Can I be forced to go to the board even if I’m not ready?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 10:40:41 -0400

I’ve been told I’m going to the board with such a short notice with little to no time to study and retain all this information. I don’t want to go because I simply don’t want to embarrass myself or my company. My question is, can they force me to go still?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2020 10:49 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 10:49:24 -0400

Forced is not the appropriate word to use. Ordered to go. That's the phrase you're looking for. And yes, you can be ordered. However, if you feel that you are not ready, talk with your NCOs and your Chain to see if you can have more time to prepare and study. If you approach them professionally with your dilemma/concern AND with a plan of action, they may acquiesce to your request.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2020 10:58 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 10:58:51 -0400

You’ll embarrass your company 1SG by not showing up. Read the promotion reg and you’ll see everyone is required to go to the board of hen they hit the primary zone. Refusal to go to the board will result in being barred

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Sep 16 at 2020 11:17 AM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 11:17:57 -0400

You can be ordered to go to the board, what you do once before the board is up to you. Refusing or denying can hold some negative consequences, if in your primary zone, and you refuse, I believe you could be Barred. So I am going to give you some advice. Go to the board, not because you are being ordered to, or any of that stuff, go to the board for the experience, get a feel for what and how a promotion board operates, and finally, if you know your basics about regulations and know your job, and can answer some basic skill level 1 and 2 questions, you will emerge promotable. Your Chain has confidence in you, or they would not be sending you. Nearly every question from the board is stuff you already know, not saying to not refresh your knowledge, but neither is it a physics exam. One of the things they are looking for is confidence, even if you give a wrong answer, showing hesitation or indecision will hurt you, and you can always return to the question at the end.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Sep 16 at 2020 11:20 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 11:20:33 -0400

They can't force you, but I would be wary about turning down the recommendation. What many don't understand is that a recommendation to the board is an action by your leadership that says, "we believe this person is ready." Now, if you go against that notion, you tell your leadership that there is something they aren't seeing, that they cannot trust their perceptions about your preparedness. You might not be able to repair the damage that refusal will do to the way your leadership evaluates your performance. My advice: study very hard until the day of the board and perhaps ask your NCO--who will always speak to the board prior to your appearance--to state during your introduction that you were only notified of your recommendation as of whatever particular date. Also, don't sweat the board too much. I spent 20ish minutes of my sergeant board being yelled at by a frocked 1SG who was present when I told my previous 1SG that we needed to go out back and throw down. I passed my board 145 out of 150. You'll be fine.

Response by CSM William Everroad made Sep 16 at 2020 11:22 AM

CSM William Everroad — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 11:22:56 -0400

You are being told to go to the board because you are in Primary Zone. You feeling you are not ready is either a sign you have not been properly mentored on your career trajectory or personal or professional decisions up to this point have left you unprepared. Read the regulation before pulling that trigger of declining promotion consideration.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2020 11:26 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 11:26:09 -0400

Yes. They can. Get as prepared as you can.

I went to both my SGT and SSG boards in Iraq. The SGT board I rocked. I had time to prepare. A friend of mind would sit and just ask me questions from the study guide every single day. At work or off work whatever.

The SSG board - I wasn't so hot. It was right after my R&R which I had to get extended a week because I found out (when I went home and to the VA hospital) I had gotten MRSA in Iraq. I also had a huge boil that I brought to a head and had a gaping hole in the side of my abdomen. So the doctor said you can't go back with that - got extended a week (worst R&R ever by the way).

I came back after all that and I was friends with the S1 clerk. She says "oh by the way you're on the list for promotion board - it's Friday." I got back on like a Sun or Mon. I had four days to study.

I tried - but I wasn't ready. On top of that they had taken away my 249 (my NCOIC said NCOs shouldn't have a 249) and I hadn't had a chance to qualify with M16 yet. So I only had my 249 card in the packet.

So I'm at the board. Did functions check, put my M16 up there to inspect. I hear CSM go to my 1SG "Why does she have a 249 card but has M16." She said she didn't know.

Okay so then I'm going through questions and I honestly blanked. I was nervous. The CSM even said "Are you nervous?" I said no Sergeant Major. Not at all." He said "I've never seen you nervous." He was a guy who if you said "I don't know" three times he kicked you out. I had gotten to two. Then he stopped it and said "I can't send your packet to brigade with an invalid weapons card." He told me if I could qualify before it was due to brigade, I'd be promotable. If not, come back next month.

I went to S3, found a Reserve unit going to the range at our FOB and went out with them. Didn't do amazing but I qualified.

I also got tagged to go to a NCO of the month board literally last minute and I didn't think I did that great. There was only one other soldier that went for NCO of the month. He won. But I did the best I could.

You should just be studying all the time anyway - most of what they ask is stuff you do every day. Anymore, NCOs ask more scenario based questions than just study guide questions.

If you go and you don't do so well - you know what your weaknesses are and what to improve on.

My mock board before I went to SGT board - was a damn nightmare. I apparently said "shit" like 3 times when I said the NCO Creed (which I never said at either promotion board). My 1SG said "there's no shit in the NCO Creed." I was confused and he told me I said it. I didn't even remember doing that.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Sep 16 at 2020 11:39 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 11:39:58 -0400

Being sent to boards is part of the job. "Being forced" is just your perspective. Refusing to go to a board is similar to refusing orders. Technically you are an adult and can do what you want but the consequences of those actions will be negative to say the least. Just study and do your best. Picking this as your hill to die on will burn a lot of bridges.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2020 12:06 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 12:06:44 -0400

How short is short notice? Given a few days and a real commitment to cramming you should be able to retain a good bit of information. Ask around for study guides that others have used and start hitting the books.

Also, if your leaders did give you extremely short notice, they should support giving you extra time during the duty day to prepare. If they haven’t offered such support, ask them for it. See if they will run a mock board for you, too. It’s important that you know the board format. Helping you prepare is part of their jobs as leaders.

Just keep in mind that even if it does not go well, you will learn from the experience and you will be better prepared next time. I certainly have bombed a few boards during my time in the Army...

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Sep 16 at 2020 12:26 PM

SSG Paul Headlee — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 12:26:12 -0400

Let's say you go and pass. Now you're promotable. Let's say you're a soup sandwich. You'll learn from it but more importantly it will eliminate the dreaded "fear of the unknown". What's the turn around time on re-boarding? Probably not too long. The board experience will settle you down and focus your efforts in preparation. Its actually a good thing. Jump in with both feet. If you land feet-knees-face and then go back for more you'll have greater credibility than someone who is reluctant to step up to the challenge. Your existence as an NCO will be full of situations that are dumped in your lap. You will be expected to get good results. Learn to embrace uncertainty. Learn that you've got to be ready to fight with what you've got versus what you wish you had. Preparation is great, when you can get it. Eventually things like this will become just another battle drill to you. You can do this!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2020 2:05 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 14:05:29 -0400

Better to go even if you don't feel comfortable. That fear alone might be the only thing stopping you from succeeding.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2020 6:50 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 18:50:48 -0400

It doesn't take very long to prepare for a board. I was told I would be sent to the promotion board a week and a half prior to the actual board. I studied and earned my promotable status no problem. Ensure you a dedicating time to study the regulations/MOI.

Response by Cpl Todd Armbruster made Sep 16 at 2020 9:17 PM

Cpl Todd Armbruster — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 21:17:14 -0400

Experience will never hurt ya. Do your best

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2020 10:15 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 22:15:06 -0400

yes, if you are in your Initial entry to your primary zone, you must go, or you get a Bar to continued service

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2020 2:30 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 02:30:46 -0400

Everyone hear has already talked about regs and failure of mentorship or the like. However, we should discuss why you yourself think you're not ready. How long have you been in? How many exercises and deployments have you been on? Even if those are all low in number and you just hit the primary zone the amount of knowledge you likely have should be enough to now study hardcore (just like preparing for a very important mission or event.)

I think what we're actually seeing isnt that you're not prepared only. There is a sense that this is going to make you uncomfortable. I have to tell you, that is exactly where you want to be. Not just in the Army, but in life. We need to seek out situations that make us uncomfortable, that will make us stronger. If you fail you will come out of this twice the Soldier you will. Being hyped up and nervous is going to help you react to something like this later.

Don't try to be a great man, just be a man, failure will not kill you. Embarrassing people won't kill you. Avoiding everything that makes you uncomfortable though? Will keep you safe... not fracture your ego, but will never allow you to unlock your potential.

I hope you make the choice that is best for you. Good luck, hope it all works out.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2020 5:01 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 05:01:31 -0400

Can you be ordered to appear before a board? The answer is yes. In my past life my NCO walked into the area told me to go home and get my uniform I was "going" to the board in 2 hours. Welcome to Army Life. Boards are about basic Soldiering you should be ready at all times to answer those types of questions.
BTW I won that board.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2020 11:04 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 11:04:12 -0400

When I was a "Buck" Sergeant, I had dropped a CID packet, which was somewhere in their approval pipeline. In order to be considered for CID, one cannot be more than E-5P. So I had told my first line that I was waiting for word from CID about my packet. For about 3 months, he didn't submit my name for the SSG Board. Then one month, he got tired of waiting and told me I was going. I reluctantly agreed and decided that I wouldn't prepare at all, and that would prevent me from being considered for SSG. I went into the board totally unprepared and nonchalantly. As I was a S-1 NCO, I had close professional relationships with all the Company 1SGs, who were always trying to stay on my good side in a perceived effort to get even better service. So most of them only asked a couple of truly "softball" questions that anyone who has been in the Army for a day would know, and one of them just asked one question regarding his Orderly Room clerk's quality of submitted documents, then said that was all he had for me. The CSM leaned forward to look at the 1SG and asked "Really?" At the end of it all, I got recommended, my CID packet got kicked back, and then I got assigned to Korea, where I got promoted after my first week in-country.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2020 1:06 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 13:06:09 -0400

Back when I was a SPC, I knew the exact day that I was going to be board eligible and I made sure I was preparing, so I don't buy the short notice excuse. These boards happen on a regularly scheduled basis. You go before the board once you reach the required TIG/TIS, etc. You've had plenty of time to study, you just didn't use it. and if you just suddenly woke up and "oh shit, I'm going before the board" then you've been asleep at the wheel ever since you made SPC.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Sep 17 at 2020 2:31 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 14:31:08 -0400

The easiest thing to do is study the best you can with a buddy , do the best that you can do and see where it takes you, options are always better than nothing. Your COC informed you of the board, it is a Soldiers personal responsibility to be ready at all times. As soon as you made SPC your studying should have started. You can refuse to go and pay the price, you can go and act like an incompetent individual unworthy of promotion and pay the price or you can give it your best and be professional and get elected for SGT, even if you decide your a one and done and get out, you never quit and that translates into civilian life very easily. I got hit with last minute boards back in the day and I sat on a number of last minute boards. Its all in the presentation and ability of those selected and how they act under pressure. You can memorize every reg there is and still come across as a buffoon, I have seen it and its not pretty. I also saw a number of troops purposely fail the board and it did not end well for them. Don't be " that guy".

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2020 3:04 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 15:04:55 -0400

My ETS IS 2021

Response by SPC John Decker made Sep 17 at 2020 8:47 PM

SPC John Decker — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 20:47:32 -0400

If you knew you were Boardable, you should have been studying all along. Back in my day, the Board only convened when x number of a particular rank had reached the point cut-off for Boardability. You would be told when you reached the cut-off but were not given a lot of lead time for when the Board convened.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2020 10:58 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 22:58:18 -0400

Not sure if they can force you, but don't turn it down. I got told I was going to the board the last hour of the duty day, the day before we started a 4 day. The board was the day after the 4 day. Work with your FFL to study and crush it. Even if you bomb it, give it your all and it'll show and make them want to continue to develop you.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2020 12:09 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 00:09:28 -0400

You have to go. Do the best you can but if all else fails just say that you have been concentrating on knowing all aspects of your job so that your leaders don’t have to waste time training you on your job and giving them the time to do leader tasks. Who is going to fault you for that? Good luck.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2020 3:06 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 03:06:21 -0400

I'm not in the army so this information may not be 100% accurate for you but I went on my promotion board after being told the day of that I was on it. Sometimes that's the way it goes. Just go, be professional, and be confident in your answers even if you're wrong. You're likely to be recommended and if not it's good experience for the next one so you'll know what to expect. If the issue is that you don't think you're ready to be an NCO you can non rec yourself on your board. I wouldn't recommend doing that because it will skyline you but you can do it.

Response by Cpl Christopher Carpenter made Sep 27 at 2020 4:00 PM

Cpl Christopher Carpenter — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 16:00:47 -0400

Yes they can. I can remember having to go before a board when they had the dates mixed up (it was supposed to be in a week). Even though I got a lot of questions wrong, I kept my bearing and held true to my answers. I can only imagine how the others did because I ended up winning and earned my promotion to corporal because of it.

Response by Cpl Charles Trump made Sep 29 at 2020 7:05 AM

Cpl Charles Trump — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 07:05:43 -0400

Its called volun -told!

Response by SGT(P) Christopher Poole made Sep 29 at 2020 6:21 PM

SGT(P) Christopher Poole — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 18:21:22 -0400

Have you been studying your MOI? If you've been studying your MOI that was given to you, don't worry much about it and go for your P status. You can't grow if you don't challenge yourself plus you won't hear the end of it from your chain of command lol.

I'm sure you'll be fine, just take it one day at a time and don't swamp yourself with the study material. Your peers and team leader should also offer some bit of guidance and help.

Response by Cpl Rodney Watts made Oct 3 at 2020 5:51 PM

Cpl Rodney Watts — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 17:51:30 -0400

Think of yourself as a hammer can a hammer say no I don’t want to nail that nail no you gave up the choice when you signed up you know what is expected of you as a member of the armed forces and if your not prepared go to the man in charge of you and let him know your not ready you don’t have your shit together and your not prepared so he can go up the chain and let them know they have a broke hammer and need to fix it and if your in the marine corps trust me your cpls will straighten you out no worries buddy remember your chain of command follow it and be a man you protecting my freedom son don’t be a dumbass you know what the write thing to do is now go do it and always remember no one can make you do anything it’s if your ready for the consequences you sighted a contract and swore to god

Response by SGT Jay Holland made Oct 22 at 2020 6:09 PM

SGT Jay Holland — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 18:09:50 -0400

You can be ordered to go to the promotion board, show up and do your best. If you do not do well, normally the president of the board will ask you how long you have been studying and when you found out that you were to attend. If your NCO was doing his job right, you would have been counseled and the month prior that you were recommended for the board. Remember that when you become a leader.

Response by SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM made Oct 24 at 2020 9:26 AM

SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 09:26:29 -0400

Not ready? Then there has been a serious breakdown in your chain... and you, for not being "ready" at anytime.