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

No need to make any Soldier attend a board. Its their decision to progress and move up or stay below their peers.

When I was a young Ensign in the Navy, during REFTRA down of sunny Guantanamo. One day on the bridge , one of the instructors said everyone's dead but you - what now? I walked over to the 1MC and took charge (for excercise purposes only). Sometimes you Don what you bigot to do. Go for it Sgt - take charge!

I guess my question is why would you want to? Attitude and want to are a major part of anything we do in life whether it's a board or something as simple as mopping the floor. The quality of the outcome is only going to be as good as the effort put into completing it. Yes if you feel that you have a soldier that is worthy and would benefit from it you have to convince them at they want to do it. Forcing them is only going to waste your time, their time and the Board’s time.

He should study and get ready, if he messes up all he has to do is pick himself up and drive on.

As a Retired Coast Guard CWO I had to search for "Audie Murphy Board". It was pretty much what I thought considering the heroism and leadership that Audie Murphy demonstrated during WWII.

SSG Crutcher - if, in your own words, this is a good NCO, and after reviewing the requirements for a candidate going before the board I would say that your NCO is probably better then "good!" Have you discussed with him what his reservations are about participating? If he is concerned about how he presents himself - you can coach him on replying to the boards questions. I sat in on more then a few "Practice" Officer-in-Charge Selection Boards; at the Group Level (at the time a Coast Guard Group, now called Sector) was the Command, Admin, and Logistical Support Unit with smaller Coast Guard Stations and small cutters (110' and smaller) under their control). We would hold a practice board for candidates who were trying to attain command of a Coast Guard Unit, as an enlisted person - very prestigious; stiff competition. After the "board" we would critique the candidates; and then give them advice on how to respond to the questions from the official board. We would also either recommend a candidate go forward or that they weren't ready yet...and why.

Perhaps you could sit down with the NCO talk with him, and have some of his peers participate (like a board) and give him advice on the best way to make a good presentation. On the flip side of it he could always exercise another option - if he feels he isn't deserving of the recognition (even if not selected; he's still going to have positive comments in his record) he can, at the start of his presence before the board - tell them that he wishes to withdraw from consideration. It would be his call but you should be able to help him weigh the consequences of whatever action he takes.
Candidate Requirements:
Soldiers appearing before the board must be in the ranks of CPL through SFC with at least six years of service and supervise at least two Soldiers.
Candidates must display exemplary physical fitness and marksmanship skills. Be mature and share the values of their profession and their unit.
Candidates will possess no derogatory actions in his/her records as a Sergeant or above in the last 12 months (i.e. Article 15, etc).
Candidates must exercise sound leadership principles. Candidates must display examples of professional Army ethics.
Candidates must strengthen and develop the Seven Army Values in Soldiers and display the Warrior Ethos.
The nominee must have a current APFT within 6 months (with a score of 240 or better with a minimum of 80 points per event) and vveapons qualification. Only Soldiers with valid permanent profiles will be excluded from the 240 overall score requirement but must still have 80 point minimum in all other authorized APFT events.
Must possess a GT score of 100 or above.
Candidates must have conducted 20 hours of volunteer service within the current FY and logged in VMIS.

Be proud that your hard work and dedication has given you the platform and recognition. Your obviously have what it takes to be nominated. Be you, take the board and make it your bitch! No harm in saying you don't know an answer. Man the fuk up!

I had this happen to me only with Soldier of the month. My PSG thought it would be a good idea to send me so I could get some experience before appearing at a promotion board for E-5. They gave me 4 days notice of the board, with two days left on a FTX. I crammed studied and prepped for the board in 24 hours and came in 2nd. Found out later that the guy the took 1st only did so because the president of the board was his 1SG and his PSG was a member of the board. They pushed for him because they felt that because he was ETSing he deserved to go out on a high note.

I hope not...should be a choice...

The realistic answer is no he/she cannot be forced, however some leaders take it upon themselves to go above and beyond the call of realism.

It's a lose/lose situation. If said NCO tries to get out of going to the SAM Board, they will likely be looked down upon and if said NCO has 8 days to prepare, they are being set up for failure.

I don't think they should be forced. I think if they said flat out "I will embarrass you because I didn't have enough prep time." the 1SG might back down.