How can I get promoted past stagnate leadership?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 11:01:22 -0400

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.

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made Oct 12 at 2017 11:12 AM

Cpl Tou Lee Yang — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 11:12:59 -0400

Plan for a career out of the military, get out now before you're forced out due to High Year Tenure. Or lat move to a different MOS.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Oct 12 at 2017 11:19 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 11:19:44 -0400

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.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Oct 12 at 2017 11:29 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 11:29:41 -0400

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.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2017 11:59 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 11:59:11 -0400

18C pipeline if you're dead set on the engineering field. If not, look into some broadening assignments or packet reclasses (SFAB, 17C, etc). If you're running into roadblocks where you're at, you might need to just entirely divert your course. Best of luck.

Response by CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana made Oct 12 at 2017 12:05 PM

CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 12:05:43 -0400

Hi SGT,

I am going to second the CSM in my response to you, because your best Advisor in service is your 1SG and your CSM. Even commissioned officers turn to these expert leaders for advice on enlisted matters.

Having stated the above, I suggest that you ease out of the situation by becoming a Drill Sarge or a Recruiter; get to know leaders in USAREC and PERSCOM (two ends of the Bermuda Triangle), after which promotions and assignments are at your fingertips.

Your PT score must improve, since 220 is minimum; qualify as an Expert in weapons. These are basics.

Combat Engineers are fit and overcome any obstacle, without accepting failure to accomplish the mission. Make PT and Weapons Qual your mission to achieve Expert in both.

God Bless!

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2017 2:26 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 14:26:22 -0400

I knew one fellow years ago who shared that sentiment. There were three of us who were all (Navy) E-5's. We chummed around doing things together. We were stationed on Adak in the Aleutian chain where there simply was not much to do when off duty. "Willy" often expressed his not desiring promotion to E-6 and the accompanying increased responsibility. The other E-5 and I tried to persuade him otherwise, but I imagine he never advanced in paygrade. The other E-5 and I advanced at about the same time and were both commissioned officers in the same year group.

Response by SPC Brett Curry made Oct 12 at 2017 2:49 PM

SPC Brett Curry — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 14:49:54 -0400

It's one of the hardest thing to do in the military. There's a lot of questions that need to answered before anyone can give you any solid advice. But first I wld suggest going to the caphlan and the doctors and phycologist first. Everything you say to them stays between you and them. Tread very lightly.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2017 4:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 16:24:56 -0400

Transfer to the USAR, more upward mobility for those who want it. There are also AGR positions you can apply for. If you're high speed, it will be noticed.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2017 5:25 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 17:25:08 -0400

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.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2017 10:57 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 22:57:39 -0400

Either do a broadening assignment or transfer to a new unit/state with open slots.

Response by SSgt David Spearing made Oct 13 at 2017 1:54 PM

SSgt David Spearing — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 13:54:37 -0400

you should probably apply for a B-Billet or equivalent not sure what it would be in the Army. That is the only thing I see that would hold you back.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2017 12:22 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 12:22:08 -0400

Focus on Education. Take on line courses and apply for every leadership school available. Do your job the best you can do and do extra when not asked.

Response by SFC James Heath made Oct 15 at 2017 4:10 PM

SFC James Heath — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 16:10:17 -0400

By your comments, you are already blaming someone else for your failures.

Response by SGT Walter Lester made Oct 15 at 2017 6:05 PM

SGT Walter Lester — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 18:05:11 -0400

A chang in MOS may be the best thing for you if you feel frozen where you are at. You may even try some of the NCO schools to advance.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 26 at 2017 11:47 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 11:47:08 -0400

My advice is to consider another MOS or another unit. I see you're in the ArNG, so I'm guessing you are tied to a unit-vacancy situation, that is, you can't get promoted unless there is a vacancy in your unit in your MOS for you at the next higher grade. My daughter ran into this in the Air Guard. She worked a transfer from a Supply Squadron to a PRIME BEEF unit in the same AFSC (supply clerk). In the PRIME BEEF unit she had an opportunity to move up to E-5. She also enjoyed the deployments for training, what she described as "camping trips with the boys." If you can pull something like this off you might keep your current MOS, but have to drill at a different location. Changing to a hard-to-fill MOS might allow you to "beat the system" also. This might require drill at a different location in a new unit.