My new Soldier is scheduled for a promotion board, but I don't think he's ready. How to proceed?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 02:23:59 -0500

I just got a new Soldier placed under me that was already slated to go to the next promotion (e-5) board. I do not think this Soldier is ready based on my observation prior to being placed directly under me and needs more grooming. I'm not sure how to proceed because I haven't even initially counseled this Soldier yet. I know that normally you would just counsel, but considering that this Soldier just became mine and was previously told they can go I'm not sure how to proceed.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2013 2:37 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 02:37:15 -0500

SSG
Wesley, <o:p></o:p>

 

I would recommend
counseling the Soldier as normal on why you do not think he/she is ready for
the promotion board.  I also recommend talking to your 1SG ASAP about the
matter and share your thoughts on why you recommend the Soldier is not ready
for promotion. You, as the leader, must let the 1SG know you are unable to
represent this Soldier during a promotion board because you have not been given
efficient time to evaluate the Soldier's leadership potential. It is nothing
personal, just business.<o:p></o:p>

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2013 2:37 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 02:37:33 -0500

I would discuss this with your 1SG and see if the 1SG will hold a mock board, if your gut is right and the soldier isn't ready they will show that to the mock board. 

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2013 1:57 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 13:57:10 -0500

Depending on the situation, I'd send the person. BUT it would only be if the person that told him or her they could go to the board was someone I trusted. For example, if I trust my peer PSG and he says yes, I take their word for it if I trust them as a leader. Otherwise I say wait.

Response by SGT Thomas Sullivan made Dec 31 at 2013 4:11 PM

SGT Thomas Sullivan — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 16:11:17 -0500

From personal experience.  I was a young SPC who had been recommended no less than 3 times for the promotion board.  Being passed around from one first line to another due to unit changes meant that I had to go through about 6 90 day evaluation periods as a SPC, not all of my first lines felt I was ready for promotion.  One of the small problems I have with our promotion system for NCO's, we have a very vague standard for promotion to SGT and SSG.  Are we too reliant on our current methodology?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2013 4:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 16:11:48 -0500

This is rough, I am inclined to trust in the nco support channel that blessed off on this soldier going to the board. This way you do not under cut the previous leadership and demotivated the soldier. This is dependent on what your issues with him are. If they are serious enough to warrant taking him off the appearance list then you must show the courage to do what is right for the unit and the soldier.

Response by 1SG Alan Bailey made Jan 9 at 2014 12:37 PM

1SG Alan Bailey — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:37:17 -0500

I have read all the responds to your question, All have some good points. I would talk to the 1SG suggest that the leader that recommended the Soldier go to the board take them, you have to have time to evaluate the Soldier before you recommend, you have to do the initial counseling, and at the sametime I would counsel them on why you feel they are not ready for the board and what they need to do to get ready. Than give them tasks and put them in positions to show they are ready for the responsibilities.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2014 5:39 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 May 2014 05:39:50 -0400

Be honest with your Soldier. Have a sit-down with your directorate NCOIC/SGM to discuss your concerns. Don't delay on the initial counseling. Instead, remember that the initial counseling lays out your expectations and performance standards. Also remember that if the Soldier is in their primary zone for promotion, you must counsel them every month on promotion. Ask the hard questions, like why he or she does or doesn't deserve a promotion, and ask it of the Soldier, yourself, and the directorate NCOIC. We gain nothing without communication, and the more you communicate, the better off the Soldier and the directorate will be.

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made May 9 at 2014 6:19 AM

SFC Christopher Perry — Fri, 09 May 2014 06:19:16 -0400

I would have to say that the easy answer, as well as the one that is fair to the Soldier in question, is a mock board as MSG Rink suggested. It is never a bad idea to insist that a Soldier first appear before a Soldier of the month board. A Soldier who is truly ready to move up will not be offended by your questioning their readiness if you also give them the opportunity to prove you wrong.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2014 8:42 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 May 2014 08:42:39 -0400

This is a great question. I have seen so many SGT who were not at the level at their rank. When I went to Pre-Ranger at Fort Benning I was helping out a guy with land nav. He needed a lot of help with some basic stuff. I thought he was a PFC or SPC but he informed me that he was a SGT. I was shocked. I told him he is at ready for Ranger School and that he wouldn't make this course either. I explained to him that it is not his fault that he didn't know some basic stuff but I blame his leadership. Either they promoted him too early or they didn't train him enough once he got SGT. He didn't agree with me. He would go on to fail the course and not go to Ranger School.

I have seen so many soldiers get promoted that were not ready. I blame their leadership and at first I blame their first line leader. It is up to them to asses that soldier.

You are in a bad situation in which someone who obviously was promoted too early themselves wanted this soldier to be promoted also. I would go with what you are feeling. But if it were me in your place I would not send them and counsel them why. I would also give them some situational training that would show them that they are not ready. If they excel in said training they might be ready for the board.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2014 5:52 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 17:52:51 -0400

I would place certain conditions for going to the board for example implementing backwards planning. Pick a month that you think is appropriate for the Soldier, then give this Soldier task(s) and suspense date for those task(s).
For example:
PT score of 270 or above time period two months
Be in charge of the PT schedule for a month
390 Hours for ACCP
Teach a class at the next safety stand down and/or JDCP
Memorize the NCO Creed by
Mock boards scheduled more than one
ASU inspection by
Have at least last month cut off points for their MOS
Give the Soldier an opportunity to earn your support and trust

Response by SSG Genaro Negrete made Oct 25 at 2014 7:36 PM

SSG Genaro Negrete — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 19:36:50 -0400

If you are going to be the one sponsoring the soldier through the board, I would hold off. With out even an initial counseling, the soldier has no framework for what is expected of them to succeed under your leadership/mentorship. That soldier should have a slew of counselings from their last first line regarding their promotion potential. Pour through them. Use it to help shape your decision. If there are no counselings, then that is an issue unto itself.

They key to all this is careful, explicit communication during the counseling process. I would explain that while the last first line supervisor may have recommended a board appearance, you have to verify any points highlighted from previous posts. Nothing happens quickly in the Army. If developmental counselings accurately show positive leadership potential, all it should take is a few mock boards to tighten up any loose threads in speaking, bearing, or knowledge base. These mock boards can be quick and fluid in organization and execution. I firmly believe it will be your best tool to thoroughly test this soldier.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 25 at 2014 8:25 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 20:25:43 -0400

A lot of great advice from our esteemed colleagues! The bottom line SSG Private RallyPoint Member is this is your soldier. You care enough about them to discuss options and find the right thing to do. If you are sending them to the board, you are staking your leadership reputation on their readiness for promotion. If you are not yet satisfied with their ability, then holding them back is the right call. Like you say, you hardly know them, there is a history and you need to explain to them what you expect. You can't let their former supervisor's call influence you into a bad decision. You have a lot of great folks here behind you and hopefully your CofC is equally supportive.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Oct 25 at 2014 9:00 PM

Capt Jeff S. — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 21:00:25 -0400

IF you have NOT counseled this soldier on what you perceive to be their deficiencies, THEN you have no business not recommending the soldier to the board. Let the board decide whether or not he or she is promotable material based on their history of observed performance. Your evaluation of the soldier SHOULD be objective AND it should be based on what YOU observed, not what you heard from others about them.

IF, on the other hand, the soldier lacks the technical proficiency, maturity, reliability and/or judgment to advance AND you have documented counselings AND you have communicated to this soldier what his deficiencies are AND you have seen little to no improvement in the soldier's performance, THEN you have grounds for withholding your recommendation.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jul 15 at 2015 6:00 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 06:00:39 -0400

When I didn't feel a Soldier was ready to go before a promotion board I counseled them as to why I was not sending them. If you feel strongly enough about it, talk to your PSG and 1SG and tell them why you do not feel that this Soldier is ready to appear at the board.