Any tips on development as a 42A?

Do something else.

Be pro-active with learning your job. Take the initiative and get with your NCOs or counterparts on the procedures of each areas of our jobs. Repetition is key, the more you do it the better you become. Create you a smart book so you can always have it on hand. Last but not least, don't be afraid to ask questions and every chance you get compete for the Soldier of the Month/ Soldier of the Quarter. Our job is not only what we can do as Human Resource Specialist but also how well rounded we are as Soldiers.

If you intend to stick with 42A, you should be learning the applicable regulations, local SOPs, and most of all, get registered on MilSuite.Mil. Stay on top of Army HR updates, policies, etc. Always seek to expand your knowledge of your job, and then learn someone else's job. A good NCOIC/OIC will switch up jobs in your office so that everyone can do any job required. So get ahead of the curve and start branching out. For example, if you do awards, start learning about actions, NCOERs, OERs, etc. Ask your NCOs or NCOIC what you could or should be doing to make yourself more useful/valuable in the office and the unit. Make sure you have a good tracking system for everything you do or papers that you process. Don't advance the stereotype that S-1 loses everything.

Help out Soldiers as much as you can. If you can do that ERB update rather than tell the Soldier to come back another time, do it. Being in a Battalion S-1 gives you the broadest exposure to a lot of people who may be good to know later on. Going that extra mile and going out of your way when you don't really have to makes an impression on people used to being or expecting to be blown off. Cultivate contacts and professional relationships; you never know when you may need to call on someone who is in the mindset to assist you.

If you intend to make HR a career outside the Army, look into the PHR (Professional Human Resources) certification; it is highly sought-after in the civilian world. Ask your OIC about this; he or she should know about it and be able to point you in the right direction. Some posts and affiliated schools have competitive programs that allow you to take the PHR courses and the exam for little or no cost.

On the flip side, 42A always has high cutoff scores. I've seen a lot of people end their careers as Specialists because they couldn't make points. One of my former Soldiers just completed the 35L (Counter-Intelligence Agent) training after reclassing from 42A. Always be looking out for your career and know when it's time to do something else.

Good Luck!