How much time do you spend preparing your Soldiers for a promotion board?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 19:54:18 -0400

Do you give study advice? Do you encourage other successful board attendees to help with preparation? Do you hold mock boards in your company area? Do you inspect uniforms with enough time for corrections prior to board day? Do you just notify a Soldier of the board date and let them figure it out as a way to measure their desire to be considered eligible to compete for rank?

The reason I ask is I have sat on a few promotion boards and I often wonder about the time that the leader has or has not put into the Soldier attending. I realize that one cannot make a Soldier study or fully prepared but there should in my opinion be a degree of coaching by a leader. I am curious on your thoughts and experiences that have been successful or not.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2014 8:06 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 20:06:23 -0400

I give advice on the kind of facing movements they might make inside the board. At least one a week in the month prior to the board conduct a mock board for the soldier to help relieve some of the stress they might have as well as simulate some of the stress they might receive in the board. I inspect my soldiers prior to them being inspected by 1SG on there ERB and then there uniform make sure they have the correct ribbons and there pt test and weapons qual are up to date on there ERB. Give them tips on how I would study by writing the question and answer on 3x5 index card worked for myself. But now soldier have to read and know the new DPAM instead of the army study guide.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2014 11:46 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 11:46:56 -0400

I share all my experiences from the many boards (competition and promotion), ask questions about his/her ERB and PPW, organize mock boards and give tips, offer a study buddy, and ask about his/her motivation for attending the board.

Response by 1SG Mike Case made Jun 16 at 2014 10:53 AM

1SG Mike Case — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 10:53:42 -0400

One thing I like to do during the mock board is to video tape them, but I do not let them know about it. It really shows them their mannerisms and how they look from our side of the table. Another thing I really stress is the bio. Most people get nervous at a board and I tell them, the bio should relax you because you are talking about a subject you know so well, and that is yourself. A good bio just really sets the tone for the rest of the board.

Response by SFC Scott Crouch made Jun 16 at 2014 12:18 PM

SFC Scott Crouch — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 12:18:43 -0400

During my time in various units throughout the military, we always made or improved upon a collection of study material that was always part of my platoon's MTO&E.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2014 1:52 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 13:52:51 -0500

SFC Private RallyPoint Member, when I was a SPC going to the SGT board my NCO studied with me during lunch and whenever else we had the chance. I was also deployed during this time, so I had the blessing of being able to have 1SGs help me study as well as other senior leaders when my NCO wasn't available. I did attend one mock board before attending the promotion board.

Now, when it came to my SSG board, I prepared myself by volunteering for not one, not two, but three NCO of the Quarter boards. Mind you I had not attended a board of any type in almost 3 years. With that being said, my NCO made sure I knew my bio and how to report, but as far as the actual meat of the board, I studied on my own and with my fellow NCO. Occasionally an attorney would pick up my stack of flashcards and quiz me. Before I went to the promotion board, I attended one mock board.

As far as uniform goes, I wore ACUs to my first board and the subsequent boards I had my fellow NCO as well as an Old Guard Soldier help me ensure I did not look like a soup sandwich.

When it comes to study advice, every person learns and retains information differently. I would say just do what works best for you.