Can a soldier be forced to attend an Audie Murphy board?

Hell yeah Gunny, learn and take that to the next board! Been there myself, I didn't win but I learned and it made me a better Marine because I went back and study for the next time!

I concur with you 100℅ hell I was nominated for a meritorious Sergeant board when I was a Corporal. From that experience I received excellent exposure for other boards, and leadership commitments from out the command. I was walking on water from that point on! Got selected/promoted to Staff Sergeant shortly thereafter. Oooooh Rah, Happy birthday Marine!!!

Gunny tells it straight!

GYSGT - Roger that! The experience is not about failure. It is about building confidence!

I went and was inducted into the club back in 2009. At the time I didn't want to go. My 1sg at the time told me he didn't care what I wanted and that I deserved it and would be a great addition to the club. I went and I did well. I had more prep time then this fellow but at the end of the day it take a day or two to memorize the Audie stuff and if you are a good candidate then you will be able to answer the questions to the best of your ability.

TSgt George Hanstein - espree

SSG Matthew Peterson - "Esprit de Corps"

Cpl Duffy Campfield - My SGM was being a dick and thought that every soldier should and would just do as their told with no questions. Also, he was screwing up my one and only chance to be trained by Special Forces (something that would be very handy at my next duty station) for his own glory.

Hopefully, he learned a valuable lesson not to be a glory hound at the expense of his troops professional development.

The SAMC is not about getting promoted. This is the most common misconception about the club as a whole. Higher promotion rates for club members is just a perk that comes with the duties and responsibilities of being a member of the club. The real responsibility is what you contribute back to the NCO corps and the community.

Sometimes people aren't looking for rank either. We all know the military has a bunch of "alternate activities" that detract from your actual job but make points on your eval and whatever it's called for non Navy types. In the Navy our job is less than 1/4 of our eval. We have these pins that are completely pointless, but when making eval, they decide your eval. Example. Sailor 1 has 2 pins, Sailor 2 has 2 pins, sailor 3 has 1 pin, sailor 4 has no pins. Sailor 1/2 are using everything else to compete for a higher eval, then sailor 3 is under both of them but won't be competing with sailor 4. For a sailor who is getting out, spending months to collect 3 pins is pretty pointless, just let them do their job "which counts for nothing or close to in an eval" rather than make them waste time collecting 3 pins. Their is a VERY good chance they will put out better work than many others..... what I mean by that, their work will be better than if they were focused on a pin. So their work will be better than someone who is of their caliber but going after pins.

As an NCO you will be asked to accomplish many things you won't be prepared for.

But, you have to put your best foot forward and go for it.

I think they would have to article 15 me.
I would just say NO!

CMDCM Norm Umholtz - nicely put Master Chief!

CMDCM Norm Umholtz - This site is dominated by Army personnel.Most of the time I've no idea what they're talking about. A lot of the talk is about arcane rules such as when to wear what belt with what trousers on what occasion. I had absolutely no contact with the Army in my active and reserve periods. I'm glad. I'd have had nothing to talk about with them.
What are these "pins" the Petty Officer is talking about? Isn't it about doing your job, fulfilling minimum requirements and getting proper evaluations to get a recommendation for advancement from the Division Officer so you could take the test any more? Is it about sucking up? I made CE2 in four years and never had to suck up.

PO2 Robert Cuminale - WOW! Not sure where this comes from. Not sure if you just want to stir the pot or if you really mean what you are saying.

Either way if you never served with us, were around us, etc then how can you even begin to understand what our culture is about. The Navy has a culture all its own...no better no worse than our own.

I served with Marines, Navy, Army, AF, and CG. Most of which were professionals. With regard to the board- to get to this board there are many requirements, performance gates, leadership requirements, and recommendations by senior leadership required just to appear before the a series of boards which culminate in the final selection board. This is a demanding board that many seek but few achieve. You got a profile view out of me and a response...the response was probably a waste of time. Given the attitude and tone of your post.

All I ask is that you refrain from trashing individuals and cultures you know nothing about. Those comments were less than professional. The site is designed to share knowledge, information, experience, and wisdom; not spread odious remarks about individuals or services. The best we can do is to be professional on this site and try to set an example for others.

CSM Mark Gerecht - I never stir pots. What I say I mean. I wasn't trashing so much as criticizing.
Want to share knowledge? Quit with the acronyms and euphemisms no one understands but yourselves.
Maybe the Army needs a site of its own?

I agree with SGT Joshua Moore.

Petty officer your are not a squid you are a United States Navy sailor Don't ever forget it.

Understand

From a Command Master Chief retired

I am a recovering Squid, Master Chief. Always will be. :D

CMDCM Norm Umholtz - he's a squid don't get so uptight

As long as his PT score is legit, and the company is willing to set aside his work time for studying this shouldn't be an issue. Yes it's a prestigious board, and the only way he'll fail is if he doesn't take this time to seriously study. I agree with the previous post of him not having confidence in himself. Like I tell all my how's going to a board, go in like George Thurgood is in the corner playing bad to the bone. Be confident in your answers and don't give some bull answer.

A leader studies and still fulfills his obligations to his soldiers and the company. No time should need to be set aside.

I totally agree!!!!

Well said, I hope his leadership steps up to help him succeed. Do your best at the board and kick some ass and take some names. Good Luck from a "Seabee"

A junior enlisted soldier was informed he would be going to the board for Soldier of the Year the day before. He was given a study packet and the remainder of the drill day to study. The other portion of the study packet was commandeered by a Staff Sergeant who "didn't know where it was" so he could study the material in whole.

And THIS is an issue. A CSM thinks it should be a requirement to have a SOY competition in a DEPLOYED ENVIRONMENT! Seriously?!

SSG (Join to see) - if that was the most questionable decision made at the company, battalion, or brigade level that deployment, I would have been one happy engineer!

People often are their own worst critics. The impression others have may be more favorable than You give Yourself credit for. i find most people are well versed on their duties and already have most of the knowledge they need anyway and a little brush up to prepare even better doesn't hurt either. As far as sitting on a selection board, thats the easy part , selecting the top candidate may be a challenge but well worth the effort. One of many ways to say thank You to Your people !

Very valid point !

That's a long stretch ...

I like Your statement about good leaders learn to adapt and adapt quickly ! There may be decisions that have to made within seconds in the field, This is one small measure of that quick ability !

I think that is good thing for you it give you little more pressure but all and all I would have liked had the opportunity to do it.