Does Anyone Have Any Tips For Studying For The Board?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 00:49:16 -0400

I'm finding myself in a bit of a quandary...I'm going to the board in July and While I do have the MOI for the seemingly endless board topics, I'm not sure as to how to approach studying all this material.

I purchased the" MSG Skinner's Winning The Board" book and I also have "The Board Master Fully Loaded" pocket study guide..and I've also went as far as to write out over a hundred flash cards as study tools with FMs and ARs compliments of armystudyguide.com

My concern is that these three different sources of material have three different answers on some of the same questions...how should I go about studying for this...any tips? Did anyone get hammered with the long answer questions? How many questions does each board member ask? Any advice is appreciated

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 12:51 AM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 00:51:54 -0400

Talk with someone that was just boarded by the same unit and ask them what kind of stuff was asked. Some boards deal with unit equipment/weapons, some deal with hypotheticals (what would you do in THIS situation), and some deal with general military knowledge stuff (size/material of earrings, TIS/TIG to promote for XX paygrade).

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 1:04 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 01:04:53 -0400

Unit history is a great topic to research, as well as memorizing the NCO creed and Soldier's creed. Your division song will probably be a part of your board. With the NCO creed, you should recite it when you wake up in the morning, it will help you with memorizing it. It's great that you have gone out of your way to acquire these study tools, but ultimately you will find the answers for most of these questions in the regulations, which should be cited in your booklets. Since your board is in July, you have ample enough time to study for it. Your best bet now is to gather a few other board candidates or battles wanting to go to the board and hold a study group. If you need someone to help you with references, please feel free to message me. I am always willing to help. Good luck with your board!!

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made May 23 at 2016 1:09 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Mon, 23 May 2016 01:09:43 -0400

You are on the right track!

Study doctrine as well as the "off-the-shelf" study guides.....the ADP's and ADRP's are very easy to read and beneficial! Finally, know your Chain of Command & NCO Support Chanel & go to the mock boards, do not make excuses GO!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 6:42 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 06:42:47 -0400

I always keep it simple with flash cards. The website http://www.armyadp.com is also good to pull current board questions from. I usually pull 50% or so from each topic to memorize. You aren't going to know every answer. The point of a board is to see your baseline of knowledge and to test your comfort levels when put under pressure.

Make sure you talk with your operations about how they conduct the board and get your buddies to help you by doing mock boards. You should already be doing a company level board before attending the actual promotion board. I hope this helps.

Good luck

ArmyADP

The

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 8:04 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 08:04:24 -0400

I was told the easiest way to learn the ADPs was to read them in their original context. When you understand something, you remember it, versus just memorizing it.

Response by MAJ Rene De La Rosa made May 23 at 2016 8:58 AM

MAJ Rene De La Rosa — Mon, 23 May 2016 08:58:03 -0400

First thing, take a look at the MOI, and determine the sources of the information. Memorize the ADPs, ARs, FMs, etc. This way, if you get lost in the fog, you can at least reference where the information can be found. This at least tells the board you have an idea where the information is. Good luck on your board.

Response by SSG Clarence Blackburn made May 23 at 2016 9:08 AM

SSG Clarence Blackburn — Mon, 23 May 2016 09:08:04 -0400

Also make sure your up on Current Events.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made May 23 at 2016 9:40 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Mon, 23 May 2016 09:40:56 -0400

Well I don't know how Army boards are, but the best advice is to relax. You seem to be stressing this which will cause you to over think it. Right answers are good and all, but bearing is better. It's better to be wrong and certain about your answer than right and unsure about your answer. We're in the military. We don't have the luxury of second guessing ourselves, so you need to be firm. Hell, I know some board Marines who will ask joke questions just to see if you break your bearing.

Almost everything that is asked is basic stuff anyways. Know your uniform regs. Know your chain of command. Know how to address the board members. Don't overthink it. Don't stress it. Sometimes you've got to lose a couple boards in order to win them. Just go in there with confidence that you're the best one there. Good luck.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 11:12 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 11:12:51 -0400

I found audio study guides helpful. I would listen to them in the car on my commute to base. I found it easier for me to retain the information that way. Be confident in yourself. Make sure you get at least one pair of eyes on your uniform preferably two just in case the first person misses something.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 11:37 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 11:37:49 -0400

Study guides are fine for passing the board. But if you want to be a NCO and a leader, you need to really get into regs, manuals, ADPs, etc. and really KNOW what you are talking about. Knowledge that is not retained is useless. I have seen and known too many E-5s (not Sergeants) who simply memorized information for the board, regurgitated it, and then brain-dumped it all as soon as they walked out of the board.

I am NOT saying you are that. I am giving you advice that you will need if you want to lead. If you don't know the answers or where to find them, your Soldiers will have no faith or respect in your leadership skills. So learn everything you can, not just for the board, but for yourself and for your future Soldiers. The more you know, and truly absorb, the more confident and less nervous you will be.

Good Luck!

Response by SSG Randall P. made May 23 at 2016 1:15 PM

SSG Randall P. — Mon, 23 May 2016 13:15:14 -0400

Read strait from the Regulations or Supporting Doctrine.

Good Study habits. Study for 50, take a ten min break. Pull out a highlighter and highlight what is important to you.

In my personal experience I didn't know all the answers but at the end of the board I at least knew way more about the topic than I had before and at the end of it I was ok with that, even if I didn't get recommended.

Response by Sgt Christopher Wenzel made May 23 at 2016 5:20 PM

Sgt Christopher Wenzel — Mon, 23 May 2016 17:20:49 -0400

Find an NCO or section leader to study with you and look over your uniforms. Also have someone go over drill movements so you don't look like a fool in front of your SgtMaj.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 6:07 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 18:07:23 -0400

Confidence confidence confidence...true story...I took one of my guys to the board a few years back...they asked him to recite the NCO Creed....he did it loudly and extremely confidence....nobody asked him any questions after that...he got a perfect score

Response by SGT C Mendez made May 23 at 2016 10:23 PM

SGT C Mendez — Mon, 23 May 2016 22:23:19 -0400

Is your Squad Leader helping you with this? If not, they should. They should be going through the material with you, making sure your uniform is squared away and conducting mock boards (to make sure you are comfortable). Whenever any of my soldiers went to the boards, I made it my mission to help them through it. Also, as a former police officer, I had to interview in my fair share of boards and I have excelled at them due to the practice in the Army. Focus on your delivery when they ask about you. Go in front of a mirror and begin answering the questions as you would when you're at the board. Just promise me one thing. When you succeed, help the next soldier succeed. Leadership is not about withholding information, its about sharing and spreading the information.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 10:31 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 10:31:09 -0400

Get up on some flash cards. You can memorize anything with flash cards. NCOES, DS school, Master Gunner. You name it. Army schools are designed for you to succeed, not fail but, you need to put in the time to study.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 6:55 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 18:55:24 -0400

When I studied for the board all the answers that I found in the winning the board book were what they were looking for so that would be a good source and also I would go over the ranger handbook a little in case they ask you stuff from that and make sure you know the NCO creed

Response by SGT Rafael Cuevas made May 31 at 2016 7:46 AM

SGT Rafael Cuevas — Tue, 31 May 2016 07:46:43 -0400

Practice practice practice.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2016 6:16 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 18:16:42 -0400

Well I can tell you from experience that I have bad study habits. I also can tell you from experience, the harder you try to knock the door off the hinges when entering the board, the less questions they will drill you with. That shows a sign of confidence. The biggest part of the board is the NCO creed. If you can recite that with accuracy and confidence, more than likely you will be dismissed with no further questions.