How frequently should you change your assignment for career progression in the Army?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 22:03:38 -0400

I'm a 15Tango(UH-60 mechanic) looking to make the Army a 20 year career. I don't like to be stuck doing the same thing always, i do like to explore new things. And especially in the army there's a lot of things you can do. What type of advice can the senior leaders from this page provide me for career progression and/or advice.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2021 10:29 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 22:29:51 -0400

Well, if you're wanting to get away from the ops side of the house and do broadening assignments/tasks, there is always recruiting and drill sergeant. There is your MOS schoolhouse instructor. I'd recommend SGL for BLC but I think you need to be a SSG for that. There are many different types of broadening tasks you could do.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Aug 25 at 2021 10:46 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 22:46:07 -0400

There are career progression models out there any SRNCO can assist you with but to really give good advice, what are your short and long-term goals? Do you want to be great keeping birds flying, make CSM, or even switch over to flying the birds? If you take this to CSM you will likely retire in your 50s, what are the long term goals?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2021 1:06 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 01:06:02 -0400

The first few years of your career, generally until you're a SSG, you'll be doing the same thing. This is to develop expertise in your field and your leadership abilities. Once you become a senior SGT or SSG, you will want to move to a broadening assignment like Drill, Recruiter, or Instructor. These are broadening assignments, but they're also called Force Generating assignments. An ideal Army career is moving between Operational and Force Generating assignments. This will give you a bigger picture of how the Army as a whole works and how the various systems within it work and intertwine with each other. For example, can you explain to a Soldier how they will come on assignment in the marketplace? Or how senior promotions work, how to process a compassionate reassignment, or how and when to contact an ombudsman when their family isn't getting the necessary medical treatment?

Once you've hit a point where you have become a Subject Matter Expert in your craft you can start looking towards progression outside your MOS. That means military schools, technical certs, civilian Ed, and job positions.

Military ed- Air Assault, Battle Staff, Master Fitness, SARC
Technical certs - I&P, Lean Six Sigma
Civilian Ed - start working on your degree immediately, it is 100% the separator for promotion at Senior ranks
Job positions - you can't really affect where you are right now until it's time to move, but there are other positions you can move to within your organization, or additional duties you can take that will increase your exposure to your unit and Commander. Training room NCO is a good position for a young NCO to learn about Army processes and systems. Other jobs are CDR/CSM driver or S3 shop. Additional duties that can help you network are P3T, barracks manager, BOSS rep

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2021 1:43 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 01:43:31 -0400

Diversify yourself with any job that you seek out or are given, keep a positive attitude (do not ever be a douche) defend your self respect, and try to assist your fellow service members regardless if they out rank you or not. Everybody does not know everything. Operational, generating, Broadening, then back to Operational, is the way to go. And around and around you go as you move up the ranks.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2021 6:04 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 06:04:17 -0400

One of your comments suggested that you would not be interested in crossing over to the officer side. One piece of advice that I have learned over the years: never close the door on anything.

Officers have substantially more earning potential and have numerous “broadening” opportunities available—much more than NCOs. I’ve tried to cross over twice and both times my packet was discarded by the board because of my age. If I had tried earlier in my career things could have been different.

Don’t close the door to your opportunities. You may not see yourself as an officer now, but after you cross over and learn a few things—with help from others, of course, you might look back and say the opposite: “I couldn’t see myself retiring as enlisted.”

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2021 8:02 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 08:02:30 -0400

I would suggest looking at re-class. In the maint side your training will always center around that. Some high-speed training may not be what you want, but there are a lot of Army jobs out there, and a lot of them require you to have been in a while before you get them.
AKO has some resources on it to find other Army jobs. I am sure there are other resources as well.
If you are happy with your MOS, do as SFC Boyd said. Recruiter, Retention, DS...ect. Also talk to the semior NCOs in your unit about what their job is, I know my unit mechanics move over to a logistical support role at SFC, Tankers get maater gunner, logistic training and managent training as well at the SFC level, so you may have some diversity built into your carreer path already.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 26 at 2021 9:52 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 09:52:13 -0400

You should rotate as often as the Army assigns you, and when it is time to take on a career wnhancing role you reach out to branch as soon as you are ready. You will know when you are ready.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Aug 26 at 2021 11:29 AM

SSG Edward Tilton — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 11:29:17 -0400

Become the second in your section and when the Section leader leaves you assume his/her position.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2021 1:31 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 13:31:30 -0400

All of the other comments are valid and accurate. As they said, broadening assignment is key. The Army wants to see versatility/adaptability. Can you be successful outside of your MOS and reintegrate post broadening? If you plan on going recruiter (can’t speak on DS) volunteer. You’ll have more say in where you are stationed. Don’t wait for the Army to DA select you. Talk to your assignment manager about available positions that a lot of people don’t know about. Sikorsky, AMCOM, and so on. Although most are E7 positions, he or she may have the skinny on an opportunity. I am currently the only enlisted Soldier in UHPO and only got the job because I was proactive with HRC. Civilian education is a must. Anything you can do to set yourself apart. Start now if you haven’t already. You can also volunteer for jobs within aviation that aren’t necessarily 15T jobs, I was PC NCOIC despite it typically being a back shops position but was given the opportunity after two successful PSG jobs. Seek out positions with more responsibility. If you’ve been a squad leader in a D co for a while, try and get a section sergeant position in the ASB. If you’re in a flight company and want to get promoted, do 24-36 months and ask for another job. Flight company will derail your timeline if you stagnate there. The flip side of that is you typically want to get a full rating period in each position. Network and build rapport. Having a good working relationship with other units within your organization is a must. Army Aviation is a very small community and you will 100% run into someone you know pretty much anywhere you go. Bottom line is separating yourself from your peers and there’s a myriad of ways to do that.