filling a position without the rank

CW2 Stephen Pate — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 12:04:57 -0400

How many of you have ever filled a position without having the rank? This has happened to me twice in my career and I've never really had an issue. I was tagged to be the motor sergeant for an FSC as a SSG (E7 position) and I held it down for a few years until I got promoted, then of course it was time to PCS! Now I am taking on a 1SG position as an E7 while waiting for for the board results to come out. The only issue I have ever had with this scenario is the possibility of having to step down ifthe appropriate ranking person showed up. Other than that I think these events in my career have had an overall positive effect. What say you?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2015 12:36 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 12:36:54 -0400

I am a Staff Sergeant and currently the Battalion Medical Section NCOIC (E7 position) for a Brigade Engineer Battalion. I have had a very positive experience. My battalion and company command teams trust me to accomplish the mission and give me the support and resources I need to do just that. The only issues I have is that because of my MTOE I do not have a Medical Operations Officer...only a Physician Assistant, who is solely focused on providing healthcare. Because of this I have to perform all of the duties that an officer would normally perform whilst also performing the duties of the NCOIC. I am the only enlisted man to serve as a primary staff officer in the bde and it can be quite stressful at times. I do not leave my Aid Station all day. I eat two meals there and stay late every day. I put a lot on my NCOs but there is only so much that I can delegate. I don't have to worry about someone with the appropriate rank coming in to take over for me. I do fear PCSing and filling an E6 slot as o think it would ultimately hurt my career. I also worry about my performance...not slacking but working as a subordinate in a bn medical section/Platoon after serving as the ncoic/psg. I worry that my experience and personality could jeopardize my relationship with a future supervisor if I do not get promoted.

Response by SGT Jay Dozier made Apr 12 at 2015 12:41 PM

SGT Jay Dozier — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 12:41:56 -0400

I believe you to be correct as well. Anything that can show you are willing to take initiative helps with advancement. It stinks because your pay does not reflect the rank. If you were not getting the NCOER rating at that higher level then I would reconsider. Its kind of a tough situation

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 12 at 2015 12:46 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 12:46:17 -0400

You should feel somewhat honored to be held in such high confidence by your superiors. Your NCOER should reflect the fact you already held the position you are seeking. I am making a strong assumption that you are a go getter type and get it done NCO. When you become a 1SG make sure your studs are not burn out, and the duds are forced to pull their weight. I wish you a good career and happiness with your family.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Apr 12 at 2015 1:31 PM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 13:31:44 -0400

Assuming you do a good job, it should be a career enhancer. When a board member, or a senior leader, looks at your packet it is not subject to question of whether you are ready for that next rank.

Response by SPC Larry Boutwell made Apr 12 at 2015 2:18 PM

SPC Larry Boutwell — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 14:18:39 -0400

I was schools nco for battalion....e4covering down for an e7 lol good times

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 12 at 2015 5:30 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 17:30:26 -0400

As long as you did well, should be career enhancing. Even if you had to step aside for the ranking person, don't think that would hurt.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2015 8:10 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 20:10:03 -0400

Sounds like it has worked to your benefit.

I have done it more than once for sure. The only issue I had was that there were people who could fill the position but chose not to. Yet I had one come tell me he did not like the way I ran the Platoon. I told him to take it then. Of course he had too many excuses as to why he could not fill the Platoon Sergeant Position as an E-7 which is the ARMY's description for such rank.

I am currently waiting on something to see if I will retire or not.

Response by SGT Shane Killgore made Apr 12 at 2015 8:23 PM

SGT Shane Killgore — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 20:23:40 -0400

done plt leader job .... and plt sgt. at the same time...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2015 12:58 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 00:58:47 -0400

As a brand new 2LT fresh from BOLC I stood in as Company Commander for 3 months. This included a BN change of command and briefing the incoming BC about the Company I knew next to nothing about. Fortunately I had a good 1SG and Readiness NCO who more or less held my hand through the process. It was definitely a learning experience.

When I interstate transferred as a relatively senior 1LT I was given another Platoon. This certainly set my career back a bit, but I was fine with it as I enjoyed being a PL. Following this I was given a short stint as an XO and then a command. Now I'm just waiting for the paperwork to catch up. In both circumstances I think they were worthwhile and helped further develop my leadership abilities.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2015 10:23 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 10:23:48 -0400

I had my company for eight months. It was horrible when my replacement showed up. I kept hoping he would get deleted or re-routed. Ah, too bad. It was the most rewarding and challenging time of my career.

*edit gammar fix.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2015 10:24 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 10:24:46 -0400

Last October, when I was still a regular ole SGT, I was tapped and placed in a SFC position. I guess one of the positive effects of there being little to no SFC 68S in the USAR.

Response by SFC Walt Littleton made Apr 15 at 2015 11:03 AM

SFC Walt Littleton — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 11:03:24 -0400

I retired in 1995. I made E5 in about 2 years. The problem with making SGT so quickly it took me many years to get promoted to SSG.

My MOS was signal and I was always slotted in E-6 positions. Mostly operations in the company.

I. 1978 I was stationed with the 101st as a SGT. Being in a deployable combat unit as a SGT with 10 years service I had more time in grade and service than all the other SGT's and SSG's. Being in a combat support maintenance unit with 8 different shops I was used by the 1SG to fill SSG positions as NCOIC of shops when the NCO would PCS and there were no replacements slated to fill the open positions.

I survived by reading TM's and learning the jobs of each shop I would run. My military skills as an NCO allowed me to operate in those positions. The chain of command was superior and allowed me the freedom to lead. In the 4 years of my first assignment there I became the NCOIC of the Armament Repair, Recovery Wrecker Movement & Welding, Division Technical Parts Distribution Center and Shop Operations NCOIC.

Imy next assignment was Korea. I was assigned to a mobile maintenance communication repair shop. We traveled to every post and mountain top to provide scheduled and emergency repair of defense communications. When I arrived there were 2 SFC's and 3 SSG's. I was a SGT. Within 2 months all had PCS'd leaving me in and E-8 slot until I rotated.

I went back to the 101st as a Commo Chief for a combat engineer company when I made SSG and became a Platoon Sergeant in an SFC position and became the TOC NCOIC of operations as and additional duty when deployed.

PCS'd to Ft Gordon Signal a school and was selected as a training battalion Platoon Seegeant with duties as a Drill Sergeant. This was an SFC position. As a matter of fact I was the last platoon sergeant I the trail as the Drill Sergeants relieved us of this duty.

Arrived in Germany as a SSG and made SFC. I was selected to be the Station Commander of a communications Site providing command and control communications for tactical nuclear weapons in Europe. This was a Master Sergeants position.

Went to Somalia as a communications chief and arrived back in my unit in Geemany and was selected as acting 1SG. Due to the drawdown in Germany my MOS was not needed and received orders to leave before my 1SG position was solidified.

So basically most of my career I worked at least 1 and 2 grades above mine. Some were presented to me and some I volunteered.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 7 at 2019 7:57 AM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 07:57:18 -0400

This happens a lot, when you have Personnel shortages! Your thoughts?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2019 10:12 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 10:12:10 -0400

My entire career has been spent in positions 1 or 2 grades above my current rank. I even served as HHC Commander during AT as an E6 while waiting on my FedRec orders for 2LT.