Does it help or hender a soldier to be promoted to SGT without training in their mos?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 22:31:38 -0400

Does it help or hender a soldier to be promoted to SGT without training in their mos? If a SGT gets promoted then gets a position within their mos, does it hurt them or help them?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2014 10:41 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 22:41:41 -0400

Personally, I think it would hurt them. Professionally, it all depends on the individual and the job. Take for example my job as a supply sergeant. If a new Soldier, a 92Y PVT, comes to the unit and starts working in the PLL shop because it's undermanned, how is that Soldier going to know how to operate a supply room after the makes SGT? Can the Soldier learn? Yes, but they have no foundation to build upon.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2014 8:16 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:16:43 -0400

Yes and No. When someone comes into the Motorpool that reclassed, I do not look down on them at all. I actually respect them for taking the initiative to switch from lets say fueler into Mechanic. Only a very unreasonable person who looks down on them, and would complain they do not know their job. That being said, I would hope the NCO who switched would work twice as hard to make up for lost time. Study at home, pay 100% attention at AIT: most importantly being honest with your soldiers that hey, you don't know your job, but you do look forward to learning it, and you are here to learn, and over time teach. It is very important that the reclassed NCO, does not act like a full on Drill SGT and acts more like a Private until they learn their job. We have a female NCO that reclassed from fueler to Mechanic and she has done awful. She has it in her head that she doesn't have to learn her job because that's for "Soldiers". Her job is to write counselings and manage (in her eyes). I have tried telling her that she knows 0 about mechanics and what will you tell the new soldiers when they ask you how to change a tire? She says "I'll tell them look it up, thats not my job anymore". She doesn't even know the difference between a flat head and a phillips, and has no intention to learn. I plan to reclass in a few months, and I am willing to learn from any rank and I will respect everyone who works with me in my new MOS, regardless of rank. Thanks for reading.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2014 8:58 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:58:23 -0400

I think it hurts the soldier and also weakens the NCO corp. I am a 91B wheeled mechanic in our mos if you don't know your job as a NCO the soldiers will not respect you or trust you they will see you as a person that's only looking out for themselves and that you are only chasing rank I am not saying that you have to know everything to get promoted but you at least need to have a clue what you are doing

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2014 7:31 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 07:31:41 -0400

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member, I experienced this problem personally. I was a former 27D, Paralegal Specialist. My first duty station was at Camp Eagle, South Korea. As a PFC, I worked in an S1 shop in 2002-2003. Here are the issues that I had:

* Only 27D in the S1 Shop.
* Rest of personnel were 42As (S1 personnel)
* Closest JAG NCOIC I could speak worked 2 hours away.
* I worked three roles: S1, BN CDR's secretary (LTC Egbert), and the legal guy.
* I did not know what I was doing as a paralegal. I'm surprised my typed AR15's were never challenged.
* I had no mentor.
* S1 NCOIC did not cross-train anyone with my MOS, but forced me to do so with theirs.
* When I visited Camp Humphreys for two weeks of training, all I did was shred documents.
* Finally, my NCO (E5) gave me the NEEDS of the ARMY SPEECH.

The problem I encountered at Fort Hood (2003, my second duty station):

* I was the best Soldier I could be.
* I was behind the power curb.
* I became Soldier of the Quarter for CO, BN, & BDE.
* My NCOIC only worked at DIV's and Higher for 8 years (so never understood the problems I had).
* Finally, he gave me the "YOU DON'T KNOW ENOUGH SPEECH", which conflicted with what my first NCO told me as above.

In order to be promoted, I crushed every board and knew over 1500 flash cards verbatim in ABC order. I the board and my MOS as much as I could, but my NCO did not help me one bit. I did so well in winning the BDE board, the BDE CSM said he wanted to see me at the promotion board.

Basically, I was hurt not doing my job... but even worse when my 1st NCO didn't care and my second NCO at Hood did not bother to make a better leader in our MOS. I had to go above and beyond to get promoted (which really helped). The worst part was that my two shop legal NCOs put in their NCOER's (* Soldier won BDE Soldier of the Quarter) and did not even help me study one question and barely recommend me to those boards in the first place.

Now, it helped because I learned different stuff and helped me mentor Soldiers with my experience... but worked against a Soldier. This can be overcome by trusting more knowledgeable Soldiers that work for you.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2014 12:43 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:43:47 -0400

I have always believed that the Army should do a form of MOS testing to go along with the promotion system. I believe that not knowing your MOS definitely hinders an NCO and any troops they may have to lead. When I was junior soldier, I expected that my NCO knew more than me and that he/she would be able to teach me what I didn't know. I have seen how the troops react when they have to work with certain NCOs that have no clue how to do their job. Remaining technically proficient is part of the NCO creed.

Response by SGT Erick Holmes made Jul 27 at 2021 8:48 PM

SGT Erick Holmes — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 20:48:08 -0400

Last I knew you have to the MOS in order to be promoted to the next rank or you were going to that school then you can get promoted. Again this was from April 2002-April 2011 in the National Guard. I don't know how active duty and reserves works and the same with National Guard now. Overall that would hurt the person. Especially when a lower ranking person knows more than you in that MOS. If that ever happens give the younger rank as much credit as you can. Respect. I've learn't a lot and still do from younger ranking Soldiers and even the Sailors. Although I've been out since April 2011 I know work at the sub base in CT the jr ranking Sailors are something else but all the same hardworking people trying to make a positive name for themselves.