If you are non deployable, you shouldn't be able to get promoted. What do you think?

I was non-deployable for nearly a year and a half. I was promoted from E-5 to E-6 in that time frame. And I am still in the army today. Actually got promoted this year to E-7. So should I have been chaptered out in that time frame? If you don't know the reasons that people are non-deployable, don't jump to conclusions that this person or that person is just dead weight. Maybe there is a legitimate reason why they are non-deployable. Don't judge people you know absolutely nothing about.

For myself, I set a standard. If I ever got to the point where I needed a profile to stay in, then it was time to get out - but that was just me and the standard I had for myself. After I came back from Iraq , in 2004, I needed a profile because I couldn't take the APFT, and I knew with the collapsed disk in my back and the problem with my shoulder I was non deployable, so I got out. I guess it was just the final nail in my "career coffin". If I couldn't lead from the front, then I didn't feel I belonged - THIS WAS MY PERSONAL STANDARD. I lost 10yrs of service I'd planed on, but I wouldn't change my standard.
I'm not saying this is for everyone. There are a lot of reasons for non deployable status. I also know there are those who shouldn't be in the military because they don't have the commitment. When I was SNCO (1SG acting) of a unit(USAR), we had a soldier holding a position in our unit. We got notified we were going to get deployed. In the Reserve, before the official deployment order was released, if a person had a chance to get out. We had a soldier who was in leadership position wanting out because he was in school and didn't want to miss any classes. The CDR let him transfer to a USAR school so he could stay in school. There were other soldiers who were missing school, but went anyway. I know there was a job at the school to be done, but I lost all respect for this soldier because he was taking a position which at the last minute we had to scramble to fill.
I feel if a soldier is in a deployable unit and is in a non deployable status, then this person shouldn't be in a leadership position. Our units should always "train as they fight", and if the training leadership can't deploy, then there's a hole. Yea, I know we all train up and down because we all are expendable, but when a unit has to start with a hole to fill, then I think it is very non-professional of the soldier to put a unit in this position. They can be used in the unit, maybe as Rear Det or something, but if this soldier was a PS, then he/she shouldn't be training the platoon to deploy.

There was this Sm that when Top told us we were going to Iraq in 03 the Sm stated they did not sign up to do this, let's just say that Sm and a few more Sick Call soldier's stayed back in the rear with the gear, Had a Plt. Sgt like that couldn't wear the Vest couldn't Pt But could train us and cuss us out just because one soldier was running behind for morning formation and this Sm was a good soldier never late for formation never a neg 4856.

I think that if you are really non deployable you need to be separated. Period. When the SMA recently discussed the 50,000 Soldiers who are non deployable he included in that number many who are simply not compliant with MEDPROS. It is a constant struggle to keep people up to date simply because junior leaders aren't engaged and invested in ensuring the Soldiers they lead are medically deployable.

I believe that the only reason to have an Army is to kill people and break things. If you can't wear you gear, carry a weapon and go to the field you basically are taking up a spot from somebody who is fully mission capable.

One thing you can do is not approve leave or passes if people aren't compliant with MEDPROS.

As far as legitimately non deployable folks go, I think we have to be careful about pulling the trigger too fast on medical separations. If somebody is legitimately hurt/injured we have an obligation to see if we can fix them and return them to duty. If they aren't going to get better they need to be separated.

That's just my $.02 worth, and all I feel like jamming out on an iPad.

It used to be that if you were non-deployable this was always the case. When you status changed, you were allowed back on the promotion list. I left the active Army in 92 & went in the Guard. We had a guy who weaseled his way out deploying saying he had asthma as a kid. He didn't come with us & it ticked off everybody that he got promoted. When our CG found out about all of the shenanigans, he busted him back down & made sure to get deserving, deployed people their promotions. I am sorry, but it's like training for the Olympics & not being able to participate. Being deployable is what the expectation of your job is. Many people who got injured had their careers ruined & were forced out. That's just the risk of doing the job.

I think it depends on the reason they aren't deployable; I don't think anyone is going to begrudge the guy who got wounded in action taking a billet back home. The ones that grate are the ones that seem to be working the system to avoid going overseas. I'm guessing that this is harder to do on active duty than in the guard/reserves, but when I was at Hood 07-08 time frame, there were a lot of instructors who had been there for years without deploying. Some of whom definitely were not professional NCOs.

I agree , if this was the norm there are plenty of military personal missing limbs that would still like to serve and can't . It's one thing if it's not in your MOS but shouldn't be taking up a billet if you can't perform !

I think all of you are being sensitive. #allopinionsmatter lol. Just because one person's opinion doesn't parallel yours doesn't mean that they're unprofessional, just like your opinion of said person making an opinion makes you more professional. I myself (an infantryman) have been deployed 5 times to real combat between Iraq and Afghanistan. That doesn't make me less experienced than someone who has 7 or more experienced than someone who has less than me. There are plenty of MSG's and SGM/CSM's that have not deployed once I there 25+ year career but still have more experience than I do as a SFC with 18+ years. There are are plenty of people with "real combat" deployments that have no experience whatsoever. That's just how it is. I think the key is to identify those who aren't deployable, find out why, then if their issue is valid put them in positions where they can still serve honorably. JMHO

IMO, if you can't deploy, you should be separated. Get out, get the treatment you need, etc. RCP is a waste of $. Why let a Soldier stay in that's non dep? Then not promote them? They'll be allowed to stay in, prolonging the inevitable. This isn't to say non deployable Soldiers aren't good leaders, etc. Our job is to be deployable. If you cant, then you need to get out, get the help you need, and get a job that doesn't require you to deploy. Respectfully.

I think everyone should have to deploy but there are reasonable exceptions. Look at Gregory D. Gadson. he lost both legs in the service. He didn't want to leave the service and he stayed in after the injury. Situations like that, I am OK with someone being non deployable. However if they are non deployable because they don't want to be away from their family or other reason similar, then I don't agree with it. I am a Navy vet. I did two deployments. I was in the gulf during the Iraq/Iran war and then Desert Storm. I had to be away from my family during that time and short cruises as well. I was lucky that my ship is in port when my wife went in labor on both my kids, so I got to see them born. However there are many sailors, grunts, soldiers airmen that wasn't as lucky as me. Those positions should be available for those that have been deployed to give them a break in order to spend time with their family. I don't know how the Army works but sailors do a tour at sea and then a tour on shore duty. I imagine the Army is the same. They are up for orders every so many years. The only other ones I think should be able to get a nondeployable orders would be for situations like Gregory D. Gadson.