Posted on Jan 22, 2014
Is it really that important to make Distinguished Honor Grad, Commandant's List, etc., in the NCOES?
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Some people in my class don't think it's that important, however I have been told that it's something that could potentially get you selected for SSG-CSM over your peers if you do that well in the NCOES, from WLC to USASMA.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 39
Anything less than your best is a waste of time. The way I look at it...any training I receive from the army is not for me, it's for the troops I will be charged with leading. They deserve the best I can give.
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I do believe it's important to attain the distinction of DHG or CL during NCOES. These distinctions send a strong message to senior NCOs on DA Centralized Boards. It will separate you from your peers. You should always strive for excellence at every pit-stop throughout your career. Whether it be NCOES, civilian education, or SSD courses, do your very best.
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<p>I agree with what the other NCO's have written here and also wanted you to think about another contributing factor...</p><p>Do you think these Soldiers are saying this in order to make it seem as if they don't care? I found in ALC that a lot of people pretended they didn't care so they didn't lose "cool points" if they didn't make the cut. </p>
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I will answer this way:<div>All other things being equal, It may end up being a selective criteria. </div><div><br></div><div>I wouldn't beat myself up if it didn't happen, but I would shoot for it. As the army shrinks, you want to stand out (in a good way!) from the crowd. </div>
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SFC Lisa Dumire
Having recently served on a promotion board, our group took in consideration all 1059's and the comments on them. We also looked at civilian education and military correspondence courses.
Each board will determine their own priorities so for those seeking promotion, they should embrace "The Total Soldier Concept".
Each board will determine their own priorities so for those seeking promotion, they should embrace "The Total Soldier Concept".
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NCOES is not a competition with your peers but with yourself. If you are not there to do your best you should not be there. Also this does not stop at NCOES schools this should be applied to every thing you do in life in and out of the Military. Nobody should be okay with squeaking by, you should want to be the best that you can be. Do you want to be an okay parent or one that your children and others respect?
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Look at the number of 1SG & CSMs that have graduated as D/HG or CL and the answer should be clear.
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SGT Starnater,
Sufficient answers have been provided to your question. I'll add my two cents and provide a slightly different perspective.
While achieving an academic standing setting you up for honor in a course is a discriminator for future boards, it may not be the reason for success in the future. The honor received is the tangible result of hard work and dedication to learning your craft and performing at a level beyond your peers. However, it is the intangible quality of the Soldier that leads them to consistently achieve these ratings. Therefore, the real discriminator is your capability as a Soldier and a Leader. We control outcomes in our lives, documents do not.
Very Respectfully,
CM
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While I agree with a lot of the things stated here, I have to be honest and say that me getting DHG at my WLC class hasn't really done much. Yes I'm proud of my achievement but it's not like you will magically get that next promotion just for having it. Some units give out AAM's for that stuff I know but that's about it. Also worth an extra 10 promo points. It's all up to what your Officers/NCO's think of it. In my unit the Battalion Commander mentioned "One of our soldiers got DHG at WLC so Good Job" and that was it.
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CSM Mike Maynard
Congratulations on your effort to earn DHG. It's a bigger deal than you think.
You are correct that it's probably not going to make that much difference from SPC to SGT or SGT to SSG. Where it will matter is when you're being considered for SFC and MSG.
Will it get you promoted? Not on its own, but it will probably place you above the folks around you on the OML that don't have it.
Finally, you are a better Soldier right now because of it. You set a goal, applied yourself and persevered to the end. That, in and of itself, is a great exercise that makes anyone better.
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Some of the responses already nailed it, that giving best / doing good definitely doesn't hurt. On the other hand I personally only put so much faith into. I just graduated ALC and its an absolutely broken system. No standards as far as how you are getting taught whatsoever. And that portion is just straight luck. You had some platoons with almost half of the guys on commandant s list while you had also platoons like mine where the instructor didn't do anything for us and not one person made it. I am not taking anything away from the guys who did get recognized for there accomplishments, but on the other hand was it really just them putting way more time and effort in it period or was it maybe a good mixture of everything. ?
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CW2 Louis Melendez
I said the same thing about the system. My experience at ALC wasn’t the best comparing to WLC or even Battle Staff. The grading system itself was a joke in ALC. “Whole Soldier” concept was preached since the beginning and they failed to stick to that concept.
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For what I been told yes. I would like to see the input of a CSM/SGM that has sat on the selection boards.
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