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

Honest opinion here, I do not believe any soldier should be forced to attend any board, regardless of notification time.

Grant, these boards can do wonders for a career but the truth is, some soldiers simply are not that career minded. Some soldiers look upon those kinds of "brownie point" boards as 'ass-kissing'. Some soldiers simply want to do the job they enlisted for and be left the hell alone.

They should be strongly encouraged to go to a few boards, soldier of the month and such, as it does wonders to prep them for promotion boards, but had I been forced to attend such a board there is no way I would have stayed in very long.

No soldier cannot be forced to attend Audie Murphy board but it is a prestigious thing and it's something that works toward your promotion if you have a career in the military so really it's all up to the servicemember and usually it's a one time thing just like the sword makers academy so you need to think about it if you don't feel comfortable with it see about getting some assistance with being tutored for the board it's nothing more than like preparing for a promotion board so now the answer is no you can't be forced

Some promotion boards are just an excercise to see how well the NCO's know their job. Others are set up to promote a already qualifyied personal, but the guidelines state there must be a "board" held to be proper. The NCO should take advantage of this time and make as many points as he/she can to improve for the board.

No NCO should ever need "forcing" to do anything when it comes to being an NCO. If I had an NCO in my company who refused anything having to do with leadership, I would do my best to get him/her out of the army. If you do not want to do everything required of an NCO, don't put on the stripes.

I can relate in a small way as I had been in basic training 3 days when I was sent before a board to compete with those of 4-5 weeks experience. I was set up to fail so someone else could fill a square. This particular 1SG and CSM may not be considering the blemish this could mean for them in terms of the decision making process. While I'm not familiar with the requirements for this board, just the name of the award alone adds loads of prestige to those who win/qualify. There may indeed be those who could prepare themselves in 8 days to perform credibly before the board, but as an enlisted leader I would want to have made this decision and announcement much earlier so as to give my candidate the maximum time for preparation.

The real question is why is he being "forced to compete" and why does he think he will make a fool of himself? If he is good enough to be selected, he should realize that the 1SG believes he is able to win. This sounds like either a fear reaction or a resistance to authority. Neither are traits of a good NCO.

While a NCO should be rewarded for outstanding military service he should not be forced to compete or face a board of any kind against his or her will. I say this with all due respect to my fellow soldiers no matter what race or creed! I have seen individuals sent to promotion boards, and receive recognition for accomplishments they may or may not have earned simply because of their race or sex and the army sent down quotas that required a balance be maintained ireguardless of qualifications or willingness of individuals selected.

I would like to add in here after reading many comments. I never heard such crap. Why did you join the Army? Review boards? Sit on prestigious boards? I never heard such lost NCOs in my life. You cam to train, to fight, to lead boys and make them men and soldiers. Get out from behind your desk and lead. Teach them to survive, to fight, to be warriors. Sounds like some of you do not deserve the stripes on your sleeve. Why are you in the Army, to join some club? You are no one special. For those of you that have experienced it, tell your troops parent their child has died in the throws of combat, You did one of the toughest things you will ever experience in your life. Your job is to train them for that ultimate mission. Bring them all home, alive. I did.

Being an NCO is not about prestige, it about the troops. My prestige is on my sleeve, to be the best NCO that I can. As an NCO, I asked for nothing but honesty and loyalty from my peers and subordinates alike.

A short time after returning from Somalia in 1994, I was in my office doing paper work since our equipment was still on ship and hadn't made it home yet. My office door swung open and my company commander along with several other officers entered. I rendered the proper greeting and was told to carry on. As some small talk and questions were fired my direction I heard a voice familiar to me call out "Seargeant Haugen, how are you?" To my amazement it was a two star that I had known just a few short years earlier. I was just as surprised he remembered my name. As conversation went on, he directly asked me if I would come work for him at division headquarters. Well, stupid as it may seem, I openly turned him down. I think we all could have died because it felt as if their was no oxygen left in the room. My reply was simply, we had just gotten home and I belong with my men. The general accepted my answer.

Yes, I am very honored to even be asked, but I answered honestly. Weather it is Audie Murphy or an offer from a General, that alone is an honor. In return for the honest answer, I would hope the chain of command would accept this NCOs position. Whom ever this NCO is, stay strong, you have my support.

Sounds to me like the CSM wanted another bullet on his NCOER. I'm an Audie Murphy club member and this is exactly the person that won't show up to events we have in the community or even to meetings. He was forced to go, it looks good as a billet on everyone's NCOER in his rating chain and you never see them again. It's the opposite of what an Audie Murphy club member should be.