Should Centralized promotion boards become Installation level promotion boards?

2016-04-12T17:44:30-04:00

What are your thoughts on Centralized promotion boards being moved to installation level with quotas per MOS, in-person interviews, and technical/tactical testing incorporated. I think this would remove a lot of bias and favoritism when selection at the Senior-level is made at the local and more scrutinized manner.

Response by SFC Wade W. made Apr 12 at 2016 5:49 PM

2016-04-12T17:49:23-04:00

I think that for senior promotions it should be left at the branch level. Local promotions at installation level would most likely have an ill effect for future assignments. Meaning, too many senior personnel and not enough positions.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 12 at 2016 5:58 PM

2016-04-12T17:58:44-04:00

I assume you are referring to SFC+ level promotion boards.

I present the following as a counter-argument. Think of everything that is wrong (and I'm not saying there is anything wrong with them, but adding this as a point for discussion) with SGT & SSG promotion boards at the Command & Installation level. All of that will be injected into SFC+ boards. Additionally, rather than having a singular Army Wide "Standard" with a yearly Memorandum stating what is being searched for, you will have massively different "Interpretations" of said Memorandum across the Army.

More does not equal better.

The USMC actually does "Centralized Promotion Boards" down to the SSgt Level annually. It works for us. The Army does it for SFC+. It works for you. The USAF/USN does Tech Testing. It works for them.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2016 5:58 PM

2016-04-12T17:58:48-04:00

I believe every member needs to pass an Army wide SQT first.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Apr 12 at 2016 9:54 PM

2016-04-12T21:54:04-04:00

Remove bias/favoritism? Why the lack of trust in centralized promotion boards.

Response by SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT made Apr 12 at 2016 11:42 PM

2016-04-12T23:42:17-04:00

I think that there is no perfect promotion system when indivuals with personal preconceived ideas are involved. many times there are repeat board members, low density MOS might not have any representation.

I kicked a Signal CSM without proper clearance off my secure site in Somalia. She sat on 3 SGM boards. I was a non selectee on all 3. I was the only 74Z SGM Academy Graduate.

I was a 74Z Information Systems Chief coming up,as a 74F Computer Programmer. Many times there is no one in my field and if there was it was probable from the feeder MOSs of computer or TCC operators much less technical fields.

It did suck to sit on the 2001 E-8 promotion list for 2 years and even get selected for the USASMA while waiting on the list. Then see people on the 2003 list get promoted before I did.

Response by SGM Omer Dalton made Mar 12 at 2022 6:04 PM

2022-03-12T18:04:13-05:00

I am an old soldier. I went from E1 to E7 under the decentralized system. So I was an E7 at about 6 years active duty and a little later deployed to Vietnam. Was at the right place at time right time promotion wise. But I was behind the curve managing E6s and E5s much older and more experienced than me. Bottom line i feel that should not be the case. The centralized system solved some of that but was not without ills. Been out for years now so don’t know how the system has been tweaked.