Posted on Oct 12, 2017
How can I get promoted past stagnate leadership?
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I'm a E5 12N whom wants to get promoted. I'm staying in for a minimum of 20 years (unless something faults my plan), and I'm trying to climb the ranks the best I can while I'm in. Why settle for less?
The problem I currently have, is the vast majority of E6's in my MOS don't want a promotion past E6. They like that they have as little responsibility as possible, but enough rank to do what they want. Hence why they don't want to get promoted past E6. They'll do what they can to make sure they don't get a promotion. When the slots do become available, they're back logged for the past few years. I've completed SSD2, I turned in my paperwork for my Bachelors degree, I make sure I get a 230 or better on my PT test, and a 34 or better on weapons qualification. I attend any schools I get a chance to, and I make sure I'm doing my best with my soldiers as possible to stand out.
Any help, as a plan of attack on how to surpass this scenario, would be greatly appreciated.
The problem I currently have, is the vast majority of E6's in my MOS don't want a promotion past E6. They like that they have as little responsibility as possible, but enough rank to do what they want. Hence why they don't want to get promoted past E6. They'll do what they can to make sure they don't get a promotion. When the slots do become available, they're back logged for the past few years. I've completed SSD2, I turned in my paperwork for my Bachelors degree, I make sure I get a 230 or better on my PT test, and a 34 or better on weapons qualification. I attend any schools I get a chance to, and I make sure I'm doing my best with my soldiers as possible to stand out.
Any help, as a plan of attack on how to surpass this scenario, would be greatly appreciated.
Posted in these groups: 
Leadership
Promotion BoardStructured Self Development (SSD)
Promotions
Toxic Leadership
Leadership Promotion BoardStructured Self Development (SSD) Promotions Toxic Leadership
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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Have you applied for Drill Sergeant or Recruiter duty. Those have consistently been identified as positive enhancers for the construction MOS's.
230 on the APFT is low for Engineers or at least when I was serving it was; getting it up to a 290 or better is where it breaks you out from the herd.
34 used to be a Sharp Shooter which is middle of the pack, if it's not an Expert it's not a positive discriminator.
Compete for Audie Murphy, NCO of the year, and train your Soldiers to achieve Soldier of the year.
Earth Movers have been notorious for slow promotions to SSG for as long as I can remember but break out from SFC through CSM at a quicker pace than the Vertical MOS's.
Your PSG or 1SG should be able to tell you what a high speed 21N looks like, SQD LDRs are hit or miss. If you're not confident that you'll get the correct picture;
Contact the Engineer Personnel Development Office at [login to see] ext 3-6137, they can tell you if there are any hot assignments that are considered career enhancing or direct you to an updated career profile of what a high performing 21N looks like in todays force.
230 on the APFT is low for Engineers or at least when I was serving it was; getting it up to a 290 or better is where it breaks you out from the herd.
34 used to be a Sharp Shooter which is middle of the pack, if it's not an Expert it's not a positive discriminator.
Compete for Audie Murphy, NCO of the year, and train your Soldiers to achieve Soldier of the year.
Earth Movers have been notorious for slow promotions to SSG for as long as I can remember but break out from SFC through CSM at a quicker pace than the Vertical MOS's.
Your PSG or 1SG should be able to tell you what a high speed 21N looks like, SQD LDRs are hit or miss. If you're not confident that you'll get the correct picture;
Contact the Engineer Personnel Development Office at [login to see] ext 3-6137, they can tell you if there are any hot assignments that are considered career enhancing or direct you to an updated career profile of what a high performing 21N looks like in todays force.
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SGT (Join to see)
Realistically, a 290 is impossible for me. I'm in great shape, but the best run I've ever done is a 15:18 2 mile. The most I've ever done on situps is 67. However, I can max the pushups in under 1 minute, hitting the full up/down range of motion. If this gives you an indication of my body type.
The majority of PT scores I see from soldiers in my unit hover around the 200-210. I'm generally, not in my pay grade, in the top 10% of PT scores at my unit. I see a lot of doughy soldiers these days in higher ranks, and they just do the minimums with a few points over, because they don't care to push themselves anymore.
I don't wish to go full time military, because I make more on the civilian side than I do military. I'm on track for a nice fat retirement nest egg between the military retirement and civilian 401k. However, my work does pay me for up to 14 days of military orders, of my regular pay, per set of orders, which is really nice. So this is why I take any class or course I get offered or I see that comes up.
Thanks for the number, I'll give them a call and see if they can help with my current direction!
The majority of PT scores I see from soldiers in my unit hover around the 200-210. I'm generally, not in my pay grade, in the top 10% of PT scores at my unit. I see a lot of doughy soldiers these days in higher ranks, and they just do the minimums with a few points over, because they don't care to push themselves anymore.
I don't wish to go full time military, because I make more on the civilian side than I do military. I'm on track for a nice fat retirement nest egg between the military retirement and civilian 401k. However, my work does pay me for up to 14 days of military orders, of my regular pay, per set of orders, which is really nice. So this is why I take any class or course I get offered or I see that comes up.
Thanks for the number, I'll give them a call and see if they can help with my current direction!
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SFC (Join to see)
Great advice, CSM. Low APFT doesn't help, boards like Audie Murphy and Best Warrior are huge. Try a broadening assignment next.
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Mike Sanchez
The CSM has top notch advice on this one. Follow that lead as best you can and you'll make the grade.
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Bud, if you have your BA or BS, and promotion is what you are seeking at the moment, why have you not looked into OCS? Jump from your three little chevron to a gold bar and go from there.
The sad thing is that if NCOs are just going to be taking up slots in such a low density MOS there really isn't much you can do. Those people need to get out, get promoted, or get demoted... Or reclass, but you don't usually see E6s looking to reclass. Even if they want to, often times big army won't allow that.
I would say that OCS sounds like a solid plan for someone in your position.
The sad thing is that if NCOs are just going to be taking up slots in such a low density MOS there really isn't much you can do. Those people need to get out, get promoted, or get demoted... Or reclass, but you don't usually see E6s looking to reclass. Even if they want to, often times big army won't allow that.
I would say that OCS sounds like a solid plan for someone in your position.
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SGT (Join to see)
The military is a land mine of acronyms! We've got acronyms within acronyms, just waiting to surprise you!
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
SGT (Join to see) - Yes, and though I knew many of them, it has been a few years since I left and strangely enough the civilian world is not as big of fans of acronyms as the military lol
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Honestly my suggestion would be to find a new unit. Even though promotions up to E-4 are supposed to be automatic if you meet requirements, I still had issues getting promoted because of poor leadership who didn't want to do non-existent paperwork. You might like your unit which is something I truly understand, but unless you want to wait until they kick some of those E6s out for failure to advance (up or out) than that's my only suggestion.
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SGT (Join to see)
Yeah, I just changed my packet so I can accept slots across the state. I make enough civilian side, that driving across state once a month isn't a big deal.
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