What should I do to prepare to get promoted to SGT?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 22:19:58 -0400

I want to start working on getting promoted now that I have less responsibilities. what should I do? Where should I start?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2020 10:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 22:30:07 -0400

If you are waiting to have less responsibilities to begin preparing, you are in for a rude awakening. If you have been given less responsibilities, its usually because your direct leadership has lost faith in you or do not believe you are ready to take on more. Keep that in mind.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2020 10:38 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 22:38:47 -0400

You start by taking on MORE responsibilities, proving to your Command that you deserve those stripes. Being a Sergeant is not about just wearing the rank. It's about Leadership, both in missions and people. It's about responsibilities. It's about taking care of your Soldiers. It's about coming in to work before everyone else and leaving after everyone else. It's about mentorship. It's about always learning. It's about being an NCO.

If your Leadership has given you less responsibilities, that should tell you that they feel you aren't ready yet. So...your first step is to prove to your Command that you are ready. You will need to do that by taking on extra responsibilities. Taking on Soldiers. Learning new things. Read the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer. When you read it, if it doesn't give you chills and the desire to be an NCO and not just a Sergeant.....then you are not ready.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Aug 13 at 2020 10:45 PM

SPC Nancy Greene — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 22:45:29 -0400

You Need points! Take college and correspondence courses! Try to get your PFT score as high as possible! Lastly, do an Outstanding job on every assignment and mission! The fastest way to make E4, SPC, is to be recognized fir your performance and willingness to ‘go the extra mile”! Good luck co!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2020 11:06 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 23:06:48 -0400

I think the PFC is referring to her having less on her plate as a Jr soldier, not that she has been non trusted with it.

The are two aspects to getting E5. Sorry folks, I think in terms of the rules of the game. Promotion Points as mentioned by the SPC, and leadership and responsibility as mentioned by the Sr NCO's here.

Administratively those translate into Strong APFT, Weapons, Civilian Education, Mil Education, and awards. The "leadership" aspect the NCO's are referring to is check the box process in the form of your Commander allowing your promotion packet to go up. Which realistically, I'm hoping your CO isn't blindly signing them all, and ideally the 1SG vets them and recommends UP/DOWN to the commander.

Looking at the promotion point calculator tells you what you should focus on, and getting your NCO's to think of you as their go to soldier greases the wheels for getting the Commander to sign your promotion packet.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2020 11:09 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 23:09:40 -0400

God damn, you are destined for greatness!

You always want to be working towards two ranks ahead. That means once you make SPC you should be working toward points for SSG. Once you’re a SGT you should be stacking your NCOER and ERB for SFC.

Right now, the best investment you can make is the long term investments you’ll need to out compete your 91B peers for E5 and E6. That long term investment is college. You can be finished with your AA or BA while you’re competing for E6, while your peers are struggling to get enough points. Also, start working on those correspondence courses slowly but steady so you aren’t trying to cram for points.
Once you pin SPC you should be enrolled in DLC1, complete that immediately. Do that well because your grade is factored into your future GPA at NCO schools. That means if you just BS through it, you won’t be able to make Commandants List in the future, which is worth extra promotion points.

Finally, pick up any class you can. Any extra duties you can.

Response by SFC Steven Borders made Aug 13 at 2020 11:32 PM

SFC Steven Borders — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 23:32:59 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member You might want to rethink that statement. An NCO takes on more responsibilities as you progress in ranks. As a PFC you should be prepping for BLC, because SPC is right around the corner. And as others have stated you should be asking/begging for more responsibilities. That's shows your leadership that you are in fact ready to become an NCO. Anyone can wear the stripes, but to fill the stripes takes a lot more. Your FLL should be mentoring you and guiding you along this path. And if he or she is not then you find one that will.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2020 11:42 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 23:42:10 -0400

First. Don’t let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t be worried about being promoted to E-5 at yourself rank.

Second learn your job

Third. Be a leader and set yourself apart. Make sure your leadership knows you are Sergeant material and a PFC.

Fourth. Basic soldier stuff. Be good at PT. Lead PT. Shoot well. Communicate

Fifth. Promotion points. Go to school. Start getting your colllege courses in. Do DLC as soon as you can. Knock out some correspondence. Go to a board or two.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2020 1:18 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 01:18:25 -0400

I'm glad to hear that you want to become a SGT and not an E-5. In order to start preparing to become a Sergeant, there's quite a few things that you want to be looking into before you get to that point.

If you want to accomplish this goal by the time you reach your TIG/TIS requirement, you will want to start accumulating promotion points. The way you do that is by knowing what counts towards promotion points and what doesn't. Log on to the HRC website and go to the self service tab. There you will click on the promotion point worksheet link and access your PPW. There won't be much on it and you won't be eligible for obvious reasons, but you'll have a base on what to work on so that you can acquire your points. There's more to it though.

The Army has the STEP program (Select, Educate, Train, Promote). You also have to attend the Basic Leaders Course as well as complete Distributed Learning Course 1 which you will complete through the ALMS website. You have to be enrolled in order to access it, communicate with your first line supervisor. The Promotion board will be the determining factor on whether you are going to be promotable or not, so start studying for the board by getting a copy of the board Memorandum of Instruction and researching the subjects on it. My recommendation, attend Soldier of the Month boards so that you can familiarize yourself with how a board is conducted and what you can expect from the board panel.

Last but most importantly, you will want to develop your leadership qualities so that you can succeed as an NCO. Being a Sergeant doesn't mean that you'll be a leader, knowing how to lead effectively will develop you into a sound leader. Read doctrine (ADPs and NCO guide, Soldier's guide), seek out a mentor, seek out knowledge that will help you understand what it is to be a leader. I like to read a lot, my favorite author is John C. Maxwell. He's got some great books on leadership. Just remember that if you want to be a respected NCO, you don't want to lead from what's on your chest. You want to lead by example, earn your Soldiers and superiors respect. Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions.

Response by SGT Justin Anderson made Aug 14 at 2020 2:19 AM

SGT Justin Anderson — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 02:19:01 -0400

Get more responsibilities and duties. Take unit level courses for certifications, even the crappy ones (you can make ground doing what others won't). Don't sit around and wait to be told what to do, just get up- take charge- go do it. Training! Part of being and showing you're a leader is learning and looking for all the answers. Teach the younger soldiers and pass on all your knowledge that you learn. Learn the jobs of those above you and make sure your subordinates know theirs and your job. Do not be afraid to speak your mind but be tactful.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 14 at 2020 5:19 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 05:19:45 -0400

Become the local expert in your field, ensure you are always where you are supposed to be, in the right uniform, well groomed and ready to take on any duties required to accomplish the mission. Go to college and earn as much as you can, while wait takingvabything away from your duties. By the time you are ready for Sgt you should be well ahead of your peers.

Response by SFC Dan Sorrow, M.S. made Aug 14 at 2020 7:56 AM

SFC Dan Sorrow, M.S. — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 07:56:05 -0400

Most of the advise in the other comments are on track. You have to ensure the basic soldiering skills are established before moving forward. How is your PT, weapons knowledge and qualifications, MOS knowledge and skills, etc.? Know the promotion criteria for your MOS. I was a 44B (welder) and had to have over 900 points to make SGT and SSG. So, I knew I had to max every category for points, including the board. I took every correspondence course I could get me hands on and took college courses. PT and weapons qualification are easy points to get and maintain. But, being an NCO is far more than those things alone. It’s a trusted position of leadership. Be a dependable, reliable, and professional soldier. Find a good NCO to mentor you or one to emulate.

Response by SSG Rajeev Kirpalani made Aug 14 at 2020 3:55 PM

SSG Rajeev Kirpalani — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 15:55:34 -0400

I would try to knock out SSD, not sure how much you can do before going to school I know when they just introduced it i went all the way to SSD4, improve on your PT Score, Weapons Card Scrub your ERB if you have any college make sure its noted in your ERB, if not look into knocking out some college it’s worth a lot of promotion points you just want to be squared away to there is no reason to deny what you deserve. Best of luck

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2020 4:00 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 16:00:59 -0400

For SGT? Learn your job, get proficient at it to the same caliber as your Motor SGT, and study your first-class ass off. The soldier's creed, the Army Song, the NCO Creed, the regulations surrounding all basic soldier skills (marksmanship, CBRN, uniform, MMD, etc) and then, when all that is done, study some more, and start getting into correspondence courses and as SOON AS you pin SPC, start requesting to go to BLC with your first-line NCO. And WATCH your leaders. Learn the good and bad from them and dissect all the good things and excise the bad.