Should the Army start taking MOS proficiency test along with the promotion board in order to get promoted

Yes. Bring back SQT and start getting rid of walking chest muscles who have no brains and no MOS proficiency.

They used to have tests (11B). We took them every year. You had to pass to move up as part of your board package. My opinion is they were useless for 11B. If you scored below a 95 you might as well donate your brain to science- with that score you might had already done that. Maybe I should have started with “You young wiper-snappers.”

Our advancement exams in the Navy cover all aspects. Rate (MOS) knowledge, administrative, leadership, and warfare. Above all the test totally kills the homie hook up. Doesn't matter how much you like a Sailor in your unit, if he can't pass the test, he doesn't get promoted.

I agree with the testing wholeheartedly, I have received a few junior enlisted that have been in more than a few years but they have no clue on how to perform their job. Being in the maintenance realm it is left on me to train, I have no issue with this. I have an issue with them having the rank that they do, what did they do to earn it if they don't know their job. Even some of the straight out of AT guys tell me that they didn't really train on their job, they got told over and over, "You'll learn that at your Unit."

HELL YES!
We used to do this, it was called the Skills Qualification Test...SQT. It was hands on AND written. you had to pass both. It was part of your promotion packet and was a fantastic tool in makeing sure THAT YOU WERE QUALIFIED TO GET PROMOTED. One cound not get promoted without passing the SQT both written and the Hands On

SSG Robins: that means there is a failure in leadership above them for even placing them in the ranks if they cannot perform their MOS. So-simple solution. If they can t perform, deny the opportunity to advance until they show some tactically proficiency at their level. If they stagnate its their own fault. We as leaders should step up and help that individual get to a level of proficiency, work on their skills, and get them going as best they can so they get back on the level expected and perform consistently at that level.

I agree that a test could be instituted across the board (especially with Army's push to trickle the numbers), but the difficulty would be nature of these tests. Different MOS have varying lengths of experience. For Public Affairs, we have experience in not only the media engagement, press and news releases, and more, but also the video/print experience of producing products. To be able to sum up our experience and test our knowledge in a standardized form would be extremely difficult.

Practical exercises or FTX like scenarios that test the skills required to juggle all those skills would be the best kind of test, and could be something that all MOS could adapt their requirements around.

I definitely believe that the Army should. Speaking from previous experience, the written exams/tests are less stressful and the exams are conducted in a more relaxed envrionment.  However, the exams are NOT that easy. Just like any other exam or test you will have to study for. And as far as promotions go, the Navy uses the same percentage method as the Army does (only so many will be selected to advance in rank)..