Posted on Aug 6, 2018
Is it embarrassing to go to BSEP class as a E7 and try to raise your GT score with a bunch of privates just to go warrant?
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I think it may be too late to do BSEP as an E7
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 58
Absolutely not. I just came out of a BSEP class IOT go Warrant. My embarrassment lies only within the cost of my own mediocrity. Those privates are not going to have a decision in whether or not I succeed or fail as a NCO/WO. So why place such weight/value/or whatever in the opinions of people that are in the same class as me?! Are they not in there to improve their shortcomings as well? Take it from someone who witnessed everyone from a PVT to a SFC in the class struggle and succeed, it'll be too late when that individual says its too late.
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1LT (Join to see)
It is your personal and professional development. No matter the reason why you are there as an E7, you are there to ensure your career continues upward! Glad to read you are going to improve your skills to ensure success!! HOOAH!
(EDIT) Please, why not consider what an amazing role model you are by demonstrating professional development to junior enlisted! You are not coasting through, you are taking charge to achieve your goals!! another HOOAH moment!
(EDIT) Please, why not consider what an amazing role model you are by demonstrating professional development to junior enlisted! You are not coasting through, you are taking charge to achieve your goals!! another HOOAH moment!
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COL Bryan Pettett
Take your already top of the line earned experience and use it to be the best you can be.
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No, if anything it is admirable showing you want to improve your knowledge and willingness to succeed. My wife used to teach BSEP, and she would get that question with every class. Take the class and make yourself a better person for it. Don’t let your pride hold you back.
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Absolutely not. It shows that you are trying to better yourself. It's one thing to preach to your subordinates to do it, but when they see you put your money where your mouth is they tend to realize it is not all talk.
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What's worse, sitting in there with those privates for a short amount of time or living the rest of your life knowing you were too embarrassed to go after what you wanted? I wouldn't let that class stop you.
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Everyone is at BSEP for the same thing, to improve yourself. It doesn't matter what grade you are, improving yourself is always a positive. My hats of to anyone going to BSEP to make themselves a better individual.
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It is never ever too late or too embarrassing better your level of education.
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CPT Jeff Robinette
I went ba into college, after I retired from the State a of Maryland, to study computer science. I competed against kids 1/2 my age.. I graduated Summa Cum Laude.
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1LT (Join to see)
CPT Jeff Robinette - Me too, missed out on GI Bill ... didn't know I only had 10 years to use it. With a family and working full time, could not attend college until online learning became mainstream. Paid for school myself, graduated with honors, American Military University. Went full time while working full time. Completed within 2 years (transfer credits, military training evaluation, CLEP, and summer semesters i. e. no breaks)! Actually considering cyber security MS at NYU.
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Why would it be? The end goal would be the same. If you get selected and go to WOCS there’s a chance those privates will be your “leadership” (even with a 5-wk course) then graduate and be your peers. I had to go to the 7-week course as SSG...Div Drill Sergeant of the Year...close to 10 years in with about 15 now WOs that that had all of 3 months in the Army and didn’t feel embarrassed or higher because at the end of the day the dot is what I went there for, didn’t matter.
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I went as an E7, not to drop a packet, but to better myself and raise my scores, totally worth it and those privates respected me for it during the class.
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SSG (Join to see) are you asking for yourself or a friend LOL? Absolutely not. at 53, I am still plodding through college. There is something that you want to do, and there is a wall that has to be climbed to get there. Imagine a world where none of us went on to do what we dreamed of because someone put a barrier in front of us and we just said oh well.
Go for it (or tell that other E7 to go for it)
Go for it (or tell that other E7 to go for it)
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Which is more important- educating yourself, raising your score in hopes of advancement, or worrying about how it look?
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It's never too late to improve yourself. Everyone has shortcomings. If BSEP helps that E-7 progress higher, then where is that wrong?
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It is your personal and professional development. No matter the reason why you are there as an E7, you are there to ensure your career continues upward! Glad to read you are going to improve your skills to ensure success!! HOOAH!
(EDIT) Plus, why not consider what an amazing role model you are by demonstrating professional development to junior enlisted! You are not coasting through, you are taking charge to achieve your goals!! another HOOAH moment!
(EDIT) Plus, why not consider what an amazing role model you are by demonstrating professional development to junior enlisted! You are not coasting through, you are taking charge to achieve your goals!! another HOOAH moment!
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SPC Henry Francis
1LT (Join to see) - I just logged in on a desktop. The edit link is there (I've never seen it on the iPhone app). Thanks for taking the time to help me with this.
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1LT (Join to see)
SPC Henry Francis - Anytime!! I work for Thumbs Up!! Please do so when you get a chance!
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Suspended Profile
I'm not sure why you would be embarrassed to attend BSEP. I think that your rank is immaterial to the fact that you want to improve yourself. In my view, that is true leadership and sets an example for your subordinates to seek self-improvement too. This is in line with the Army values. I applaud you for seeking any and all opportunities to make yourself better for you and the Army.
As a NCO and especially a leader to your own soldiers, I believe learning and bettering oneself are limitless. There no shame of improving yourself. Everyone got a weakness. Identify it and continue to focus on developing as you take a step at a time.
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I can't see why it would be embarrassing. The school exists to help develop the skills so that people can achieve their goals. Remember that on day one you're told that the army gives you what you put into it. Seeking to improve your abilities should never be frowned upon. The only thing that would make a person stupid would be to not use the tools available out of embarrassment.
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If that is what it take to achieve your goals, buckle down and ignore all else. It amounts to wasted distractions.
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No, you go ahead and do what you have to do and if they have any sense they will look up to you for striving to better yourself. As my Mentor used to say, “pride cometh before the fall, never let your Rank make you think you are better than others, when you are not.”
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It's actually a lot more common than you realize. Your looking at this through an Army lens so you feel it is degrading. I had to take my high school math courses over again when I started at University of Wisconsin. It's not that I was stupid it was because I either had bad teachers in High School or my brain was a grade or two behind in development. Either way if you do ever go to college and end up having to take a 090 course, they are usually packed with students and lots of people older than you in the same boat. So not necessarily a Private vs SFC thing. My math grades in High School: C's and D's. Math scores in college after taking the remedial courses........nothing less than an A. I didn't get any smarter in the Army, so either the remedial courses or my brain could accept the material better being older. A lot of people say "college isn't for me" based on their High School experience.........big mistake. You really need to try it after age 21-22 and see how you fare (taking the appropriate courses first).
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To be honest I couldn't remember what BSEP stood for so I looked it up.
https://www.army.mil/article/3068/bsep_helps_soldiers_advance_careers
It actually states one of things it's for is to help for thos who may want to go WO.
3 decades ago when I was getting ready to go to 12B BNCOC we had to take a math test. There were 40 questions broken down into 8 lines of 5 questions. You could miss a question on each line and pass but you couldn't miss 2 questions on the same line. I missed 2 questions on the same line, I was pissed, but my PSG & squad leader insisted I go through BSEP before I could test again. 12B BNCOC was math intensive due to demolition calculations, I was able to test out of BSEP after the first couple days. I didn't have a problem being in the class, I just didn't want to spend the time in the class I didn't need.
But from seeing Soldiers and NCO's struggle with simple math and English I wholeheartedly support anyone going to Any class that helps advance their own knowledge.
Seeing that you're a SGT asking about a SFC, I'm wondering about your motivations? Not saying there's anything wrong, just curious.
https://www.army.mil/article/3068/bsep_helps_soldiers_advance_careers
It actually states one of things it's for is to help for thos who may want to go WO.
3 decades ago when I was getting ready to go to 12B BNCOC we had to take a math test. There were 40 questions broken down into 8 lines of 5 questions. You could miss a question on each line and pass but you couldn't miss 2 questions on the same line. I missed 2 questions on the same line, I was pissed, but my PSG & squad leader insisted I go through BSEP before I could test again. 12B BNCOC was math intensive due to demolition calculations, I was able to test out of BSEP after the first couple days. I didn't have a problem being in the class, I just didn't want to spend the time in the class I didn't need.
But from seeing Soldiers and NCO's struggle with simple math and English I wholeheartedly support anyone going to Any class that helps advance their own knowledge.
Seeing that you're a SGT asking about a SFC, I'm wondering about your motivations? Not saying there's anything wrong, just curious.

BSEP Helps Soldiers Advance Careers
Do you know your score' The answer to that question can be important when referring to your credit, but it is just as important for Soldiers looking to advance their careers.
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