Posted on Mar 7, 2020
For a 13A, does not being appointed to any of these roles (FDO, FSO, PL, XO, etc.) hurt promotion chances to Captain?
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I have spent most of my Lieutenant time in S3. Recently, I got promoted to 1LT, and now I have been appointed the BN Land and Ammo Officer. Is this a sign that I'll never hold a "real" Field Artillery job? Will I slowly be phased out of the Army and miss my chance at making O-3?
Posted in these groups: 
13A: Field Artillery OfficerLand and Ammo
Operations (S3)
Promotions
Military Career
13A: Field Artillery OfficerLand and Ammo Operations (S3) Promotions Military Career
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 5
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You definitely need to have a candid conversation with your Senior Rater and possibly the Battalion Commander. Why have they purposely left you at BN? Be prepared mentally for a tough response. When you say most of your LT time, what does that mean? Did you have any PL, FDO, etc time? Unrated? What was it unrated? If you had some issue or got in trouble this could be why. The question may be what do you need to exhibit or accomplish to get down to the line battery/company.
If you are out of the lane with DA PAM 600-3, you need to look after your career. Not sure what logic put a 2LT on a BN staff, but I've seen it, never goes well. If you have 12-24 months on BN staff, time for you to go to a line Battery/Company and learn the craft. You'll be yanked out of the Company level so hard you'll get G black out when you promote to Captain. Depending on your OERs, I think you'll promote to Captain. I'm thinking of the experience and learning down on the line that your are missing out on. That will hurt you later as you take command of a Battery or Company and you've never seen how that is done.
If you are out of the lane with DA PAM 600-3, you need to look after your career. Not sure what logic put a 2LT on a BN staff, but I've seen it, never goes well. If you have 12-24 months on BN staff, time for you to go to a line Battery/Company and learn the craft. You'll be yanked out of the Company level so hard you'll get G black out when you promote to Captain. Depending on your OERs, I think you'll promote to Captain. I'm thinking of the experience and learning down on the line that your are missing out on. That will hurt you later as you take command of a Battery or Company and you've never seen how that is done.
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LTC Jason Mackay
1LT (Join to see) - without knowing more details, my Spidey senses tell me your unit has an advise and assist type mission (not everyone went forward) and talent management is broken. I'd be preparing my self to deploy and get "my shot". You can't be deaf to the need the Battalion has for your services. This is a negotiation. I'll bust my ass for you for 6 months, but I'd really like the opportunity to get down range and lead a Platoon (or which ever job you are bucking for) after that. They know DA PAM 600-3, but let them know, you know the DA PAM.
If your unit is 120-140% on LTs, that pendulum will swing the other way because it Is not being managed. When HRC rips them out To go to CCC, they'll have E6s leading platoons by next year. If your unit is deployed, officers are at a premium. Lots of extra requirements with no resources. They didn't need FOB mayors, contracting officers, LNOs, etc?makes no sense your unit would be that fat on rear D.
If your Senior Rater discussion goes poorly, contact the G1 to see if another formation is looking for PLs, XOs, FDOs, FSOs. Work out an interview. See if anyone else wants you, then request reassignment with your Senior Rater . This is a scorched earth move and it better work, because your unit will either let you go, or they will keep you and shackle you to your oar. It may reflect in your OER.
Have you gone 12 months without an OER? That needs to Be fixed.
If your unit is 120-140% on LTs, that pendulum will swing the other way because it Is not being managed. When HRC rips them out To go to CCC, they'll have E6s leading platoons by next year. If your unit is deployed, officers are at a premium. Lots of extra requirements with no resources. They didn't need FOB mayors, contracting officers, LNOs, etc?makes no sense your unit would be that fat on rear D.
If your Senior Rater discussion goes poorly, contact the G1 to see if another formation is looking for PLs, XOs, FDOs, FSOs. Work out an interview. See if anyone else wants you, then request reassignment with your Senior Rater . This is a scorched earth move and it better work, because your unit will either let you go, or they will keep you and shackle you to your oar. It may reflect in your OER.
Have you gone 12 months without an OER? That needs to Be fixed.
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1LT (Join to see)
Sir, this "deployment" my unit has is not overseas, and -from what my forward peers have said- most junior officers are working at HQ or other staff positions. I have not been with the unit very long, but I have noticed that it is a very sink-or-swim environment. As far as OERs go, I have yet to even meet my BN Commander since he is deployed. The only guidance I have been given thus far is to go to as many schools and correspondence courses as possible, excel at the LnA position, and take additional taskings as they come. Supposedly, we have a combat deployment coming up within the next year or so, and I feel that might be the time I actually receive a job slot on the line.
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LTC Jason Mackay
1LT (Join to see) it’s not out of line to ask where you are at in the talent management process
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Perhaps you should speak with your rater/senior rater on your concerns and desire to be in a leadership position.
Best bet is to display leadership potential.
Your position enables a battalion to perform a critical operational function. Perhaps focus on doing the best you can in your appointment positions instead of worrying about your “hurt chance for promotion”. You haven’t achieved success in the job yet.
Best bet is to display leadership potential.
Your position enables a battalion to perform a critical operational function. Perhaps focus on doing the best you can in your appointment positions instead of worrying about your “hurt chance for promotion”. You haven’t achieved success in the job yet.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
Sorry, I'll have to disagree with that line for Officers. If you don't look after your career, no one else will care about it either.
Yes, Not have a branch oriented job, especially one in the chain of command, will effect how the look at you for Captain. I don't think that is a big of an issue as lack of company time when you get beyond Captain. I would certainly bring it to the attention of my rater and senior rater, and you may need to speak to your branch about it.
Yes, Not have a branch oriented job, especially one in the chain of command, will effect how the look at you for Captain. I don't think that is a big of an issue as lack of company time when you get beyond Captain. I would certainly bring it to the attention of my rater and senior rater, and you may need to speak to your branch about it.
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What is the Land and Ammo Officer? I was the Bn Ammo Officer but my real job was the Service Battery XO/Bn Ammo platoon leader (in the Dark Ages cannon battalions had 3 gun batteries, an HHB, and a service battery.)
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1LT (Join to see)
On paper, I'm the Battalion Ammo Manager in the S3. Affectionately referred to as the "LAMO" by some of my peers. I think I came into this job since our entire Battalion is basically being ran by Lieutenants in the absence of superior officers.
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