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Just want to throw this out there.... I am a 74D CBRNE Specialist for an MP Company (have been for 2 years, came in as an E4), and I am the only deemed "CBRNE" soldier this company has. There is a 74D E6 that is assigned to our BN but they cannot go to the field, so I am usually the only one at a BN level as well (I was for AT). I am expected to train, educate, and lead any CBRNE training efforts to prepare and instruct soldiers on how to properly use their mask, and how to detect/mark different potential CBRNE markers, etc., and I am also in charge of the CBRNE supply cage at my company, and I consistintely sign off on the SI (Sensitive Item) Inventory of my cage... as well as properly tag and prepare any equipment that needs to be sent for calibration, account for it being gone on the inventory list, and perform PME on ALL the different radiac sets we have. Every soldier in my company has also in-processed with me and has been correctly fitted a mask (using the PATS machine), as well as JSLIST trainers, etc.
So knowing all that.... Here's why I am asking this question. I keep getting denied a slot for BLC (yes, I am BEGGING to go to this NCO Leadership course because I actually want to move up in the Army). Apparently, according to BN and Brigade, I am LOW priority to be placed on the PPRL (remember.. 74D is a STAR MOS.. only need 40 promotion points for BOTH E5 & E6 promotions) I currently have 226+ points... but yet apparently I am LOW on the totem pole because I am not in a "leadership position".... Well, I am the only "CBRNE 'NCOIC' " this company and often BATTALION has.... So wouldn't this deem me a "leader"??? Also, the best part is, I am consistently told I need to do such SI inventories (instead of attend other training that the rest of the soldiers get to do during drill, such as drivers training.... still don't have a military vehicle license because of this), and now I am being told I will stay late after our upcoming field drill to update "the system I have" for the Supply E6, since they apparently want to know the names of each individual soldier that has a mask, etc. (I have their DA Form 2062's filed by size of mask they have been issued, and do the same for JSLIST.... Apparently they expect me to also have a sort of "Alpha roster" type list/system that they expect me to come up with on my own on top of the normal hand receipt record method as well). I don't mind doing it, but at the same time it seems a bit unfair and not right to ask so much out of one SPC, does it not? The Supply E6 is an AGR, I am not, just a normal Reservist that needs to travel an hour and a half to get to this company, and I am going to have to stay late after returning from the field Sunday night to do all of this. Because I am a SPC, I have no soldiers tasked under me, and am consistently doing things on my own. Also, another great fact.... I have ben denied a CPL rank in the meantime (while I am "low priority" to get a BLC slot to be able to promote to SGT) because apparently the "200th MP Command has a new rule that states no one under the 200th MP will be allowed to have the rank of CPL in order to "encourage" promotable SPC to attend PME courses". It's all basically a catch 22 they have me in.... I have been trying to leave this company for some time but they deny any transfer request due to this unit being a "ready force x" unit.
I promise I'm not a "lazy soldier", I actually was coined by a full bird Colonel (in charge of all the OC NCO's that were evaluating/training us during the exercise) during our AT for being one of the most knowledgeable and "high-speed" CBRNE soldiers' the OC's have ever seen/worked with.... I was told by a CPT from the Readiness Division that watch me lead a training session for my companies soldiers on CBRN Readiness that my level of knowledge and expertise is actually above any of the CBRN NCO's he has ever worked with (just a fun fact... I have a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, and a minor in Nuclear Engineering... so I tend to know a lot more than the usual 74D just because it's also what I studied in college. I also am currently an engineer for a DoD contractor, and know how to work on explosives and am certified to handle such, etc.). One of the NCO's in my company had even recommended me for an AAM award because of this.... but never got an award. I have been in the Army Reserves for 2+ years now as an E4 and still only have my 2 award ribbons from AIT... So much for picking up rank or awards during my service...... I think I will not end up re-enlisting after this contract is up, will probably get out as a SPC with the same 2 awards anyway.
So knowing all that.... Here's why I am asking this question. I keep getting denied a slot for BLC (yes, I am BEGGING to go to this NCO Leadership course because I actually want to move up in the Army). Apparently, according to BN and Brigade, I am LOW priority to be placed on the PPRL (remember.. 74D is a STAR MOS.. only need 40 promotion points for BOTH E5 & E6 promotions) I currently have 226+ points... but yet apparently I am LOW on the totem pole because I am not in a "leadership position".... Well, I am the only "CBRNE 'NCOIC' " this company and often BATTALION has.... So wouldn't this deem me a "leader"??? Also, the best part is, I am consistently told I need to do such SI inventories (instead of attend other training that the rest of the soldiers get to do during drill, such as drivers training.... still don't have a military vehicle license because of this), and now I am being told I will stay late after our upcoming field drill to update "the system I have" for the Supply E6, since they apparently want to know the names of each individual soldier that has a mask, etc. (I have their DA Form 2062's filed by size of mask they have been issued, and do the same for JSLIST.... Apparently they expect me to also have a sort of "Alpha roster" type list/system that they expect me to come up with on my own on top of the normal hand receipt record method as well). I don't mind doing it, but at the same time it seems a bit unfair and not right to ask so much out of one SPC, does it not? The Supply E6 is an AGR, I am not, just a normal Reservist that needs to travel an hour and a half to get to this company, and I am going to have to stay late after returning from the field Sunday night to do all of this. Because I am a SPC, I have no soldiers tasked under me, and am consistently doing things on my own. Also, another great fact.... I have ben denied a CPL rank in the meantime (while I am "low priority" to get a BLC slot to be able to promote to SGT) because apparently the "200th MP Command has a new rule that states no one under the 200th MP will be allowed to have the rank of CPL in order to "encourage" promotable SPC to attend PME courses". It's all basically a catch 22 they have me in.... I have been trying to leave this company for some time but they deny any transfer request due to this unit being a "ready force x" unit.
I promise I'm not a "lazy soldier", I actually was coined by a full bird Colonel (in charge of all the OC NCO's that were evaluating/training us during the exercise) during our AT for being one of the most knowledgeable and "high-speed" CBRNE soldiers' the OC's have ever seen/worked with.... I was told by a CPT from the Readiness Division that watch me lead a training session for my companies soldiers on CBRN Readiness that my level of knowledge and expertise is actually above any of the CBRN NCO's he has ever worked with (just a fun fact... I have a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, and a minor in Nuclear Engineering... so I tend to know a lot more than the usual 74D just because it's also what I studied in college. I also am currently an engineer for a DoD contractor, and know how to work on explosives and am certified to handle such, etc.). One of the NCO's in my company had even recommended me for an AAM award because of this.... but never got an award. I have been in the Army Reserves for 2+ years now as an E4 and still only have my 2 award ribbons from AIT... So much for picking up rank or awards during my service...... I think I will not end up re-enlisting after this contract is up, will probably get out as a SPC with the same 2 awards anyway.
CBRN NCO
NCO Academy
Retention NCO
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
5
5
0
SPC, allow me to throw my perspective on a few things regarding your situation:
How much Time In Service do you have? Based on your post, I'm guessing you are at less than 3 years. Despite coming in as a Specialist, for promotion to Sergeant requires 36 months Time In Service with 8 months Time In Grade. This is called the Primary Zone. For the Secondary Zone, 18 months Time In Service is required along with 6 Months Time In Grade. Now obviously you would qualify for the Secondary Zone based on what I am gathering from your post. The unfortunate thing about being Secondary Zone is that in order for recommendation for promotion, you need to be considered "above your peers". Depending on who's asking and who's telling, that can vary. While it may seem like you are overloaded with all the different duties as a Specialist, I assure you that's just standard fare for a CBRN soldier in a non-CBRN unit. There was a time when I myself as an E-3 was the only 74D in an entire Battalion. Fortunately, my Command was nice enough to not overload me and the CBRN Officer & S-4 took care of everything not in my company allowing me to do a stellar job on my own. (For your upcoming alpha roster tasking, I recommend doing that at home if you have all the 2062s with you....which you should. If you think you're only going to do Army stuff when you're at drill and be successful you're going to have a rough go of it.) I do get that you are in a STAR MOS, but a STAR MOS only means that the vacancies far outnumber the pool from which HRC can select from. While it should be an incentive for units to recommend their soldiers for promotion, the subsequent actions tend to regularly fall short of the intent.
Fortunately, once you reach your Primary Zone you are required to board and what happens from there will be based on your board results and personal merits. Now I'm only making an educated guess, but the reason why you might be a "low priority" for BLC is because your unit has so many others who are "organic" (the Primary MOS of the unit - in your case MPs) in their Primary Zone and thus are being assigned school slots first. I'm not sure where you are, but in general Reserve Component slots can be extremely limited, compared to Active Duty where if there is an NCO Academy at your duty station sometimes you can just "walk-in" and attend the course. I'm guessing there could be a major backlog in the system. As a former 74D myself, I understand that position of "being on the back burner" all too well. As a matter of fact, it took me 8+ years of service before I went to BLC, but back then for the majority of my career, you had to pin Sergeant before you went to school before HRC moved to the current STEP format.
I would encourage you to remain patient until such a time has passed and see if you being in the Primary Zone has any effect on your Chain of Command's stance. When such a time has come re-engage your 1SG, BN CSM, BDE CSM(in order) and see if there is a school date in the somewhat near future that you can attend. If not, I recommend speaking to your local Inspector General or 200th MP CMD CSM.
Now about those elusive awards....they don't come easy, especially when you're in such a predicament as yours. When you're in the Reserve Component you're probably in the field actually doing your job a couple times a year save Annual Training. Outside of you doing something far and beyond the call of duty(For instance, you single-handedly pushed the Donovians out of Atropia all the way back to the Azov Sea), it's hard to write a recommendation for just 48 hours of duty. Realistically, for Annual Training you should probably just hope for a blanket citation for your platoon or section. Like I mentioned earlier, as a 74D there's not a lot of love for us out there when you're not in a CBRN unit. Finding a unit that truly appreciates you is like finding a Chief Warrant Officer 5 who isn't a pilot, unicorns in the wild.
Also, entertain me for a bit, why didn't you just go officer? I'm always confounded why soldiers with degrees come in on the enlisted side of the house, it just seems like a lot of unnecessary suffering. I too have had civilian engineers under my responsibility as PFCs and the like who make double what I make even on Active Duty now, and whenever they had a gripe(legitimate or otherwise) I always respond, "If you had done the right thing, I'd be saluting you right now". Or whenever we had to "embrace the suck" I'd remind them what the CDR and XO were doing right then, just to have a little fun. Assuming you meet the general requirements, it's never too late to drop an OCS packet and earn a promotion that way; I'm confident you wouldn't have any problems getting selected as a 74A, most if not all of the 74As I met back in the schoolhouse said that Chemical Branch was their first choice.
Good luck SPC, feel free to keep us all here updated on your progress.
How much Time In Service do you have? Based on your post, I'm guessing you are at less than 3 years. Despite coming in as a Specialist, for promotion to Sergeant requires 36 months Time In Service with 8 months Time In Grade. This is called the Primary Zone. For the Secondary Zone, 18 months Time In Service is required along with 6 Months Time In Grade. Now obviously you would qualify for the Secondary Zone based on what I am gathering from your post. The unfortunate thing about being Secondary Zone is that in order for recommendation for promotion, you need to be considered "above your peers". Depending on who's asking and who's telling, that can vary. While it may seem like you are overloaded with all the different duties as a Specialist, I assure you that's just standard fare for a CBRN soldier in a non-CBRN unit. There was a time when I myself as an E-3 was the only 74D in an entire Battalion. Fortunately, my Command was nice enough to not overload me and the CBRN Officer & S-4 took care of everything not in my company allowing me to do a stellar job on my own. (For your upcoming alpha roster tasking, I recommend doing that at home if you have all the 2062s with you....which you should. If you think you're only going to do Army stuff when you're at drill and be successful you're going to have a rough go of it.) I do get that you are in a STAR MOS, but a STAR MOS only means that the vacancies far outnumber the pool from which HRC can select from. While it should be an incentive for units to recommend their soldiers for promotion, the subsequent actions tend to regularly fall short of the intent.
Fortunately, once you reach your Primary Zone you are required to board and what happens from there will be based on your board results and personal merits. Now I'm only making an educated guess, but the reason why you might be a "low priority" for BLC is because your unit has so many others who are "organic" (the Primary MOS of the unit - in your case MPs) in their Primary Zone and thus are being assigned school slots first. I'm not sure where you are, but in general Reserve Component slots can be extremely limited, compared to Active Duty where if there is an NCO Academy at your duty station sometimes you can just "walk-in" and attend the course. I'm guessing there could be a major backlog in the system. As a former 74D myself, I understand that position of "being on the back burner" all too well. As a matter of fact, it took me 8+ years of service before I went to BLC, but back then for the majority of my career, you had to pin Sergeant before you went to school before HRC moved to the current STEP format.
I would encourage you to remain patient until such a time has passed and see if you being in the Primary Zone has any effect on your Chain of Command's stance. When such a time has come re-engage your 1SG, BN CSM, BDE CSM(in order) and see if there is a school date in the somewhat near future that you can attend. If not, I recommend speaking to your local Inspector General or 200th MP CMD CSM.
Now about those elusive awards....they don't come easy, especially when you're in such a predicament as yours. When you're in the Reserve Component you're probably in the field actually doing your job a couple times a year save Annual Training. Outside of you doing something far and beyond the call of duty(For instance, you single-handedly pushed the Donovians out of Atropia all the way back to the Azov Sea), it's hard to write a recommendation for just 48 hours of duty. Realistically, for Annual Training you should probably just hope for a blanket citation for your platoon or section. Like I mentioned earlier, as a 74D there's not a lot of love for us out there when you're not in a CBRN unit. Finding a unit that truly appreciates you is like finding a Chief Warrant Officer 5 who isn't a pilot, unicorns in the wild.
Also, entertain me for a bit, why didn't you just go officer? I'm always confounded why soldiers with degrees come in on the enlisted side of the house, it just seems like a lot of unnecessary suffering. I too have had civilian engineers under my responsibility as PFCs and the like who make double what I make even on Active Duty now, and whenever they had a gripe(legitimate or otherwise) I always respond, "If you had done the right thing, I'd be saluting you right now". Or whenever we had to "embrace the suck" I'd remind them what the CDR and XO were doing right then, just to have a little fun. Assuming you meet the general requirements, it's never too late to drop an OCS packet and earn a promotion that way; I'm confident you wouldn't have any problems getting selected as a 74A, most if not all of the 74As I met back in the schoolhouse said that Chemical Branch was their first choice.
Good luck SPC, feel free to keep us all here updated on your progress.
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Have you veered considered a commission? Either OCS is direct commission. The reserve component is always in need of folks like you. Or perhaps going Regular Army.
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Part of the issue is that you're in an Reserve MP Company. I was once in a Reserve MP Company and all they cared about were the MPs. Any other MOS was given second and third fiddle.
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