Can you be barred if you are not ready for the SGT promotion board?

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 May 2017 12:21:16 -0400

One of my soliders went to a SOM board in hopes of being ready to go to the monthly promotion board. The SM received a No-Go. The 1SG sitting in told them they had 5 days to retrain and attend the secondary SOM board. If SM receives a second No-Go they were threatened with a Bar to reenlist, as well as declining an EFMP initiated PCS due to Health concerns. Is this possible or is it an IG issue

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2017 1:14 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 May 2017 13:14:23 -0400

No. They can't do that. I have never heard of someone being barred to reenlist because they didn't pass two Soldier of the Month boards in a row. Those aren't even requirements per AR 600-8-19 to go to a promotion board. Do you mean a compassionate reassignment? Was the compassionate already approved?

Have you talked to your chain of command? This doesn't sound right at all. If that soldier is in the primary zone, they have to get counseled monthly as to why they aren't going to the promotion board.

That just doesn't sound right. I just glanced in AR 600-8-19. Can a unit say you have to pass a SOM board before you can go to the promotion board? Yeah. But I don't think they can do a bar to reenlist when you aren't flagged for UCMJ or APFT or weight failure. That sounds shady.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2017 2:38 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 May 2017 14:38:19 -0400

Hells no they can't BAR someone for not passing a SOM board. They can certainly keep them from going to promotion boards, but not BAR someone. And yes, I would say this sounds like an IG complaint.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2017 3:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 May 2017 15:56:47 -0400

While I don't agree, and believe it to be an intimidation tactic, I also don't know the Soldier and everything surrounding their situation. However, for the sake of knowledge, I've attached a screenshot from AR 601-280, pertaining to Bar to Reenlistment. Read Chapter 8, but particularly the last sentence of Paragraph 8-4a, as well as all of 8-4d(1) through 8-4d(19)(f). Commanders CAN Bar a Soldier for basically anything, with a few exceptions.

While the 1SG isn't the commander, they are the Commander's senior enlisted advisor, and can make strong recommendations for action.

I say all of this to say, do an HONEST assessment of your Soldier, and have him do the same. If it was truly an unwarranted threat against a documented average to stellar Soldier, then pursue IG for clarification. However, if your Soldier is honestly ate up, and you are trying to defend him on the idea of technical "wrongness" by the 1SG, then your time would be better used helping him fix his deficiencies.

That's just my take on it. It's his career, he should do what's best for his future goals.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made May 22 at 2017 12:09 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Mon, 22 May 2017 12:09:29 -0400

"One of my soliders went to a SOM board in hopes of being ready to go to the monthly promotion board. The SM received a No-Go. The 1SG sitting in told them they had 5 days to retrain and attend the secondary SOM board. If SM receives a second No-Go they were threatened with a Bar to reenlist"

See my response to another posted misguided statement to read my opinion.
" as well as declining an EFMP initiated PCS due to Health concerns."
The only way that reads as reasonable is if the SM is due almost immediate reenlistment, or perhaps needed to extend to meet service obligations IOT be eligible for this potential PCS.
If the SM is found unsuitable for reenlistment (barred, under the provisions of AR601-280, reason for justifying a bar para 8, 4d it would make sense to stop or delay the PCS process..... no matter the justification for that PCS, be it personal preference , normal rotation after time on station or a PCS by exception.. If your unsuitable for reenlistment, that means no PCS as well.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2017 8:35 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 May 2017 20:35:34 -0400

It is my experience that when questions like this arise, there is much more to the story than is being lead on. So, I would ask, are there other circumstances that need to be exposed? If you are not the soldier in question, you may have no idea what else is there. People tend to leave out inconvenient details to make us look poor.

Response by SSG Damon Alexander made May 22 at 2017 9:13 PM

SSG Damon Alexander — Mon, 22 May 2017 21:13:36 -0400

Squad Leader, and Plt Sgt, should be fighting for this soldier, and talking to Bn CSM, Bde CSM, Post CSM, etc, and get this issue resolved with a quickness!

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made May 23 at 2017 3:11 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Tue, 23 May 2017 03:11:37 -0400

This definitely sounds like an issue to bring up to IG. SOM boards are in no way, shape, or form a requirement for anything. They are extracurricular events that may help you. But if a soldier doesn't pass the board there is no basis for a bar or flag or any negative reproccussions. The chain of command is definitely doing something extremely shady here.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 22 at 2018 3:58 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 15:58:24 -0500

Yes, a bar is up to the CO- if you can't pass a SOM board then your chances of a promotion board are about zilch- no the EFMP for health reasons tho. But if the bar precludes the PCS- that could be a different tory. This is a up or out Army and has been for decades.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 27 at 2019 9:10 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 21:10:38 -0500

You can be barred for just about anything, and failing Promotion Boards is one of these. I think it is stretching the envelope with Soldier of the Month- unless the SM was given ample time to study/train and didn't. Now if they are actually barred, that stops all personal actions, to include PCS. Keep in mind, as strong as the 1SG is, all of this must be handled by the unit CDR, not the 1SG- tho TOP can pack a lot of weight with a CPT. I suggest this goes thru the open Door policy with the 1SG and the CO. Of course all your comment are legally hearsay unless you were there.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2019 10:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 22:00:56 -0500

For everyone saying you can't bar these guys...you're wrong. Company-level commanders can bar for pretty much anything.