How can someone best prepare for a Soldier of the Month board, given last-minute notification?

Kari Hazeltine — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 10:23:25 -0400

I am not a member of our great military, but I am a strong and grateful supporter. My son will go before the board for Soldier of the Month tomorrow. He was just told yesterday, no study packet, no time for mock boards, work today, pt test tomorrow before the board....Not much time to prepare He is more stressed over embarrassing his unit than he is about not getting soldier of the month. It's more about honor vs disrespect to the command for him. Any advice I can share with him? He feels that he does not have time to study anything, he is a fairly new soldier, he completed OSUT in December 2017 and has been active now for only 4 months.
He has high standards for himself and goals of being an outstanding lifetime soldier but definitely struggling with what is most important, as to not disrespect the command or let his NCO down tomorrow. I appreciate any advice and this wonderful site.
Thank you all for what you do and have done. ?

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Apr 26 at 2018 10:31 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 10:31:25 -0400

Unfortunately there is nothing to translate to him. It would be much better if he would reach out directly. Thank you for your sons service.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2018 10:35 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 10:35:23 -0400

Welcome to the Army for him.

On my second deployment I came back from R&R - which had been extended a week for medical reasons. I asked S1 when is the next promotion board. "Oh it's Friday." I got back on like a Mon or Tues. I had three or four days to cram and get ready. Luckily it was in Iraq so no class A. But I was so nervous, so not prepared. Also I was in S2 so the CSM knew me pretty well and saw I was nervous. The only issue with my board is that I didn't have a current weapon card (they switched my weapon halfway through deployment).

Last minute things happen all the time in the Army. It shouldn't - but I have seen time and again where a 1SG asks for someone to send to a SOM board and "oh it's tomorrow."

Tell him to do his best and be as confident as possible. It will be good practice.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 26 at 2018 10:41 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 10:41:26 -0400

1. He should be proud that he was chosen for this- it shows, how much he was impressed his command. 2. He should not be embarrassed over someone failing to prep him for this. 3. The board will know how new he is to this, and as long as he does his best, there will be no embarrassment for him nor his unit- maybe for whoever failed to prep him. He should look at this as a learning experience and grow from it.