Posted on Mar 28, 2014

"Should I try to get promoted?"

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I had a fellow NCO and good friend of mine, who I have known for several years, come to me and sincerly ask me if he should try to get promoted or if he should ride it out at his current rank of SGT for a while. I was perplexed by the question for a minute or two and gave him the most honest answer I could. Which is, I cant tell you. You know if you are ready for the next level and if you are performing at that level already. You shouldnt have to ask if you are ready to get promoted to the next level. The only thing you should need to get organized is your paperwork for promotion. I believe that he is a good NCO just to clarify and is ready for the next level. I just wanted to know what everyones take on this was.

To clarify further, he was asking if he should bide his time as a SGT an dget more experience under his belt or take a promotion to SSG and try to get the experience while at that level. I feel that he is being more honest with himself than most by just asking the question and not just doing it for the money/power.

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Edited >1 y ago

Posted >1 y ago

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Responses: 6

SFC (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

It sounds like he is genuinely interested in seeking self improvement, and insuring he will be able to handle the responsibility that will come with the next level and for that I applaud him. My question is this. What kind of mentorship is he getting from his rater if he is not sure if he is ready? If his rater is not mentoring him, it seems like a prefect opportunity for you to step in and mentor him. I have only one rater, who does a good job, but I have several mentors. Some times even the best of us need a little encouragement.

As far as Soldiers who are obviously not ready promotion and get recommended anyway the only thing we can do is step in and provide them with the mentorship that they were lacking in the first place ware we can, and if we are not in a position to do that, at the very least learn from the mistakes of others.

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SFC (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

SSG Wise, my question is, did he say should I ride it out as a SGT for a while?

That to me sounds like should I ride it out until ETS or I should ride it out doing nothing.

If the question actually was should I try to learn more in my current rank before I get promoted if he doesn't feel like he is ready, then I give him kudos for being honest about himself, not everyone is ready for increased responsibilities, all we want (and in this I include myself) is the increased pay and coolnes factor of the next rank

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SSG Keith Cashion

Posted 10 y ago

SSG Patrick Wise - Ask him this, "If and When you separate from the military (ETS or Retire, Etc) and gain civilian employment, Are you going to ride your time and be like everyone else or are you going to try to move up in the company to make a difference?" I understand about the being ready or not being ready, but only he will know if he is able to handle the challenges of a different grade or position. Like, most have said, this Soldier needs some mentoring and guidance. There is always room for improvement. Remember the draw down...Big Army still needs to separate folks.

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SFC (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

While I don't agree with this mentality of riding it out and not trying to get promoted, I do think that if the individual has no desire to get promoted then let them stay at their current rank. If they are doing a good job, not slacking, and upholding/enforcing the standard, then more power to them. The reason I personally don't agree with this mentality is because the Army is looking for the best leaders, and if you have no motivation to better yourself, seek positions of increased responsibility, and seek advancement, then what is the purpose of being an NCO? I will say that I have seen SFCs decline MSG selection boards because they really enjoy being a PSG and don't want to distance themselves from leading Soldiers, but most of those NCOs were also close to retirement and wanted to keep directly influencing Soldiers until the day they get out.

I sometimes find myself wondering if I will get selected for MSG before I get to the 20 year mark. With a downsizing Army, competition increases as selection rates decrease. This doesn't mean that I am not going to continue to strive to do my best, because ultimately I want to continue to advance. As an NCO, I also think that we should be setting the example for our subordinates. If we are not trying to push ourselves and advance to the next level, how can we expect our Soldiers to do the same. I still take college classes, seek additional duties to help broaden my experience and knowledge, and push myself to do the best I can at work. Do I get all 1/1 and Excellences on my NCOERS? No. But I do put in a good amount of effort and try to make a difference, which I hope will help set me apart when it comes to the MSG board when I am eligible in a couple years.

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CW2 (Join to see)

>1 y

SFC, but what if the NCO does have the desire to better themself and its not out of lack of motivation or the wrong motivation he is asking. What if he saw the effects of those who were promoted too quickly due to their completion of a degree or a really good PT score, not that those accomplishments are to be looked down on, but that Soldier got promoted due to those accomplishements and had no leadership experience or abilties and that ended up hurting his Soldiers and the unit. While perhaps if that Soldier had done a self evaluation and relized that they had not grasped the pupose and spirit of being a SGT they may have stopped themselves for a spell and worked on getting that experience so they could perform at the maximum or at least the appropriate level.

I admit it is mostly the other way around, but as an NCO I will not categorize every Soldier I have based on the surface of a choice they have made. I would have to understand the motivation behind that choice.

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Capt (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

If a person has no desire to get promoted or doesn't feel ready, then please bide the time and get out. It is the responsibility of every member to be ready, willing, and hungry to move on the next rank. If a person isn't ready, then what are they doing here?

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CPT (Join to see)

>1 y

I completely agree. We need NCOs that want to be promoted and do everything right in order to achieve the next rank. As a former E5 nothing made me more upset than a fellow NCO who rode out their time with no intention of working hard for a promotion. It creates poor climate within an orginization.

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SFC James Baber

Posted >1 y ago

The question itself bothers me if that is truly what he asked, it would make me think he is ready to just like many NCOs and Officers I knew that were close to retirement (within 3 or so years), they would just ride what they had and then collect their pensions, the closer they got the more lethargic and lazy they became as well. He may be a good NCO currently to you, but is he looking to head down the path of riding out his time til getting out or is he looking for encouragement to push forward to the next rank.

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"Should I try to get promoted?"

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