Is coming from USAREC to a nominative assignment bad for career progression?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 May 2017 14:47:29 -0400

I get the concept of the diversity and taking on those challenging assignments can set you apart from peers but I feel like after serving 3yrs as a Recruiter and now assigned to another TDA assignment, (joint assignment) where I do not have any Soldiers to lead will be a challenge when I return to the operational Army. Has anyone else encountered this in their career?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2017 5:24 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 May 2017 17:24:26 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member while I love the operational assignments as much as the next person I think that a nominative assignment is always good for the career as it means you were selected over your peers for it. However, I do feel that you need to get some operational experience in there as well. So if your next assignment after this nominative assignment is operational you should be very competitive. Then again it all depends on what the Army is looking for the year you go before a board.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2017 7:26 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 May 2017 07:26:07 -0400

speaking from the perspective of one serving in a nominative position it is an incredible broadening experience. For IG at least, they look for NCOs who have proven leadership experience such as recruiting. So at least from my viewpoint, it appears that you performed very well in a challenging leadership position (recruiter) and were hand picked for a broadening assignment that will utilize your leadership. When you return to an operational assignment, you will have experience that few of your peers do.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made May 26 at 2017 5:53 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 26 May 2017 17:53:35 -0400

Please accept this in the intent it is given.... ....friendly and guidance, not an attack.
Your MOS is 25P Microwave systems installer-maintainers YES?

If so, and this is not meant to be mean spirited but, you don't have a lot of upward career progression , you are in a low density MOS, with significantly limited leadership opportunists in MOS.
As such, Id say take every other leadership opportunity possible .. If the Nominative position is sitting in a basement office with three DA civilians at the Pentagon.. Id pass on it.... If the Nominative position has the possibilities of leadership be it, no solders but project or task leadership or with soldiers I think that would be an ok job to take on.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2017 3:59 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 May 2017 15:59:14 -0400

I went from the schoolhouse (BFIST and 13F AIT) after 2.5 years, to recruiting for 4.5. I went from PFC to SSG before I made it back to a deployable unit in 2012. I did just fine when I got there.