How big was the change on duties in your last promotion?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 16:42:28 -0500

Last Thursday I was promoted to SPC, the last "automatic promotion". With the promotion hype still on, I wanted to know how big or small was the change in duties or experiences from the last rank you held to the one you are holding now, or before leaving the military.

Last year I remember I saw a SFC walking in my building and the week later I saw him as a 1SG, I guess that was a huge change. I also saw a 1SG one week and week later I saw him as a MSG in the shoppette, I guess he is more relieved now. Talking with a friend that made SGT, he told me that he didn't even have time to enjoy his promotion since he got a lot of stuff to do since he got pinned.

If you are in the civilian sector, have you been promoted lately? How did the change come?

Was your last promotion what you expected? How big was the change? Did people treated you differently?

Note: If you went green to gold, I would love to read some experiences.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 4:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 16:48:36 -0500

My duty changed drastically when I promoted to E6. I went from being in a detachment working with mostly E1-E4 to a Brigade working with mainly officers and senior NCOS.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 4:52 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 16:52:44 -0500

My last promotion was back in 2009 when I made SFC. I went from being the senior squad leader in my platoon to taking over as the platoon sergeant. It wasn't much of a change, as long as the squad leaders were used properly and I kept the LT in check the platoon ran great. Being a platoon sergeant and squad leader has been my best time in the Army so far.

On a separate note, just a pet peeve of mine. Don't address a NCO as E5, E6, E7 etc. To older NCOs a E5 is different than a SGT. An E5 is there to get the extra pay, a SGT is there to instruct, lead, and mentor troops no matter what they are paid.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 5:00 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 17:00:36 -0500

Congrats SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member . But to answer your question, when I was a SPC freshly back from Iraq, I was made a Team leader for about 4 Soldiers. Not too long, I made SGT and was still in the same Team Leader spot. Then, juuuuuuuuuust when I think I am getting a really good swing at the team leader gig, I was moved to the Detachment Sergeant position. It is a SFC position/authority but with the duties and responsibilities of a 1SG. Then I made SSG. So for me, all the massive paperwork and responsibilities came BEFORE my promotions. So, I really didn't get to enjoy my promotions either. But, I take solace in knowing that on occasion I can enjoy my promotions when I see some Junior Enlisted not salute officers.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 19 at 2016 5:00 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 17:00:49 -0500

Treat every promotion like you are in training for the next rank. Makes it a heck of a lot easier to be be a Sergeant if you've been training for it for several years. Trust me I know.

"When you get to the endzone, act like you've been there before."

There's hundreds of Sergeants running around. You know the good ones. You know the bad ones. Choose the ones to emulate, and remember the lessons of the other ones.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 5:02 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 17:02:09 -0500

Oh, by the way SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member , now that you are a part of the E-4 Mafia, you really should update your picture on here. Just a recommendation.

Response by SGT Benjamin Lindsey made Jan 19 at 2016 5:12 PM

SGT Benjamin Lindsey — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 17:12:30 -0500

When I went from E4 to E5 there wasn't much of a difference for me I was already in an E5 slot so my responsibilities didn't really change. I would always take on more responsibility than my current rank.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jan 19 at 2016 5:38 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 17:38:06 -0500

As I wasn't an NCO, my responsibilities haven't changed much. However when I became a program manager and systems administrator, it has changed a lot.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jan 19 at 2016 8:44 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 20:44:34 -0500

My last promotion was from E-6 to E-7 and it was a huge jump in responsibility. I had to change my whole way of thinking. I expect my next promotion will be the same.

My experience is that as promotions go E-5 and E-7 are the biggest changes. I expect that E-8 and E-9 are all probably big changes too.

Response by MSgt Frank Martin made Jan 19 at 2016 10:25 PM

MSgt Frank Martin — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:25:22 -0500

My last promotion was from E-6 to E-7.. and yes it was a large jump in responsibility. But I was told by one Officer that he noticed I was doing the work of a E-7 when I was a E-6 anyway..

But but back when I was an E-4 Senior Airman I had duties in my office and around my area of responsibilities. But when I received my promotion to E-4 Sergeant (Yes it was awhile ago in the USAF and the promotion was "automatic" after a year of making E-4). Suddenly I was expected to also look after fellow people in the dorm, no matter what unit they were in. I was examined on my off-duty behavior more. When base events happened.. there was the little "push" from the Senior NCO's that I be there and participate. The First Sergeant always was talking to me and mentoring me as did my superintendent, some of the more influential officers on the base would come to me in the office and talk to me about what was going on with the younger enlisted in the unit as I was closer to their age than most of the other NCO's who were married etc. My Section Divison civilian leader was talking to me much more respectful and would call me sometimes to ask questions about the shop instead of the NCOIC, "To get a worker perspective"

Back then I thought it was kind of crazy.. But after I made E-5 a few years later.. I realized that at that small base, I was being groomed to take on the responsibilities that I always thought just happened, but it took me awhile to realize they were trying to teach me. They did well, and I am always in their debt..

Two years ago I learned my first Superintendent passed away from a Facebook posting by his daughter who I watched grow up for five years posted. That man taught me quite a bit, and I am not afraid to admit that I had a few tears in my eye when I read the news. Last year his Wife also passed away.. its like you loose distant family.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jan 20 at 2016 1:48 AM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 01:48:45 -0500

Huge...

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Jan 20 at 2016 2:26 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 02:26:07 -0500

Last promotion was to Senior Airman, Air Force E4. For us it isn't an NCO rank unlike the other branches so really there isn't much dropped on us, at least not right away. The only thing I saw for myself was some additional duties but I am also in a small shop so pretty much everyone has at least one additional duty.

Now I haven't had it happen to me and God willing never will but some Senior Airmen can get younger airmen assigned to them to supervise and write EPRs for. Most of the time these are Senior Airmen with line numbers for Staff Sergeant but really any SrA who has gone through ALS (Airman Leadership School) can be given troops to supervise. I have also in very rare instances seen SrA listed as NCOICs of a particular area of their shop although the one example I can give was an Airman in Security Forces who was moto blue, constantly volunteering, taking charge in their section and most likely had a line number for Staff himself. Just depends on the unit for us I guess.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 7:17 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 07:17:43 -0500

Congrats SPC.
When I was promoted to E5 there wasn't much of a difference. In my section I was an E4 doing the job of an NCO already. Guiding my Commander, assisting with decisions for the unit, taking care of Soldiers etc so E5 was just another day at the office for me. Only thing that changed was that I PCS'd to a new unit which is Battalion level so my scope on things changed but my workload actually decreased.

Response by SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT made Jan 20 at 2016 11:34 AM

SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 11:34:35 -0500

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member when I got promoted to SP4 I was in a typical MP company which was at least 90% E-4 and below. While in the same unit I got promoted to SGT that was a big deal because I was now an NCO and no longer one of the guys. Being a 1SG and then a MSG was a strange transition. But nothing compares to the responsibilities of being promoted to Sergeant Major

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 3:47 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 15:47:39 -0500

As an E6 I was handling 1SG responsibilities for a detachment of 130 Soldiers. Not an easy task for a SSG when you are having to deal with other companies and their senior NCO's. So getting promoted to E7 there wasn't much of a responsibility change yet but the extra rocker helped when dealing with senior NCO's that looked down on me and gave me crap for only being a SSG.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 5:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:24:01 -0500

Being in the Guard, they really haven't. I started in the Guard as an MP where a majority of the enlisted were E-4s. I became an E-5 in aviation in a flight company where a bulk of the enlisted are E-5s. There hasn't been much change in duties or responsibility, only expectations.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 8:40 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 20:40:37 -0500

SGT to 2LT... I went from a FSNCO in charge of a few joes. Training, looking after them, FORSCOM. To Armor BOLC student learning a new job with a group of younger peers in TRADOC... And it's only the beginning. I'd say that's a major change!

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2016 8:32 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 20:32:46 -0500

Nope. I got a key to the secret underground lair of leisure... Lol.

I attended a Chief's Induction last month. The Command Chief looked over at the line of Chief Selectees that were standing in front of the row of Chiefs. He said, "Congratulations! You made it! You can relax, right? You can chill out and have long lunches now, right?" They were all smiles and nodding to each other like they just got the ok to exhale. All we Chiefs were standing behind them shaking our heads with conviction. The on-looking rest of the room started to chuckle and the realization washed over the Chief Selects that this was "GAME ON!!!".