Posted on Jan 10, 2014
Should the Army start taking MOS proficiency test along with the promotion board in order to get promoted
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Do you think the Army should start taking MOS proficiency test to get promoted? I know the Navy has a program in place where the individual has to take a test showing that they have the knowledge in their MOS to perform their duties at the rank they are trying to attain. I've seen NCOs (Staff Sergeants in particular) that cannot perform their MOS at their level.
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Promotions
Promotions
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 18
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I say throw the board out and just do a proficiency test. If you don't know your MOS (especially if you've been in long enough to potentially be boarded for promotion) then you shouldn't be promoted anyway.
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CPT Daniel Cox
The problem with getting rid of the promotion board is there are more people with the basic qualification for promotion than the positions open for promotion. You have to be able to cut off the numbers, which is a major role of the board.
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SSG (Join to see)
You can still do that. The Guard does. You do a paper board and compile a promotion list based off of points accumulated by things on your ERB.
You could couple that with a proficiency test and your system is pretty much complete. Granted there would be some fine tuning when applying it to the force as a whole, but I think it could work.
It could pretty much get rid of the “good ol’ boy” system too if the tests were graded at a much higher level. Say branch or HRC.
You could couple that with a proficiency test and your system is pretty much complete. Granted there would be some fine tuning when applying it to the force as a whole, but I think it could work.
It could pretty much get rid of the “good ol’ boy” system too if the tests were graded at a much higher level. Say branch or HRC.
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I definitely agree that the Army should require some kind of proficiency exam for the MOS you are looking to get promoted in. I have seen a lot of incompetent people get promoted that know how to answer questions in board but do not know enough on their MOS. Therefore there are a lot of leaders young Soldiers cannot look up to for advice or guidance. With that being said, the Army should get rid of Battlefield Promotions. Seen the wrong people get a Battlefield Promotion to SGT who are extremely incompetent. Also was given to a less deserving Soldier.
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I def believe that their should be a test. The other branches have one. So should we<br>
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We used to have it, they got rid of it. it was for promtion points and standings for the higher up. they tried to get cute with it and make it a leadership test as well. to many are running around and can't pour piss out a boot, but damn the look good and can run there ass off.
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YES! The best example I can give as to why was when I was working in an emergency room. My "team Leader", who was a new E-5, was working intake. I saw a elderly lady's name and complaint pop upon the board. Pace maker is malfunctioning. I prepped her a bed in the bay (bay for the critical patients) . when she didn't cone back I went looking for her. My team leader as an E-5 medic just sat her in the waiting room. He didn't bother to get or request an EKG, get vitals, or even a patient history. I asked him (politely) What the Hell? His response... "she looks fine, this guy is vomiting". I pulled her to the back and as it turns out her pacemaker was trying to put her into cardiac arrest by shocking her normal beats. it had to be replaced. I later asked him what his standard of triage was. He pulled out a !flip book! with a chart that had visual appearance(ie color, sweating, ) as "first clues". It was like a first aid book. Another example was a female who liked to try IVs at a 90 degree angle. I didn't pass her on her CPR resert because she gave full two fisted compressions to a "toddler" and wouldn't take corrective directions. She is now an NCO. Lord help her soldiers.
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I think there should be some thought to 'need' of proficiency tests. Army Times constantly puts out articles for Soldiers to transfer to another MOS to easily promote; but, is that MOS getting a good Soldier, or just one who can fulfill the minimal requirements? For Public Affairs, getting a Soldier with little practical experience in print editing, writing, public speaking, and press releases, could spell doom for the Soldiers under their watch. Just because a Soldier transfers over and passes the course at the base MOS level does not immediately qualify them for that position (unless they have prior experience in a similar job field, and even then). Long story short, a test/board could help those evaluate the qualifications of the Soldier and their readiness to accept additional responsibilities.
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I believe that they should institute a test or even a practical exercise based off the MOS. That would definitely show more competence than being quizzed on a list of predetermined questions.
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That is what the old SQT was. Skills Qualification Tests! It was worth up to 200 points, if you max it. And that was for the old 999 point system.
The Army did away with SQT and went to a SDT I think, but that was E-5 and E-6. A high percentage was failing, so they did away with it.
This was back in the early 90s.
The Army did away with SQT and went to a SDT I think, but that was E-5 and E-6. A high percentage was failing, so they did away with it.
This was back in the early 90s.
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SSG Roger Ayscue
SGT Thomas Lucken they are reinventing the flipping wheel! It was MOS Based, written and hands one, required for promotion and leader oriented with each grade level having it's own test....I have an old SQT manual here someplace. it was the basis of MOS training Army wide.
The other thing that it did was to prevent morons and mental midgets from getting promoted because you had to be able to read to take the test. You got points toward promotion based upon your score and you were not allowed to be promoted if you did not pass the test.
SQT was the basis for unit level MOS training, was the root of Sergeants time, and every Soldier was issued a manual with the MOS requirements in it.
The other thing that it did was to prevent morons and mental midgets from getting promoted because you had to be able to read to take the test. You got points toward promotion based upon your score and you were not allowed to be promoted if you did not pass the test.
SQT was the basis for unit level MOS training, was the root of Sergeants time, and every Soldier was issued a manual with the MOS requirements in it.
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I believe that passing a proficiency test should be part of the promotion checklist. The problem is, are all people of the same rank in positions that the proficiency of their jobs is equal. I don't know how to say that differently (or better). Are all Sergeants equal? I remember when I was enlisted, there was a lot more to be proficient as a Dental Assistant than being a Military Police Officer (both jobs I held at the same rank). Military Police Officers had a lot more leadership required than Dental Assistants, while Dental Assistants were more technically oriented.
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Years ago SQT(skills qualification test)testing every year was Included in your promotion package.
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