Posted on May 7, 2015
Master Sergeant List for FY15 posted today. Who made it?
78.4K
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Promotions
First Sergeant
Promotion Board
MSG
SFC
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 27
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I made it. 14 years, 2 looks. Feeling very blessed and fortunate, as I was one of only nine 35M and 35L (we compete for 35Y) that made it, and the only one in my BN and one of two MI Soldiers in the BDE.
I've had a lot of great support and opportunities. My wife is a big supporter as she is also military, and I often confer with her on things. Timing was right for me that the worst NCO in the Army (my 1SG) was relieved and forced to retire four months before I deployed, and I ended up having my company for 16 months. Right place, right time, right date of rank. Also I've had a lot of great Soldiers, platoons, and my company. You know how it is, the more senior you are, the less your NCOER is really about YOU. I usually only have MAYBE one bullet per section about me specifically. The rest is usually something my guys/gals did. So I'm also fortunate to have a bunch of people that kicked butt and took names, and then I am successful because of them (despite how cheesy that may sound).
A lot of hard work, but also a lot of fortunate events. I know there are a lot of deserving people out there that get passed up for whatever reason, be it budget cuts, no slots, or just not QUITE the right wording on an NCOER.
My suggestion, smile in your DA Photo. It's the only chance for the board to meet you. I got picked up with a smile for SFC and I was passed over last year when the photographer took my photo before I could smile and refused to re-take it. This year, I got my smile in, and got picked up.
Call it coincidence or not.
Also read the board AAR. They post almost the same stuff every year, and yet every year the same errors in the board files come out.
I've had a lot of great support and opportunities. My wife is a big supporter as she is also military, and I often confer with her on things. Timing was right for me that the worst NCO in the Army (my 1SG) was relieved and forced to retire four months before I deployed, and I ended up having my company for 16 months. Right place, right time, right date of rank. Also I've had a lot of great Soldiers, platoons, and my company. You know how it is, the more senior you are, the less your NCOER is really about YOU. I usually only have MAYBE one bullet per section about me specifically. The rest is usually something my guys/gals did. So I'm also fortunate to have a bunch of people that kicked butt and took names, and then I am successful because of them (despite how cheesy that may sound).
A lot of hard work, but also a lot of fortunate events. I know there are a lot of deserving people out there that get passed up for whatever reason, be it budget cuts, no slots, or just not QUITE the right wording on an NCOER.
My suggestion, smile in your DA Photo. It's the only chance for the board to meet you. I got picked up with a smile for SFC and I was passed over last year when the photographer took my photo before I could smile and refused to re-take it. This year, I got my smile in, and got picked up.
Call it coincidence or not.
Also read the board AAR. They post almost the same stuff every year, and yet every year the same errors in the board files come out.
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Congratulations to all that did and those who did not keep your head up it will come take it from a guy that has been a SFC for almost 8 yrs.
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC Michael Loveless I was medical retired with right at eight years time in grade as a Sergeant First Class. You gave some outstanding advise and have a great attitude battle!!!
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Congratulations to those of you who were selected for promotion to Master Sergeant!
For other's who were eligible, but not selected do not let this define you. Not all of us will be selected for Master Sergeant. We never volenteered to become Soldier's in the world's greatest Army to serve our Country for promotions or monitary gain.
Our rank does not define us as it is our actions that speaks volumes above anything else. Nothing is fair in life and the centralized promotion selection board is far from perfect. Admittingly there are alot of tic turds who look good on paper while they couldn't lead a troop of boy scouts down a fire trail with smokey the bear!
The only thing a non-select can do is continue to Soldier on and be the best Sergeants First Class that they can be!
Hold your head's up high and know that your service to our great nation will never go unappreciated!
Thank you for your service!!!
For other's who were eligible, but not selected do not let this define you. Not all of us will be selected for Master Sergeant. We never volenteered to become Soldier's in the world's greatest Army to serve our Country for promotions or monitary gain.
Our rank does not define us as it is our actions that speaks volumes above anything else. Nothing is fair in life and the centralized promotion selection board is far from perfect. Admittingly there are alot of tic turds who look good on paper while they couldn't lead a troop of boy scouts down a fire trail with smokey the bear!
The only thing a non-select can do is continue to Soldier on and be the best Sergeants First Class that they can be!
Hold your head's up high and know that your service to our great nation will never go unappreciated!
Thank you for your service!!!
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Not me, don't know what else to do. I have degrees,schools, great NCOERs, positions and physical fitness . Everytime I have tried for a special assignment HRC screws me and sends me to a unit where all I do is deploy. There is only so much disappointment you can take when you say it's time to hang it up.
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SFC (Join to see)
As much as I want just say eff it, I am still an NCO and I am still goin to keep trying. I have to, I am not going to give up on my goals.
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SFC Charles S.
SFC (Join to see) I know exactly what you mean. If you hang around it will come it's just a hard time to get promoted. I was you back in the day. I took the 50% at 20. Looking back if I would have hung around, I might not have done so well on my current career. You have to do what you have to do. Take some time and do the serious soul search and figure out your best path and options. Drill SGT and Recruiter are the only thing I didn't see you say but if you have either or both then it might be time.
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SFC (Join to see)
I am at 20 years Active Duty, I tried doing those a while ago. Recruiting was a no go as a single parent.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
Hang in there, I remember you back in 21st CTC, just look at my profile, still didn't make Master Sergeant. There is life after the Army, its called Retirement. Good Luck and stay motivated. I held E-8 positions, but it wasn't for me.
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Definately congrats to all those who made it. Though I personally think this was the most jacked up board I have ever seen, it does not diminish the hard work those that were selected put in or make them any less deserving. Congrats to all. There's always next year and worse case scenario, it's nothing to be ashamed of to retire as a SFC With 20+ years of service.
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SFC Aaron Calmes
LTC (Join to see) Sir, this was the first combined AC/AGR board instead of having two separate boards. Normally when you go to the board you are looked at for both your primary, secondary, and additional MOSs. Due to HRC being in the process of changing the AGR overlay, in my MOS (not sure about others) no AGRs were even considered at all. Though it is a very small group that is affected, it doesn't help when you are in that group. Boards are only once a year anyways, now it is a two year wait to be looked at for soldiers that have been an E-7 over 8 years with a lot of experience.
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC Aaron Calmes-
I hear you battle as I have a friend who was number 8 on the AGR list under the old system. After not being promoted he had to recompense against his other AGR contemporaries making the list every time with a lower number each time. He was actually in an AGR service liason Sergeant Major position. He is finally retiring as a Master Sergeant.
Additionally, I cannot agree with you more about the Army's centralized promotion system being jacked up. I recal GWOT reserve Sergeant's First Class who were fat, limp, lame, and lazy making $100.00 in perdium daily while on orders that got promoted simply because all they had to do is find a unit with an open slot for that rank. One of my reserve Sergeant's First Class found a unit in California, affiliated with them, was promoted to Master Sergeant where after one drill he reaffiliated with his old unit and was still working for me as an active duty Sergeant First Class...to everyone it dies hurt to be passed over as I have been there. But, at the end of the day I realize that there are just some thing's that are out of my control.
Eventually, we move on but the main thing we must remember is that being a Soldier is often times being bigger then ourselves.
Again our rank does not, nor will it ever define us as it is the accomplishments we make that poatively contribute to completing the job with quality results!
I hear you battle as I have a friend who was number 8 on the AGR list under the old system. After not being promoted he had to recompense against his other AGR contemporaries making the list every time with a lower number each time. He was actually in an AGR service liason Sergeant Major position. He is finally retiring as a Master Sergeant.
Additionally, I cannot agree with you more about the Army's centralized promotion system being jacked up. I recal GWOT reserve Sergeant's First Class who were fat, limp, lame, and lazy making $100.00 in perdium daily while on orders that got promoted simply because all they had to do is find a unit with an open slot for that rank. One of my reserve Sergeant's First Class found a unit in California, affiliated with them, was promoted to Master Sergeant where after one drill he reaffiliated with his old unit and was still working for me as an active duty Sergeant First Class...to everyone it dies hurt to be passed over as I have been there. But, at the end of the day I realize that there are just some thing's that are out of my control.
Eventually, we move on but the main thing we must remember is that being a Soldier is often times being bigger then ourselves.
Again our rank does not, nor will it ever define us as it is the accomplishments we make that poatively contribute to completing the job with quality results!
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SFC Charles S.
SFC Aaron Calmes Great comment. You are exactly correct. There is Nothing to be ashamed of to retire as an SFC with 20+ years of Service. Promotions are subject to political and economic conditions, which we as soldiers have no control over.
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I didn't make it, either. Only 10 of 121 35Ps who were eligible got picked up, and almost all of them were junior to me in time in grade and service. I'll give it one more go next year, and if I don't get it, I'll retire at 20 as a SFC.
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SFC Jonathan Surprise
In my MOS (25P/S) only three out of 300 made the list. Our MOS is extremely competitive. I did not make the list, but there's next year.
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Congratulations to All that made Master Sergeant! Well Deserved!
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Congrats to all that made it!! I just made E7 last year, so I won't even be trying for E8 for a while, lol. Again, congrats to all!!
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SFC (Join to see)
E-7 Kenyon Ladson E-7 and E-8 are pay grades. I never thought the day would come that a SNCO would refer to himdelf as a pay grade. This is a very unbecoming way for a Soldier to refer to themselves or other Soldier's.
The only time I ever heard an Enlisted Soldier referred to, or addressed in this manner during my career on active duty before being medical retired was when they were considered worthless oxygen thrives and a discredit to our NCO Corps. We would correct Soldier's for doing what you did in referring to yourself as a pay grade. It is E-7's like you who do things like this that take away from good military order and discipline!
When member's of our Army and sister services see this they get the wrong idea on what is appropriate when it comes to the customs and courtesies that surround the rich history of our Army.
Honestly, I never thought I would have to address something like this with someone who is supposed to be a fellow SNCO...food for thought E-7!
The only time I ever heard an Enlisted Soldier referred to, or addressed in this manner during my career on active duty before being medical retired was when they were considered worthless oxygen thrives and a discredit to our NCO Corps. We would correct Soldier's for doing what you did in referring to yourself as a pay grade. It is E-7's like you who do things like this that take away from good military order and discipline!
When member's of our Army and sister services see this they get the wrong idea on what is appropriate when it comes to the customs and courtesies that surround the rich history of our Army.
Honestly, I never thought I would have to address something like this with someone who is supposed to be a fellow SNCO...food for thought E-7!
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC Robert Anderson. I spend a lot of my time looking at pay grades as well as rank, therefore, that is what I typed. I am extremely proud to be a SNCO and I darn sure earned it. Apparently, you felt some kind of way to write me a mini book on correcting me. SFC to SFC, whether this be social media or any other avenue, there are better ways to police up your fellow SNCOS then coming at me as you would a Jr. Enlisted. I ate your food for thought SFC Anderson....now you enjoy yours. Have an Army Strong day!
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SFC (Join to see)
Hey SFC Kenyon Ladson you are right battle! I have been trying to figure out how to send you a private message. But instead I just keep viewing your profile. Don't get me wrong as your my brother Soldier but I did not mean to be going back and forth like that...sometimes like all of us I get a little over zealous. But, we all learn from each other...I just refrigerated my food for thought right next to my can of crow.lol...Be well...
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SFC (Join to see)
It's all good my brother....which you indeed are! I mean, we already feeding each other and what not, lol. God bless family!! Army Strong!!!
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I want to Congratulate all 92Gs who made this list.. SFC COPELAND, TOWNSEND, PRICE, WILLIAMS AND DAVIS.. To all my peers who were on the list and didnt make. CONGRATULATIONS for being considered. It is always next year. For those who were QMP'D/QSP'D. all things come to an end. Sone great NCOs will be lost, but never forgottened.
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