Soldier's dismissed from Soldier of the Month/promotion boards for short/long term goals.

If a Soldier has the courage to state this and this is THEIR goal, why would a senior NCO 'punish' a Soldier for this?

If I was a Soldier and this happened to me, I would lose any and all respect for these senior NCOs and would solidify my goal to leave such an abysmal NCO Corps.

I have sat on boards where the CSM or one or two of the 1SGs give the young Soldier/NCO some flack for saying that, but I have not seen anyone get booted for it (not to say it does not happen). I believe that as long as the young Soldier/NCO can articulate why those are his/her short/long term goals, and not be rattled by the impending flack, maintain composure and answer questions, then so be it. Contrary to popular belief, not every Soldier/NCO who has went to a SOM/Promotion Board has the long term goal of being the Sergeant Major of the Army. To each their own.

Until the Soldier pins on that bar (be it a gold one or silver and black one) s/he is still an Enlisted Soldier and must be treated as such.

Discriminating against a Soldier who wants to become an Officer in the future is unprofessional. Soldiers who have that goal are showing initiative and determination to better themselves. Why punish that?