Posted on Jul 1, 2015
Do you have any advice on going from E4 to E5?
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I'm currently a SPC trying to get my NCO's to take me seriously and put me in a team leader spot so that I can go to the P board (I guess it's some kind of requirement for this company). I'm motivated almost every day, I'm always working, and the joes listen to me and usually don't give me any lip when I inform them of a detail we need to do. Usually half way through the job, an NCO will walk up and take over and I end up getting no credit for any of the work I put into whatever we had going on. I really don't know where I stand in this company and am honestly getting tired of being overlooked. Any advice would be appreciated because I'm starting to lose faith and motivation.
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 113
Two questions:
1. What kind of unit are you in? eg. line, combat support, combat service, etc.
2. What do YOU do in your unit?
3. Do you have SSD and WLC out of the way?
1. What kind of unit are you in? eg. line, combat support, combat service, etc.
2. What do YOU do in your unit?
3. Do you have SSD and WLC out of the way?
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I'm sorry if you won't like what I'm about to say but I'm just going to be point blank: Everything in your post tells me you aren't ready. If you have to ask this, you aren't ready for your stripes. The single most important role of the NCO is to train troops. To mentor and develop them into leaders. if one doesn't know what they should do or can do to be promoted to a leadership role then they havent developed into a soldier that is ready, proficient and able to train others.
Another duty of the NCO is to make sure your leadership and officers have everything they need to accomplish the mission. It has nothing to do with the credit or the glory. It has to do with accomplishing the mission. The who and the how are immaterial. You mention that you are motivated almost every day. Just the verbiage of that is troublesome. I don't know you but if I was to guess, your leadership is failing you by not developing you as they should or you would know what was expected of you as a NCO and leader. That's what the Specialist/CPL rank is all about.
So here are my suggestions. ASK for more responsibility. If you see things that need to be done, step up and tell your leadership what your solution is and ask for the opportunity to implement. Look for extra duties within the unit like assisting with the training of the day, learning roles and responsibilities of the DARN, EOE rep or Ethics NCO. Ask for training on administering an APFT, EST training or the weapons qual range. Volunteer for any class they need a body for. CLS, radio training. Anything. Always be available. Be the goto guy!
ALSO, be the standard. Score high on marksmanship and APFT. BE the standard. Always be ready. Guide other younger soldiers. Don't be imperious, but share your experiences and step up for those struggling. Offer to assist fellow soldiers and buddies if they are struggling with SSD, PT or basic soldier skills. When you see a soldier lagging then lend a hand. Don't just be motivated, motivate others. Finally, read and remember the NCO creed. Knowing the duties and expectations of an NCO will help tremendously.
This is the best advice I can give you. I won't sugar coat it and it's very possible you are doing many of these things already. Don't get discouraged. I'll leave you with this nugget of wisdom: it's easy to be a soldier and a leader when things are going well. The mark of a true soldier and leader is how they carry themselves and how they act/react when things aren't going their way. I wish you luck and I hope this helps you even if it isn't exactly what you wanted to hear!
Another duty of the NCO is to make sure your leadership and officers have everything they need to accomplish the mission. It has nothing to do with the credit or the glory. It has to do with accomplishing the mission. The who and the how are immaterial. You mention that you are motivated almost every day. Just the verbiage of that is troublesome. I don't know you but if I was to guess, your leadership is failing you by not developing you as they should or you would know what was expected of you as a NCO and leader. That's what the Specialist/CPL rank is all about.
So here are my suggestions. ASK for more responsibility. If you see things that need to be done, step up and tell your leadership what your solution is and ask for the opportunity to implement. Look for extra duties within the unit like assisting with the training of the day, learning roles and responsibilities of the DARN, EOE rep or Ethics NCO. Ask for training on administering an APFT, EST training or the weapons qual range. Volunteer for any class they need a body for. CLS, radio training. Anything. Always be available. Be the goto guy!
ALSO, be the standard. Score high on marksmanship and APFT. BE the standard. Always be ready. Guide other younger soldiers. Don't be imperious, but share your experiences and step up for those struggling. Offer to assist fellow soldiers and buddies if they are struggling with SSD, PT or basic soldier skills. When you see a soldier lagging then lend a hand. Don't just be motivated, motivate others. Finally, read and remember the NCO creed. Knowing the duties and expectations of an NCO will help tremendously.
This is the best advice I can give you. I won't sugar coat it and it's very possible you are doing many of these things already. Don't get discouraged. I'll leave you with this nugget of wisdom: it's easy to be a soldier and a leader when things are going well. The mark of a true soldier and leader is how they carry themselves and how they act/react when things aren't going their way. I wish you luck and I hope this helps you even if it isn't exactly what you wanted to hear!
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Honestly these are all great answers. What I would suggest is for you to talk with you're NCO. Let him know what you want to know what it takes to get promoted. He should come up with a plan that has attainable goals and you need to show your leadership qualities. First I would say to stop referring to yourself as a pay grade but as a rank. You don't hear officers referring to each other as O2 or O3. If your NCOs are doing their job they would be very happy that you had the courage to approach them on the subject. Always challenge your leaders to lead. What I mean by this is to ask questions that you need to get an answer get your head into the regs. Knowledge is power it's all on the individual on how long it takes to make up to SSG then it's up to the boards.
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Well the first thing you need to do is ask to talk to him with your squad leader at the same time. Be respectful when you do this and voices what has been happening to you and about how he is stealing your thunder. You have to remember respect goes both way and tell him he is not respecting you. When I was a E-4 i commanded respect from everyone and wasn't afraid to speak my mind. When I was in charge of a project and someone tried to take credit for it I would just say I got this and continue working till completion. and then I would let the squad leader and my first line know I was do so they both would see it at the same time. That way they know that they only shine when their soldiers shine. I loved to shine
SSG Martin
US Army (retired)
SSG Martin
US Army (retired)
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Being a MP myself, I know the frustration of sitting as SPC while. But I also know that there are plenty of classes that you can try to get into as well as specialty jobs that you can get into. Have you tried going to SRT, MPI or TAI?
Training in these fields will help out your career and they are bit of fun once you get into everything. Just my two cents on the MP side of the house.
Training in these fields will help out your career and they are bit of fun once you get into everything. Just my two cents on the MP side of the house.
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Take it up your NCO Support Channel. From experience, my issue was tact. Are you taking direction from your NCO Channel or are you giving yourself up to other NCOs or taking over other joes?
Watch your lane has a lot of meaning.
Watch your lane has a lot of meaning.
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Have you tried to get an article 15 to grab their attention? It seems when I was in that it was the most logical way because usually three months after the article 15 they were promoted
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You should let your monthly counseling statements speak for you. If all your hard work and dedication is not being annotated, then you should address why. You can shine like Gold all day but if it is not transferred to paper, it didn't happen!
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I would say look at your fellow soldiers and see how much tig you have they have and also how stack against them also study for a board as much as you can do when it comes up you are ready and also look to leaders to see how,they got where they are
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