How would you select the waiver for a PFC to SPC promotion?

2014-08-04T09:28:27-04:00

A waiver comes down to your unit for advancement from PFC to SPC. Two soldiers come to mind who are eligible for the waiver. Their job performance, personal conduct, weapons score, and APFT are the same across the board. Typical answer would be to hold a board to see who does better and grant that individual the waiver, but say time constraints hinder this option. On the other hand Soldier One has competed in a Soldier of the Quarter Board who did not win, but placed a very close second, and Soldier Two is Combatives Level Two certified, but also Soldier One has never had the opportunity to attend Combatives Level One for the reason they just do not hold the Level One course where I am currently stationed and Soldier Two has had many oppurtinities to volunteer to attend a Soldier of the Quarter Board would you use these as a tipping point? If so who would receive the waiver?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2014 9:34 AM

2014-08-04T09:34:53-04:00

I would look to see who had more civilian education credits. Might be a tie breaker right there.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Aug 4 at 2014 9:36 AM

2014-08-04T09:36:01-04:00

Excellent question and I have been there and done that, got the t-shirt on the Soldier end! The out of the box Soldier who demonstrates a little more when not asked to do it is whom I go to on equal levels. Soldier one in my opinion as he may not have been afforded the combative training level probably would as he already steps out of the box. May I just say that after winning Soldier of the Year for a Corps, my 1SG still did not grant me the waiver to SPC, he gave it strictly based on DOR and nothing more. We had 23 PFCs and he said everyone had to wait their turn. To this very day I would still like to see my 1SG again and say some things to him, after his salute of course!

Response by 1SG Mike Case made Aug 4 at 2014 9:54 AM

2014-08-04T09:54:02-04:00

Even though you say there is not time, find the time. Let the Soldiers compete for their promotion. If you had to do it on a Saturday, then do it. One of them might not show up, because it is the weekend and then it shows you who wants it the most. If they are truly that close, then find the time for some type of board or Soldier competition to test the Total Soldier Concept. A quick diagnostic pt test in the morning and a few Soldier skills after that and boom, you have your winner.

Response by SGT Chris Hill made Aug 6 at 2014 2:21 PM

2014-08-06T14:21:46-04:00

I would say the Soldier who competed in the board; combatives is a great thing to have as it goes on your ERB and is promotion points, which are incentives themselves. The board however, isn't something a Soldier would commonly get any type of reward for (other than an impact award if approved), and to me is much more tedious than combatives solely due to time spent studying, money spent/prepping ASUs, etc. therefore, in my opinion, that Soldier that competed in the board should stand out more for the waiver. That shows willingness to compete against many others in a progressive and career productive way.