Does anyone have Soldier of the Month Board advice, and specifically examples of "Situation Based" questions?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 15:09:32 -0400

I have opted to go to the SOM Board for next month in preparation for the Promotion Board in September, and I know I need to be studying the basic material on paper, but I have heard that the NCOs of the board like to ask "situation based" questions. Can anyone give me some examples of those? Also, any advice I can run with would be much appreciated. This is my first board.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2017 3:16 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 15:16:35 -0400

The only examples I can think of right now involve conflict resolution, Soldiers bringing you their problems (which should be a good thing), or the common tasks manual.

But these others:
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/best-advice-for-soldier-of-the-month-board
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/why-should-one-attend-a-soldier-of-the-month-board-before-a-promotion-board
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/soldier-of-the-month-board-while-at-ntc-first-time-going-to-a-board-my-nco-s-don-t-know-the-topics-any-suggestions
https://www.rallypoint.com/ranks/spc-army/shared-links/attn-specialist-e-4

Best advice for Soldier of the Month board?? | RallyPoint

I was given notice about a week ago that I was selected to go to the soldier of the month board this Monday. So I am feeling a little ill prepared. Does anyone have any advice or experiences they would like to share with me to maybe help better prepare me for Monday or future boards to come.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jul 23 at 2017 3:20 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 15:20:17 -0400

Pay attention to SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" 's recent posts.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/leadership-development-scenario-4-what-support-would-you-provide-if-one-of-your-troops-was-experiencing-severe-martial-problems
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/leadership-development-scenario-1-how-would-you-handle-this-scenario-involving-a-new-servicemember-and-their-family-arriving-to-your-unit?loc=similar_rside&pos=2&type=qrc
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/leadership-development-scenario-2-what-would-you-do-if-subordinate-came-to-you-with-physical-signs-of-domestic-abuse?loc=similar_rside&pos=3&type=qrc
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/leadership-development-scenario-3-how-would-you-handle-a-situation-where-one-of-your-troops-wives-experienced-a-miscarriage?loc=similar_rside&pos=4&type=qrc

Leadership Development Scenario #4? What support would you provide if one of your troops was...

I like to ask these every so often. You have a stellar performer who isn't theirselves lately. They're slipping in performance as time goes on i.e being later to work, attention to detail not the same, & silly mistakes. Finally, the wheels come completely off the wagon. You pull them to the side to see what is going on. They share with you that they have severe marital problems and it really is severe. How would you support them? I don't mean...

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Jul 23 at 2017 3:24 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 15:24:20 -0400

You're looking at pretty well anything that isn't straight out of a TM, FM, AR, etc. For example:

Out of the five styles of leadership, which do you prefer and believe is the most effective?

How would you handle a Soldier that repeatedly refuses to obey an order?

Which of the Army Values do you feel that your sponsor/supervisor/the Sergeant Major sitting right there in front of you has the toughest time upholding?

The best advice I can give is just to be confident (but not cocky) even though you may not feel it. Part of a Board is what you know, and part is seeing how you handle yourself in what is typically an at least a semi-stressful situation.

If you don't know an answer, say you don't know. Don't try to fumble through and make it up as you go. Try not to say, "Uh" or "Um" while you talk, either.

Put chapstick on before you go in so you don't lick your lips (you may never have licked your lips when you're nervous before, but I know many people who only do that when in front of a Board). Also, even when told to "relax" when sitting in the chair, keep your hands in a fist as if at "Attention" on your legs so you don't twitch or fumble with your fingers.

They're also bored out of their skulls from sitting there all day asking the same questions, so they're going to probably mess with you a little bit and see if they can distract you.

All in all, just remember that they want to see how well you put together your uniform, what you know, and how you carry yourself. If you're prepared (which I assume you are if you opted for the Board), you should do fine. Talk with your NCO's & others who've gone through at least semi-recently and get their advice as well. They'll have a better idea of what exactly those particular Board members are looking for or what items they're sticklers on.

Response by MSG Lance Kelly made Jul 23 at 2017 4:05 PM

MSG Lance Kelly — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 16:05:54 -0400

The others have mentioned it as a type of question that requires a personal answer and not necessarily a book answer. I had a co-worker go before a SOM board where I was the recorder. He was asked a situational question in a combat situation about being under fire and having a fellow Soldier injured in front of him and what is the first thing he would do. He tried to get technical by stating he would first assess the situation and so on and so on. The answer the board was looking for was to simply take cover first. Situational questions are made to make you think, sometimes outside of the box. The board wants to see how you respond to real or fictional situations. Civilian jobs do the same thing. I recently had to take an online test for a supervisor position and they had questions that ask what you would do in certain situations. Some are tough and require thought but they want to see how you think. It could be something like you are about to have an inspection and you are missing something. A co-worker, who is a friend, "acquires" that item. You know it is wrong but you will get written up for not having the item. Do you call out the co-worker and possibly tarnish the friendship? Do you let it go so you can pass and then deal with it later? Do you let it go altogether? I hope this helps, good luck on the board.

Response by 1SG John B. Enlow made Jul 23 at 2017 7:27 PM

1SG John B. Enlow — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 19:27:57 -0400

As 1SG, I always started local promotion boards with the same question - "You are competing against 4 other outstanding soldiers. Without using the phrase, "I do my job", why should I select you over the others?
Most people have trouble patting themselves on the back for jobs well done without sounding boastful. By helping get them over this hurdle, you're preparing them for a career - military or private sector.