Can having a permanent profile too early in your career keep from being successful

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 11:16:47 -0400

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Sep 9 at 2016 11:31 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 11:31:54 -0400

It really depends on if it impedes your MOS duties now or likley in the future, additional duties or Non MOS assignments you are likely to be assigned now and in your future.

But as almost all profiles in one way or another affect the performance of your duties as a Soldier (hence the reason for getting a physical limiting profile) Id say in many cases yes a P3 profile is likley to be a point of issue for most leaders considering you for future assignments, promotion, ect.

Hypotheticals
Hearing loss correctable with a hearing aid, MOS is 42A..Id say no affect. Mangable, does not impact duties , still world wide deployable and the medical condition and its remedies are easily handled in any theater or duty location.

Shoulder injury preventing you from raising your right arm higher then 53Deg no weight, and higher then 30 Deg with a weight of more than 4.5lb... Might you be able to perform ALL duties as a 42A? Maybe.. but who is going to pull your weight inn setting field operations? Who is going to pull your weight loading and unloading the section conex? Servicing the sections Gen sets, vehicles?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 11:43 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 11:43:49 -0400

Whether it's a fair assessment or not, permanent profiles will impede your abilities to lead Soldiers. One of the major issues in my own career field is the sheer number of senior leaders who are unable to run or ruck with the Soldiers. It is amazing the esprit de corps and respect junior Soldiers develop when their leader is literally doing the exact same things that they are doing. It goes back to the old adage of never asking a Soldier to do something you're not willing to do... and I extend that by never asking my guys to do something they haven't seen me do first.

Response by SGT David Eckstein made Sep 9 at 2016 11:52 AM

SGT David Eckstein — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 11:52:48 -0400

I don't think so. As long as the profile is for something legitimate. I've seen too many soldiers get perm profiles just so they can not have to do a portion of the APFT. And in my opinion that's pure laziness.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Sep 9 at 2016 11:53 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 11:53:19 -0400

My experience says yes. Depending on what it is for it may preclude you from some developmental assignments which can weigh heavily on competitive selections.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Sep 9 at 2016 12:38 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 12:38:50 -0400

I avoided it myself, but based on the experiences of others I've seen, I'd hesitantly answer the question thusly: There's the official answer, and then there's the real world.

(And all too often the two don't agree.)

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 1:00 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 13:00:37 -0400

Yes and No. You can't go for different jobs the army has because you might be require to run. But the profile will help you heal and not over stress that part (s) of the body.

Response by SFC John Munz made Sep 9 at 2016 1:27 PM

SFC John Munz — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 13:27:46 -0400

Had a permanent profile late in my career that already had been damaged since my patients came before my rank. Step on toes, no matter how appropriately done, I was too much of a rebel for many.

Response by MSG Pat Colby made Sep 9 at 2016 1:34 PM

MSG Pat Colby — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 13:34:54 -0400

I had a grenade simulator go off in front of my face in 1981 and my ears have been ringing ever since. My resulting P3 was somewhat of a hindrance.

When I reported to Ranger School in 1988, the processing RI looked at my physical and said "You cannot attend with a 3 in your hearing. Go look in your equipment and find the copy that has a 1." He then slid a bottle of White Out across the table in my direction. I grabbed the white out and changed the 3 to a 1. When I returned, the SGT said "Very resourceful Ranger! NEXT Station!"

My hearing loss is 10% of my VA disability.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 3:28 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 15:28:56 -0400

How do you define success? As you progress through the ranks, promotions become more and more competitive. Board AARs increasingly mention APFT performance as a factor. So if you have a permanent profile that keeps you from getting a 300, but your peer has a 300 and near equal performance as you, who will be selected? Again, it depends on how you measure success.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 5:04 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 17:04:29 -0400

Only if you let it keep you from being successful

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 9 at 2016 5:08 PM

SFC George Smith — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 17:08:04 -0400

it can depending the Limitations...

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Sep 9 at 2016 5:10 PM

SFC Joseph Weber — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 17:10:30 -0400

Yes and probably should. 3 in E or S you probably need to get out of the Army. P, U, or L kind of hard to be a leader who never does PT or does alternate crap or can't carry more than 10 pounds early in your career. Over 15 probably ok. Might not ever make MSG. H...may have to reclass but i wouln't think that big a hindrance.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Sep 9 at 2016 6:49 PM

Maj Marty Hogan — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 18:49:32 -0400

Two sided question- as a leader if someone has a limitation and it doesn't fit into the overall mission assigned- keep them or remove them? Hard to separate the human side from the mission side sometimes. I see more than most as the med admin and we have some broken people. For something trivial if it doesn't affect performance- not an issue. But when a member uses it to get out of doing annual PT assessments, but yet can deploy...issue for me personally. Integrity is hard to grow. Sorry long answer and some rant in there as well 1SG Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SPC Chelsea Fernandez made Sep 9 at 2016 8:10 PM

SPC Chelsea Fernandez — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 20:10:09 -0400

I believe so. I had a permanent profile through my active time and national guard time. I feel that the profile I had I was not moving up in ranks.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 11:16 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 23:16:36 -0400

The military teaches us to overcome all obstacles that are thrown our way. If you truly want to be successful you will find a way, permanent profile or not. You will do whatever it takes to succeed.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2016 2:24 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 14:24:01 -0500

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but considering that all medical records are electronic now means they won't be "lost" during PCS. Profiles are electronic now too. Readiness is the #1, #2 and #3 priority of a military in drawdown. Anyone with access can scrub the system to find out profile status... CDRs are being denied command due to Permanent Profiles. where do YOU think this is headed?

Response by MSG Bob Metz made Oct 8 at 2017 5:52 PM

MSG Bob Metz — Sun, 08 Oct 2017 17:52:28 -0400

I held a number of profiles in 11 years of AD and 24 years of Reserve Duty. Most were Temporary and 2 were eventually combined to a single Permanent Profile. I was convinced I would be stuck as a SSG and that I would be forced to leave the service. Throughout my service - worked all that much harder maintain my level of productivity and increase it where I could. I haves a number of supervisors and SM that held a bias towards SM with profiles. Face it there is an inappropriate bias that is prevalent at all levels of the Army...and in the other services as well. I utilized every administrative tool available to me in actions taken to remove me from the service. I have probably been luckier than most in my level of success...100%...and that includes 3 appeals processes. In addition, I fought...and fought hard in an appeal be able to serve in Iraq after I was classified as nondeployable; despite having all the necessary documentation showing I was. I was in fact also accused of fraudulently gathering my documentation. Needless to say I was angered to no end. On return to my duty station I submitted my appeal immediately. I was boarded, and six months later I was deployed with another unit. It was absolutely the best 16 months of my career. I ended my career retiring as a MSG...I had limitations some legitimate and some not so legitimate. Was I successful - oh hell yes...I did not get to do everything I may have wanted to do - but I was successful.

It all comes down to the individual. There is not a limitation that cannot be overcome, easily said I know. It all comes down to what you are willing to accept and how hard you are willing to fight for what you want.