Why are some jobs viewed as "bad" for your career?

2014-06-17T18:21:37-04:00

So, I was assigned to an AC-RC unit following school and I keep hearing different things regarding the AC-RC assignment. Some good but mostly not. There are those who call it a career killer, some ask me if I got in troouble, others asked if branch just hated me, etc, etc.

My question is if the Army wants well-rounded individuals and has needs it needs to fill, then why would any job be considered as "bad" for your career?

Are there any jobs you consider to be bad for a person's career?

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Jun 18 at 2014 10:26 PM

2014-06-18T22:26:45-04:00

I would think that some military jobs just don't translate very well into skills required for work in the civilian sector. This is a problem for many of the young soldiers who never make it into the NCO ranks. Many of these jobs are part of the combat arms sections of the military forces. There are however many jobs which do translate into civilian jobs, these would include MP, Personnel Management, Supply and Logistics just to name a few. As far as jobs being bad for a person's career it would all depend on how long the individual stays in the military.

Response by PO1 G. Leslie /Stiltner made Jun 28 at 2014 8:07 PM

2014-06-28T20:07:36-04:00

Recruiting Duty, not for me but for my husband. He made E-7 in 9 years and went to recruiting Duty for 3 years he never made Sr Chief and he received many Navy Com Medals, Navy Achievement Medals lots of Letters of Com and Appreciation. Was top in his job field, but that recruiting Duty Killed His Career. Me on the other hand I excelled on recruiting Duty and made E-6 under the RMAP (Recruiter Meritorious Advancement Program). Now when I left recruiting Duty and I went to the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department where they assigned me to an out of Rate Billet that hurt.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 28 at 2014 11:25 PM

2014-06-28T23:25:40-04:00

Water cooler talk was that an assignment to Cad-idiot Command was a deathblow to one's career, though most of my old instructors experienced life after ROTC.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 29 at 2014 12:28 AM

2014-06-29T00:28:17-04:00

Flag Staff right out of A School and or too soon in a Career. I'm pretty sure that having worked 3 Flag Staffs desensitized me and didn't help me as a Fleet Sailor at the end of my Career.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2014 12:36 PM

2014-07-02T12:36:46-04:00

It's not necessarily going to hurt your career, but it depends on your career aspirations. The people that sit on promotion boards typically got there because they followed a certain path (i.e., operational assignments) and so when they have to choose between many equally successful officers they may tend to lean towards the ones that took the tougher (or more familiar) road. Also, they're more likely to recognize your rater or senior rater's name if they run in the same circles. The odds that they'll be impressed by your current assignment or recognize your AC/RC rater's name is probably lower. If you want to be a battalion commander, you need counsel with current or former commanders and do not accept another assignment without talking to one of your mentors. Don't just let your branch manager use you as fodder for his or her requirements. They need to fill jobs with good officers and they're good at their jobs. You need to manage your own career. A good mentor can help you navigate through the tough decisions because they've already been where you want to go and can advise you on how to best position yourself to reach your goals.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Jul 2 at 2014 12:47 PM

2014-07-02T12:47:01-04:00

Anything that includes the term "special projects" or "special assistant to..." aka you got in trouble and we have no where else to put you.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2014 1:50 PM

2014-07-16T13:50:31-04:00

Branch offered me an AC/RC position in New Orleans to ride out my time since I wanted to get out at 5 years after commissioning. I thought it was going to a career killer, but it didn't matter to me. However, it was one of the best assignment ever. Not only because of the location, I got to see a different perspective of the Army on the reserve and strategic side. Regardless of the job, I just tried my best and ended up as the SGS, aide, PAO and adjutant. I stayed on another year for the assignment instead of dropping the refrad paperwork. Funny how things worked out, I stayed in and surprisingly got BZ to maj without ever taking a command. So, I would just say do your best regardless of the assignment and make the most of it.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jul 16 at 2014 3:49 PM

2014-07-16T15:49:53-04:00

Sir, in my experience and opinion, any assignment where you are working above your current rank, any assignment where you are working above your current skill set, and any assignment where you are exemplifying the diversity that our Army is looking for are things we should be striving for. For the enlisted side of the house, those positions include, but are not limited to, Drill Sergeant, Recruiter, AIT Platoon Sergeant, Instructor, AC/RC, and OC.

Each of those nominative type assignments bring unique challenges. If you meet those challenges and excel, then you have checked the block for assignment diversity.

Now, there are those positions that are considered "shelving posts." What I mean by that is that those are the position that are probably commensurate with your last rank and are given to you as an alternative to QMP or a pink slip. If you receive one of those, I would hope that you have already read the writing on the wall.

Maybe it is the faithfulness in me, but I do honestly believe, and I have seen this to fruition, that if you are proactive in with your career, the Army will do right by you.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 17 at 2014 3:14 PM

2014-07-17T15:14:39-04:00

There aren't any "bad" jobs in the military. It is all relative. AC/RC isn't a bad job or a career killer. In comparison to a post Command job as an OC/T at the National Training Center, it is looked upon less favorably in a board. One of the reasons behind that are dependent on what the board guidance has (the CSA actually provides guidance of where to focus for each board - ranger experience, joint experience, AC/RC experience). Also, baord members gravitate to (as previously stated by LTC Sachariason) the "hard jobs." Those jobs that are seen as more difficult and have more responsibility. If you compare AC/RC to the OC/T position at NTC or JRTC, you can see a marked difference in the two duties. That's not taking anything away from the AC/RC job, it just isn't as demanding...and thus not as competitive. There are other jobs that would make you more competitive for promotion as well: being a JCS Intern, being a Aide-de-Camp for a 2 star, etc. All that being said, what it still comes down to is ACOMs on an OER and high enumeration. Someone with a COM profile who is an OC/T versus someone with an ACOM profile at AC/RC...the ACOM performer is going to win out. So, even though it may not seem like it, doing the best you can in any job you are given is still the key to success. I served for 2 years in a place that some people considered a career ender (BCTP...now MCTP at Fort Leavenworth). Me and two of my peers in the same unit are all Battalion level commanders now.

Response by CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana made Jun 2 at 2018 7:13 AM

2018-06-02T07:13:58-04:00

Some assignments are indeed bad for the career, especially when your leadership has zero compassion for you. If you find yourself in such a situation, my advice is bail-out immediately. No one will assist you and you will get singled out faster than mach sixty. No one will be able to assist you either and; don't even think of submitting an IG complaint, because the IG will only declare you guilty, without due process and without investigating your case.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 2 at 2018 12:54 PM

2018-06-02T12:54:57-04:00

I did 2 years with the NG and must say I saw a lot of screwed up things.