Which next base should I seek? Also, what are the E-7 board members looking for when they select someone for E-7?

2018-08-26T14:47:01-04:00

Just want to get everyone thoughts on a few bases if I leave Fort Polk, Louisiana. The bases that are open are Bliss, Korea, Alaska, Drum, Sill, Campbell. I know each one has it downside but what about the upside. Also what are the E7 board members looking for when they promote to E7

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2018 2:49 PM

2018-08-26T14:49:47-04:00

You know, if you're reenlisting indef, there's no choice of duty station. You will have to work it out with your branch manager.
If you haven't yet, you should be looking at a broadening assignment as opposed to duty stations.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2018 3:13 PM

2018-08-26T15:13:13-04:00

I have been at fort sill for a few months. My first time here and I am enjoying it. Typical military town right off base but it is an outdoorsman paradise. Fishing aplenty and hunting is supposedly awesome as well. Just a few hours from Dallas and an hour from OKC

Response by MAJ Samuel Weber made Aug 26 at 2018 4:16 PM

2018-08-26T16:16:20-04:00

I agree with seeking a broadening assignment. Recruiting or Instructor. Ensure you are filling up your military education, completing 40 hour course every two years with a focus on those courses that are valuable to your career field. You should also be working on completing an AA, this will place you above your peers. I see the only real leadership positions you’ve held are Team Leader and Squad Leader? As a SSG you should be seeking a section Sergeant position and hold it for two year while getting strong NCOERs. If you want to make SFC, you’ll need Senior Rater comments that say you should be promoted ahead of your peers. Your NCOERs will have to be complimented by challenging positions as well. Good luck, it seems like you have some time since you just pinned SSG less than a year ago.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2018 4:22 PM

2018-08-26T16:22:07-04:00

Take assignments that will set you apart from your peers. Like MRT, Drill SGT, Recruiter. Get the AAR comments from the last board.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Aug 26 at 2018 4:28 PM

2018-08-26T16:28:22-04:00

You need to get you hands on you MOS PD (Professional Development) model and follow it. Your branch has already drawn the map for you.

Response by SFC Marc W. made Aug 26 at 2018 5:48 PM

2018-08-26T17:48:46-04:00

I can vouch for Alaska (JBER) being a great duty station, at least as far as location is concerned, didn't have a great experience with 4/25. I absolutely loved my time in Alaska, and the summers are to die for. I can vouch for 10th MTN at Drum, loved my time in 2-22, lots of good, hard training. Drum itself is kind of isolated, but you do have everything you would want from a city in Watertown, and Syracuse is 90 min away and Canada is 30 min away with the 1000 islands just short of that.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2018 7:57 PM

2018-08-26T19:57:04-04:00

Check out DA PAM 600-25. That will tell you what you should be doing at your skill level to be competitive. It's not as cookie cutter as that but a great foundation.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2018 8:13 PM

2018-08-26T20:13:17-04:00

Went Korea to Bliss to Drum. Bliss is my most favorite Duty station- smack dab in the city, plenty to on and off base, nice year round weather. Syracuse isn’t far from Drum but If you’re not a “great outdoors” person I wouldn’t suggest it. Alaska could be a great assignment although I hear it’s similar to drum- it’ll reset your dwell time which still matters. Korea is Korea, I used all the down time to take college classes.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2018 11:19 PM

2018-08-26T23:19:04-04:00

I would recommend that you look at last year's board AAR, even go back two or three years. Look at the statistics for your MOS and read DA 600-25. What is recommended for your grade? What position? One thing all branches look at is, DA photo, SRB clean and matching to the photo and records, NCOERs must tell the board that you are ready for promotion. Last but not least, enough room for promotion.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2018 11:22 AM

2018-08-27T11:22:33-04:00

Each post assignment is going to have unique opportunities. Keep in mind, once you reenlist INDEF your choices of assignment are essentially waived. However, you can influence your future assignments (see below). It is also important that you consider you family's needs (i.e., EFMP, schools, community involvement, and so forth).

I agree with many of the comments here regarding future promotion to SFC.
1) Look for a broadening assignment like recruiter, drill sergeant or SOF support.
2) Consider what professional schooling will set you apart from your counterparts (e.g., Ranger, Airborne/Jump Master, Air Assault, Pathfinder, Battle Staff are a few).
3) Don't forget to acquire as much civilian education as you can. As you progress higher, this will become more of a consideration. These days with TA and Post-911, you should be able to earn at least a Masters level degree before retiring. Earn civilian credentials. Talk to your base education counselor for assistance here. If you already have the education, consider applying to OCS or Warrant Officer Candidate School.
4) Make sure you are up to speed on your NCO development courses.
5) Look at the last promotion board AARs and your MOS career development model in AR 600-25 (Army Non-Commissioned Officer Development Guide, dtd 2015). Each chapter lists all the requirements for advancement by MOS.
6) Talk regularly with your unit leadership about your goals and what is the next best move for you. Be flexible and open-minded to their advice b/c it may not be what you want hear, but it may be what's best for you and the Army.
7) Contact your branch manager to find critical assignments for which you might qualify. In other words, be ready to take the hard assignments no one else wants.
8) When you post a photo on platforms like RP or LinkedIn, make it one that projects a professional image. One that potential employers (or future COC) will look and think this "is the type of person I want working for me?" No pic is better than one that projects the wrong image. There are plenty of examples here.

My last piece of advice is to look long-term. Begin planning now for life after the Army. This is an area where too many service members fail and it can have serious consequences. Your decisions now will aid you in your success and throughout your Army career and once you leave the service.

Hope this is helpful,

Les

Response by SFC William Stephens made Aug 28 at 2018 9:36 AM

2018-08-28T09:36:33-04:00

Do you stand out above the rest of your peers, DO you have Audie Murphy or SGT MORALS membership. It's given for selection to SFC cause a lot of guys and gals don't want it anymore because too many people are getting in, in 1997 it was very hard to get in when I was young NCO SSG.

Response by SFC William Stephens made Aug 28 at 2018 11:00 AM

2018-08-28T11:00:05-04:00

Bro, I had friend who has 3 BSM and 4 MSM and master degree and 5 combat tours back fourth to everywhere and he still didn't make SGM, So I truly believe it is whole you know and who you have not pissed off in your career. Good Luck!

Response by SFC Gregory Heiny made Aug 31 at 2018 3:50 PM

2018-08-31T15:50:46-04:00

I went to Ft. Drum as a SSG & left a SSG(P) # 7 on the promotion list. I went to ANCOC after Ft. Drum reroute to Korea. It seemed when they opened up Ft. Drum in 1986 they selected the best of the best to start it out right. I even got to go on the very first deployment all the way to Ft. Bragg, NC. It seemed everywhere we went on Ft. Bragg everyone stared at our 10th Mountain Division patch. Usually Troopers give crap to non airborne personnel but they were very nice & went out of their way to welcome us. Colonel Shelton was the Chief of Staff to our Division Commander General Carpenter who was famous from the Vietnam war for calling in artillery on his own CP position because they were being overrun. Colonel Shelton later became a 4 star General & JCS Chairman at the Pentagon. It seemed almost everyone I knew got promoted during their time at Drum or shortly after leaving with the exception of my SFC/1SG who decided to try to outrun the NY State Troopers because he was speeding on his motorcycle. He unfortunately crashed his motorcycle and was arrested for trying to evade law enforcement, reckless driving, speeding & anything else they could stick on him. Needless to say he was sent packing and I never saw him again ever. He was a great 1SG but lacked common sense. We got a new MSG who became our company ISG and he was a very skilled warrior and trainer. The downside to being stationed at Drum during this time was all the infrastructure improvements & new government housing areas coming on line. They spread out some of the housing areas as far away as 30 to 35 miles from Drum. It does snow a lot there because of lake effect snow. I knew I was in for a lot of snow when I was issued a snow blower for the 2 housing units 4 plexes each since I was the Senior NCO for both housing areas. If you didn't get the snowblower training you couldn't operate the equipment. The training became mandatory after a young soldier was killed trying to clean out the snowblower front end with a crowbar because it had iced up. He kept the snowblower running & in gear. When he had gotten rid of enough ice around the front end chute the snowblower engaged and caught the crowbar causing it to impale the soldiers head. Unfortunately his wife found him & had been killed instantly. About 1 month before I left Drum the new PX & Commissary opened along with a new indoor track for doing PT & PT Tests during the winter. I never experienced a cancellation of Outdoor PT during the 4 winters I was stationed there. Depends on your MOS but excelling as a squad leader or platoon sergeant in difficult times such as deployments is highly regarded just like Drill Sergeant Duty, Recruiting Duty etc. It also helps to have someone who can write an awesome NCOER & put you in for the appropriate awards provided you earned both. The units of the 10th Mtn Div are the most deployed units in the Army. Climb to Glory is the 10th Mtn Div motto. The best combat training I ever received was with the 10th Mtn Div & it came in handy during several future overseas deployments I was involved in. You didn't say if you were single or married because your spouse has to be happy with your choice as well. If you want a serious challenge & single, being deployed is what seems everyone is trying to keep from doing or even evading. That should set you apart from the pack. Don't forget military and civilian schooling as well.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2018 8:50 AM

2018-09-02T08:50:51-04:00

bliss I also told is a great base never been there but doesn't training though
gotta say even from NY...with family in Syracuse (75ish miles from drum) wife and I still didn't enjoy our time there

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2018 7:00 PM

2018-10-14T19:00:31-04:00

If you a go getter, go to Bragg, Benning, or Cambell. They have a lot of high speed schools that will advance your skills. The board members look for the “total soldier” concept. You need to have your leadership time (section sgt, plt sgt, etc.) At the end of the day it’s about slots! If they have slots available and your ncoers are hitting home runs, theirs a great chance you will get promoted. If there are not any slots available then you can expect not to get promoted regardless of your ncoers