Should there be a better system to help soldiers have more input on PCS moves?

SSG Spive,

I totally understand your question, having been a victim of the system myself. That been said, you need to understand some of the mechanics behind it.

It has to do with both demand signal (where are Soldiers needed), career progression (can you advance in that installation?), and timing. Simply put, you branch manager will look at your rank, how long you have been in your current location, and then compare it to the availability of positions for potential promotion. Just take a glimpse of your career path: date of rank and compare it to your PCSs.

Now, there might some other circumstances can potentially affect the aforementioned. For instance you have a special qualification (go to Airborne School while at your current location and let’s see what happens) required for some specific position. If you are one of those highly trained 92Gs (the ones that go the fancy Culinary Arts School) they will keep you for the most part close to the flag pole and if the CG really likes your skills… that’s another story. Hope I was able to give you some light of why our glorious HRC is so “glorious”

It is all becoming about networking for just about anything anymore, if you can make good contacts at branch it will be a big plus, I actually went to my branch manager one time while on leave when they were all still in Virginia, I had talked to various people, found out a few things about her like her favorite flowers, color, etc. When I went to her office one day, I brought her a bouquet of her favorite flowers and made a goon connection with her, I did get some assignments I really wanted during the next few PCSs, but also had some sucky ones as well, but it does help a little. Just a thought, give it a try, especially since they are closer now in Kentucky/Tennessee

As I've been told, the Army is already looking at ways to make more of these inputs. Though needs of the Army will always trump our desires, using tools like ASK will always at least give branch a frame of reference. It also helps to ensure that your ERB and OMPF are always up to date. Finally - there's nothing wrong with dropping a line throughout your career to your branch manager to let them know what you're seeing so far in your part of the Army, and giving them a better idea of what type of assignment you're actually in, vice what it says on paper. At the end of the day, branch is responsible for putting warm bodies in billets all over the world - only you can make yourself a person instead of a number, by taking the initiative to make contact. Best of luck!