Posted on Jan 22, 2014
SSG Instructor/Writer
128K
135
63
11
11
0
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.
Avatar feed
Responses: 39
Votes
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Votes
CPT Student
3
3
0
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.  
(3)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Platoon Sergeant
3
3
0
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. 
(3)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Instructor
2
2
0
<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>
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
COL Vincent Stoneking
1
1
0
I will answer this way:<div>All other things being equal, It may end up being a selective criteria.&nbsp;</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.&nbsp;</div>
(1)
Comment
(0)
SFC Lisa Dumire
SFC Lisa Dumire
11 y
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".
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Bus Driver
1
1
0
NCOES is not a competition with your peers but with yourself.&nbsp; If you are not there to do your best you should not be there.&nbsp; Also this does not stop at NCOES schools this should be applied to every thing you do&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Do you want to be an okay parent or one that your children and others respect?
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CSM Aircraft Maintenance Senior Sergeant
1
1
0
Look at the number of 1SG & CSMs that have graduated as D/HG or CL and the answer should be clear.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CPT FAO - Southeast Asia
1
1
0
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
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG (Other / Not listed)
1
1
0
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.
(1)
Comment
(0)
CSM Mike Maynard
CSM Mike Maynard
11 y
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.
(6)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Scout Platoon Sergeant
1
1
0
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. ?
(1)
Comment
(0)
CW2 Louis Melendez
CW2 Louis Melendez
>1 y
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.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
1SG Visual Information Operations Chief
1
1
0
For what I been told yes. I would like to see the input of a CSM/SGM that has sat on the selection boards.
(1)
Comment
(0)
SSG Instructor/Writer
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
SSG Cedeno, I would also like to see that input.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Detachment Sergeant
1
1
0
It will reflect greatly on you 1059, which are viewable for Senior Enlisted advancement. Having any if not all of those are for sure something that separates you from your peer group. With the way that the Military is going, they are only wanting to keep the best and brightest.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CSM Andrew Perrault
0
0
0
It darn sure won't hurt your career and it speaks volumes of what type of NCO you are. Having said all that focus more on the learning part and application once you get back to your unit.....that's where it will really count share the knowledge gained. If you're doing your best awards will come. The other thing I would recommend is foster team work while you're there at school and help others.......Best of luck to you....
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CSM Andrew Perrault
0
0
0
My 2 cents..... It certainly won't hurt....but many do it for the wrong reasons. In my view taking the knowledge gained, sharing, and applying it in your everyday tasks in leading Soldiers while performing those hard leadership positions is what's important.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Thomas Butler
0
0
0
Well, one thing to remember is that for SPC and SGT, making the Cmdts List, DHG or earning the leadership award mean additional promotion points. And it is annotated in ATRRS as well as on the Soldiers 1059.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Senior Musician
0
0
0
If you're not first, you're last!


All kidding aside, everything that you can do to better than your peers will set you up for success. I'm if doing it, I'm in it to win it.
(0)
Comment
(0)
SGT Horizontal Construction Engineer
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
SGT (Join to see) as you said, not only does it make you stand out, its also more promotion points (at least for SGT and SSG). You can bet your bottom dollar I'll go after any point I can since my MOS has been maxed for over a year, and even when it comes down its usally mid 400's to high 500's. Except for last year when it hit 39.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CSM Guy R. Niles
0
0
0
Jim, not withstanding what you've been told on the subject, what do you believe? I was honor Grad in PNCOC, Distinguished Grad in PLC (now both combined first as PLDC, now WLC), Honor Grad in ANCOC (Now SLC), etc.... If you do not thing a Centralized Promotion Board (for SFC. MSG, and SGM) Member does not pay attention to that, think again! And the Semi-Centralized (Unit) Promotion Boards, same scenario! You stand out!
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Executive Commo Team
0
0
0
When it comes to selection for SFC/MSG/SGM it is extremely competitive. With that said you need to do everything in your power to stand out among the rest. The board can tell who strives to be at the top of their class. If you are getting 1/1 ratings on every NCOER but don't finish in the top 20% of your NCOES class then doesn't that send mixed message to the board?
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Stephen Hester
0
0
0
I think it is important to strive for these honors because it's important to set yourself apart from your peers. Distinguished Honor Grad, Honor Grad, Commandant's List exemplify the Army Values and mean that the Soldier went above and beyond what was required.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
WO1 Aviation Maintenance Technician (Nonrated)
0
0
0
Why would you not want to? I guess that is how I see it.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGM Edward Lake
0
0
0




SGM Edward Lake, Bouckville, ny











Well I’m here to tell you I would never discourage anyone
from trying to be the #1 solider in everything they do. I was promoted to E09
in 17 years and never once made honor grad of commandants list in any of my
NCOES. With that said where I excelled was the day to day job of being a
solider I always got above average NCOER's and expert on weapons High scores on
APFT and collage. And now that I’m retired for 5 years it’s been my experience that
the glowing accolades of dean’s list etc. really don’t weigh that much as in
the business world the main concern is how you can perform your day to day duties
to make the company money. Not discouraging you or anyone else from trying to
max out their takes bit I think the day to day performance weighs in more than
anything



(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.