Posted on Jan 31, 2019
As a SSG (68W30), what would you recommend is the next step for career progression and why?
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Example: Broadening vs. Generating assignments, Platoon Sergeant, S-3 OPS NCO, etc.
68W: Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
SSG
Military Career
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 11
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Check out DA Pam 600-25, It lists the career progression plans for each MOS and outlines what the Army looks at and expects of you at each skill level and outlines education, duty assignments, training and other considerations.
I used this to help my Soldiers and myself compete for the rite positions and additional training to be competitive and it worked well.
Another tool is to look up the AAR reports on your MOS centralized board proceedings for SFC and MSG this document lists what the board saw as important and positively discriminating in the records. My experience was that what the board used to set the best qualified standard closely aligned with what the Pam listed.
While preparing this response I spoke with the MOS manager at the Engineer school for the 12 series Soldiers (I'm an old Engineer and have the number for them) and verified the DA Pam 600-25. He recommends that you also go to the Army Career Tracker web site as they list everything in the Pam plus any thing the regiments have as current priority fills.
Hope this helps.
I used this to help my Soldiers and myself compete for the rite positions and additional training to be competitive and it worked well.
Another tool is to look up the AAR reports on your MOS centralized board proceedings for SFC and MSG this document lists what the board saw as important and positively discriminating in the records. My experience was that what the board used to set the best qualified standard closely aligned with what the Pam listed.
While preparing this response I spoke with the MOS manager at the Engineer school for the 12 series Soldiers (I'm an old Engineer and have the number for them) and verified the DA Pam 600-25. He recommends that you also go to the Army Career Tracker web site as they list everything in the Pam plus any thing the regiments have as current priority fills.
Hope this helps.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
This was absolutely helpful. Thank you. I have read DA Pam 600-25 before and it brings a lot of insight for NCO development. I am an avid user of the Army Career Tracker as well. I have added short term and long term goals that I want to achieve over time. I wanted to dig further and see what personal experiences other NCOs have come across.
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SSG (Join to see)
How do you pull the AAR reports for E7 boards? No brainer idea I have never thought of.
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CSM Richard StCyr
SSG (Join to see) - Go to the HRC web site in the promotions. You can also google them. When I spoke to the 12 series MOS manager yesterday he said they are also carried on the ACT now site. ACT Now Army.mil. The AAR comments were very helpful as they discussed the common discrepancies in records seen by panel members and give insight into what they considered as positive discriminators, key assignments and where more NCOs could have been promoted or have been more competitive had they had item x, y or z. Unbelievably jacked up uniforms or out of date/ missing photos were on the list 8 out of 8 years I was a CSM and tracked the AAR comments.
As a CSM I used them to help in developing our NCODP and to help Soldiers square away their records; we did records rodeos with the S1 for NCOs coming into the zones to catch errors and key elements of Info were there, slot and move NCOs through positions based on timelines identified in the DA Pam compared to board AAR observations that would help in their careers. We as a unit had very good selection rates and in one instance had 30% of the overall 51 series selected for SFC which is by any measure a large portion for one unit.
Long answer but sometimes I think it helps drive home the value when you can show results verse opinion.
As a CSM I used them to help in developing our NCODP and to help Soldiers square away their records; we did records rodeos with the S1 for NCOs coming into the zones to catch errors and key elements of Info were there, slot and move NCOs through positions based on timelines identified in the DA Pam compared to board AAR observations that would help in their careers. We as a unit had very good selection rates and in one instance had 30% of the overall 51 series selected for SFC which is by any measure a large portion for one unit.
Long answer but sometimes I think it helps drive home the value when you can show results verse opinion.
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Get out of your comfort zone, see what the Special Operations community might offer, Airborne school, and of course college.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
I was able to get a slot for Airborne school. I currently have the Air Assault Badge and EFMB. I've been doing some research on 160th SOAR, but I was thinking of doing that after a generating assignment like Drill Sergeant or AIT Instructor. I currently possess a Bachelor's Degree. I applied for OCS and I was qualified to attend except for one thing - medical. Plantar fasciitis (whether it is symptomatic or asymptomatic) is a disqualifying factor.
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What positions have you held already? One would need to know that before recommending so as we don't suggest slots you've already completed.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
As an NCO, I have held positions as an Executive Assistant to the Hospital CSM, Squad Leader for Evacuation and Treatment Platoon in a Medical Company (Area Support), obtained my EFMB and Air Assault, and currently deployed as the NCOIC of my location.
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Looking at your profile I would recommend a Broadening Assignment. PSG duty would be positive for seeking E7 and to boost both your knowledge and experience however, you would still need PSG time as a SFC to make yourself competitive. Drill, Or Instructor would give you the same benefits as PSG duty.
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What have you done so far? This will make a difference for response to this question.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
SFC Lowe, good point. As an NCO, I have held positions as an Executive Assistant to the Hospital CSM, Squad Leader for Evacuation and Treatment Platoon in a Medical Company (Area Support), obtained my EFMB and Air Assault, and currently deployed as the NCOIC of my location.
Off topic: I just recently graduated ALC and you were my Phase 3 Senior Instructor.
Off topic: I just recently graduated ALC and you were my Phase 3 Senior Instructor.
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SFC (Join to see)
Good to see you doing good things. I would definitely recommend a broadening assignment. Send me an email and I’ll send you some info. SFC(P) (Join to see)
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Hopefully I'm not out of line, but as a mere 10 level, I think it's never too late to get your F2 ASI
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
SPC Spigelman, you're definitely not out of line. F2 is a great recommendation. I have definitely thought about it. I have friends who have gone that route and currently have an old Soldier of my going through the course as we speak. I am just checking to see what other opportunities are out there and the experiences others have had.
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How many years in and how much college you have because I say Green 2 Gold ADO
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
I am coming up on 6 years and currently have a B.S. with a weak GPA. I believe I may be nearing that age cutoff.
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1LT (Join to see)
SFC(P) (Join to see) age really doesnt matter when you only have 6 years in. There is a 2 year Masters Active Duty Opion as well. I have 4 in my ROTC class. If you have great evaluations, PT, and above a 3.0 GPA you are fine.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
I spoke with an ROTC advisor in the past and was told I would have to take classes to increase my GPA. College was 7 years ago for me. Embarrassingly, I wasn't in the right mindset at the time. I've definitely matured a lot since then. The GPA is the only thing that would honestly hurt me in terms of applying.
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Absolutely Broadening assignment and then Platoon Sergeant time when you make seven.
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With the Army changing right from under us the previous comments about the DA Pam are true look at how the army sees 68Ws and make decisions based not on just that but your own personal goals. As a SSG 68W we have to start learning more about big picture in regards to training, Human Resources, ordering, and all around not a line medic criteria. Add what NCOs are supposed to bring to the table in regards to the corps and the army as a whole you and I are in the same boat as anyone else at this rank and above.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
That is very true. We are heading towards that point in our career where it becomes less about what we can do for ourselves and more for what we can do for the Army and Soldiers as a whole. What career paths are you currently looking into?
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