott Browne 4344883 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As a medic e4 who just transitioned, I can say that the grass is greener. One of the driving factors behind my ets was that the promotion system had absolutely zero to do with job skills. I’ve seen soldiers flirt their way to the top and some use/sell dope and still move up because they are a pt stud or ranger qualified. Also we had a psg who dropped a recruiter packet the day after a deployment to Afghanistan was announced. In 14 years he had only ever been to the UAE (his words not speculation). There doesn’t seem to be any accountability on the things that really matter and I wasn’t alone. Where I was stationed we were hemorrhaging soldiers of all ranks and jobs. What do we have to do to improve this? This isn’t meant to be a rant from a disgruntled e4 this is a serious question that we should look at and see what we can do to change this. It seems as though we are over due for a gut check 2019-02-06T00:20:05-05:00 SPC Scott Browne 4344883

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As a medic e4 who just transitioned, I can say that the grass is greener. One of the driving factors behind my ets was that the promotion system had absolutely zero to do with job skills. I’ve seen soldiers flirt their way to the top and some use/sell dope and still move up because they are a pt stud or ranger qualified. Also we had a psg who dropped a recruiter packet the day after a deployment to Afghanistan was announced. In 14 years he had only ever been to the UAE (his words not speculation). There doesn’t seem to be any accountability on the things that really matter and I wasn’t alone. Where I was stationed we were hemorrhaging soldiers of all ranks and jobs. What do we have to do to improve this? This isn’t meant to be a rant from a disgruntled e4 this is a serious question that we should look at and see what we can do to change this. It seems as though we are over due for a gut check

2019-02-06T00:20:05-05:00 2019-02-06T00:20:05-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 4344888

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Some things will never change and some things will change just to evolve into more problems.<br /><br />You have a good skill set now. I would just put the army and all of its problems in the rear view mirror.

2019-02-06T00:25:45-05:00 2019-02-06T00:25:45-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 4344890

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Actually, Army retention is great. The Army is retaining record breaking numbers of soldiers. Last fiscal year we retained 90% of eligible Soldiers. The SECDEF didn&#39;t believe it was possible and wanted to see the proof.<br /><br />Everything you described isn&#39;t a retention problem, it&#39;s a leadership problem. Sorry you had a crappy first unit, my first one was incredible. <br /><br />As for promotion, I don&#39;t think you&#39;re very familiar with the recent changes to lower promotion levels that force soldiers to the boards because of leaders arbitrarily holding back soldiers. Also, E5 and E6 promotion is a matter of points because there has to be some type of way to set up an Army wide OML. The Marines are small enough to review every packet the way we do centralized boards. The Army has to use points.

2019-02-06T00:28:32-05:00 2019-02-06T00:28:32-05:00 CSM Michael Chavaree 4344910

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Thats unfortunate that you had a bad experience. By design it is not supposed to be like that. You cite several examples of how others were not qualified yet got promoted, but failed to testify to your own accomplishments. The promotion system is not difficult to navigate, the army gives you the answers to the formula. If you never made it past SPC that points out a flaw in your unit level of leadership because they are the ones that reccoment based off performance and leadership potential. It is a shame you didnt get to serve in a unit that recognized that in you. Good luck on the outside and remember, you may be the only exposure to something great to these “outside” folks. How you paint the Army picture is up to you.

2019-02-06T01:01:24-05:00 2019-02-06T01:01:24-05:00 CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member 4345073

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The issues described are unfortunate. I lay the blame on poor leadership, who failed to hold Soldiers accountable and failed to accurately rate and counsel. If supervisors are afraid to accurately address deficiencies, it becomes difficult on paper to separate good Soldiers from mediocre. So, it becomes the responsibility of the individual Soldier to stand out among peers and persevere until their character, competence, and commitment are recognized.

2019-02-06T04:32:29-05:00 2019-02-06T04:32:29-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 4345485

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I agree that the promotion system doesn’t value experience or competency very much and doesn’t reflect qualities that don’t have promotion points attached to them. <br /><br />As a medic, the board doesn’t care I have my paramedic license, worked 5 1/2 years of EMS, train new EMTs and paramedic students, etc, and unless they specifically ask they may never know. I am sure others can attest to similar situations.<br /><br />A promotion packet isn’t a CV or resume, but perhaps it should be modeled more on one and the army expands things it will look at for promotion points. That’s not to say military education, PT, and weapons qualification isn’t important, but I can shoot really well and still be a bad medic and be terrible at training and managing other medics.

2019-02-06T08:32:20-05:00 2019-02-06T08:32:20-05:00 MSgt Michael Smith 4345564

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Does the Army really want or need to improve retention? Consider this...The more years a soldier puts in the more expensive they get. You start out usually single, young, healthy. But as you continue your career 6,8,10 years you get a spouse, family, etc. That&#39;s money --BAH, Tricare, BAS, etc. Likewise the older you get, the more medical stuff comes along. You also rise in rank, more money. So at 15 years you cost WAY more money, and are physically way more broken than that young, cheap single soldier. And that isn&#39;t even getting into the cost of retirement, pension, and Tricare for 40,50 years of life past service. So again...does the Army really want or need to improve retention?

2019-02-06T09:10:22-05:00 2019-02-06T09:10:22-05:00 MAJ Private RallyPoint Member 4345970

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>After reading through some of the comments I think I understand your question but correct me if I&#39;m wrong. You&#39;re seeing soldiers get promoted over other soldiers who are better at what they do, right? This can be an issue for sure. But at the end of the day, the Army works off numbers and checklists. Your PT score doesn&#39;t determine the type of medic you are, but it counts toward promotion. It&#39;s assumed a guy with a Ranger Tab is more knowledgeable and more &quot;driven&quot; than one without. Or at least he&#39;s shown it on paper whereas the other guy hasn&#39;t. We both know those things have little to no bearing on how good a soldier actually is, but when comparing soldiers on paper, that&#39;s what gets looked at. The Army&#39;s too big to look at everyone individually so we look a things that can be quantified like checked boxes and PT scores. Plus, the better those numbers are, the better the unit looks, again on paper. As a company commander I can tell you that a lot of what drives what we do is the numbers. We need x% to do this, x% to do that. Do I want the best and brightest? Yes, but the numbers have to be there.

2019-02-06T11:36:40-05:00 2019-02-06T11:36:40-05:00 SP5 Peter Keane 4346406

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>While it did little for retention, the old Specialist ranks took care of the pay for medics that took pride and excelled in their jobs as medics.

2019-02-06T13:41:53-05:00 2019-02-06T13:41:53-05:00 MSG Frank Kapaun 4346987

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Just my take and I have been long retired. The army’s attitude on retention can best be summed up as, nothing is too good for the troops, so give them nothing.

2019-02-06T18:56:31-05:00 2019-02-06T18:56:31-05:00 SGT Jason Yago 4582091

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I’ve been to several assignments and had incredible leadership and all it takes is one chef to spoil the soup been through both busted once by a scummy E7 but boarded in quatar and got my stripes back before we invaded Iraq. Don’t get discouraged! It’s no different than the civilian work place. Pull your shoulders back and troop up. And don’t “play the game because then you are no better than they are.

2019-04-26T14:43:56-04:00 2019-04-26T14:43:56-04:00 2019-02-06T00:20:05-05:00