Soldier of the month board while at NTC. First time going to a board. My NCO's don't know the topics. Any suggestions?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 23:13:23 -0400

I was told I will be going to the Soldier of The Month board while at NTC in July. It will be my first time attending a board. I was told its going to be a "field board" and that i would be in full kit but other than that my NCO's haven't gotten any details about it. Any suggestions on what to study or some advice ?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2016 11:54 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 23:54:10 -0400

There should be a list of topics to study for that your NCOs should give you, I would ask about that if you haven't already. Also it may be hard but try and keep a clean uniform, like set one uniform to the side for that day, im guessing you will be in the box so make sure you conduct good personal hygiene.

Response by SGT Michael Thorin made Jun 24 at 2016 12:34 AM

SGT Michael Thorin — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 00:34:36 -0400

Well PFC Robinson, I've been its been a while since I've been in the game, but right about this time you're probably thinking if anyone could just tell you anything you could do something.

If you're that guy then I'm you're man. Let me make this disclaimer my young 19D warrior. I am old, I am beaten, and I am worn, but my memory nor my creed has not eluded me so much that I can refuse to help a young soldier searching for NCO's to provide help, especially to a young spur like yourself who sees this as an opportunity to shine, or to sink.

First, let me assure you, you will shine. You will blow this board out of the water, and I want to hear about it when you do, but before you continue, I want this lesson to sink into your brain, and you are to never, never forget it.

This lesson is that you remember how you feel: unprepared and ill assisted in this task. You are right now PFC "Anyone." You represent every Jr. enlisted rank searching for answers but not receiving them.

I refuse to tread on the NCO's in your platoon, there is no honor in that, and there may be a reason (albeit would have to be a pretty spectacular reason) which they cannot.

That being said, there are a few tips that will be constants through any of your boards. Any person who has been to any boarding process should be able to, at the very least, be able to share their experiences, exclusively including your NCO's. If you take this advice, you better darn well you make sure that you are prepared to do the very same thing for a soldier in your position as I am doing for you, right now in my room in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at the VAMC in Birmingham, and that is to always do everything you can to take care of soldiers. From your initiative in searching for solutions, it is quite obvious you have at least 1 key leader trait, so let's make sure we keep honing those puppies so you will never forget that the NCO should always either be willing to get you the information or not rest until they can get you into touch with the person who can.

And now, from the best of this washed up E-5 can tell you from his memory, these are the basics:

Reporting for your boards: The absolute easiest place to shine, unfortunately, this also means that if you mess it up, then the rest stands a chance of following suite. This is an area where my memory and sickness has robbed me of, but the following link will get you information you need for the majority of the info you will need, and I will give a few pointers of my own.

http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/portable_study_guide/Current_Portable_Study_Guide/us-army-board-preparation.shtml

This seems to offer a good bit of the etiquettes and tips for uniform fit and appearance, along with reporting for the boards.

Study and know the Soldiers Creed. Study and know the Army Song. Study and know your unit history, and for Gods sake, do not give an incorrect answer in a task which a Scout should excel at (land navigation, react to sniper fire, call for fire, how does the 1SGT like his coffee, etc.).

You will be in the field, so I have two very important tips that may or may not help: for the rest of this month, study the news daily, specifically to keep up with world events and events which could require an escalation of forces. If these are brought up, and you are asked your opinion (coincidently, these questions are absolutely the scariest questions you could be asked), then you prepare yourself for how to handle the situation if asked. Excellent examples would be a question is asked of you by the SGM to the effect of "Which Presidential Candidate do you think would best support the military if elected?"

Uh oh, a political opinion question, that's unfair!

It's only unfair if your being graded on your answer and not your actions.

These questions are thrown out there to break your military bearing. I have seen amazing E3's who could issue an unapologetic insult to an irate platoon leader in such a way that the platoon leader who was in the wrong actually walked away trying to figure out how he would come apologizing to the PFC.

That being said, a good answer might be, "SGM James, I have been following the candidates, and find it very hard to rectify my questions concerning "candidate x's" historical dealings with the military with which he/she says they will do to support us, whereas "candidate o" may have less experience, but seems to have a better record of support for the military.

Remember, in reviewer created questions, they aren't looking for the right answer nearly as often as they are looking at the right way to answer.

And, my last piece of advice is this. Every day until your board, practice this answer until it is fluid, smoth, unshaken, yet not rehearsed: "SGM James, I should know the answer to this question, but I do not. There is no excuse for my inability to provide this answer other than I failed to study properly."

Believe me, they like those answers much more than , "well uhm's" and blank stares.

And finally, here is an iPhone app that may or may not be helpful.

USArmyBoardStudyGuide by QuinStreet
https://appsto.re/us/6ZrQC.i

And I almost forgot, the Army Core Values, and go the the App Store or google store and you can find many apps to help with flash cards and study guides.

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Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 8:59 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 08:59:37 -0400

I find it hard to believe that your unit leadership will have the time to conduct a board during a NTC rotation. Even if it's done in the RUBA/Dust Bowl the senior NCOs should be busy with preparation or recovery tasks. Pretty amazing if they make it happen.

There should be a MOI out that list all the subjects that will be covered on the board. The MOI is usually drafted and distributed by S-1. Your NCOs are dipshits. Ask your "NCOs" to get the board MOI from the 1SG so you can study for the board.

I swear this Army is getting worse and worse. A PFC has to get on an online forum to ask what subjects he should study for a board. I have no words...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 10:02 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 10:02:27 -0400

PFC Private RallyPoint Member , CSM Private RallyPoint Member is correct in that there SHOULD be an MOI published that explains the procedures, process and topics of the board. The fact that your NCOs have no idea boggles my brain. The fact that your unit will be able to find the time to conduct a board, kudos if they can make it work. I was stationed at FT Irwin for 3 yrs as OPFOR and I can attest that while we were certainly not as slammed as BLUFOR, we still (as OPFOR) had no time to conduct boards in the field. I praise you for coming to an online source to gather information and assistance. That being said, here is some advice that I can give:

1) Before you depart, study as much as you can when you can. http://www.armystudyguide.com is a is a good start.
2) Have your teammates quiz you periodically/quiz yourself periodically.
3) Walk into that board with confidence.
4) Own that board. Even if you see 10 or so Joes millin around waiting their turn, walk into that board KNOWING that this board is yours.
5) Bug the HELL out of your NCOs until they get you the information you will need in regards to that MOI.

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Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2016 4:32 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 16:32:12 -0400

If you are going to be at a "field board" in full kit, I would expect to have questions about your mission. Be sure you know what your unit's mission is, and your role in that mission. Know your MOS and review your common soldier tasks....Shoot, Move, Communicate, and Survive.

I assume that you know a little bit about navigation, terrain and map reading as a 19D. If there are questions about basic navigation skills, this may give you an advantage.

At least those would be the kinds of things I would look for in a soldier if I was conducting a "field board". I would want to see which soldier has shown the greatest potential to excel in a combat environment.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jun 28 at 2016 6:10 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 18:10:44 -0400

Ask the CSM! By the way they are not obligated nr do they often divulge the topics covered. Battalions and higher usually have promotion guides for that purpose.