Striving to become a (outstanding) noncommissioned officer,seeking advice on how to achieve my goal.

2014-06-05T23:44:45-04:00

All input is welcomed. I just received my E-4 this march but my goal is to make E-5 before these next 2years are up. Ive completed SSD1, about to start taking college courses with in a couple of months, i have no negative counselings, pt scores at age of 34 are in high 80-90 in each catagory, my qual range score always gets me sharpshooter. What else must i complete in order to realize my short term goal?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2014 12:05 AM

2014-06-06T00:05:02-04:00

All the things you are doing are great. Keep it up. Here's the key thing: how are you translating that into leadership for the unit and for your fellow Soldiers? Do you speak to them about completing SSD1? Since you do well in PT, do you help those who are struggling, or ask your supervisor to let you lead PT once in a while (if the unit allows it)? What about shadowing your SQD Leader to see and learn what they do? Do you ask them to teach you some of the things they do?

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Jun 6 at 2014 12:14 AM

2014-06-06T00:14:09-04:00

Anything to get your reputation, face and name at the top of your Commander's mind when he thinks of good Soldiers or needs something done:
1. Volunteer for special events and duties.
2. Volunteer for unique projects - Arms Room, NBC Room Soldier, Orderly Room Soldier, COMSEC Rep, etc.
3. Go to the Soldier of the Month Board.
4. Cross Train - learn someone else's job.

Bottom line - Stand out among your peers and earn that waiver. Make your Commander want to fight to get that next waiver from Battalion.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2014 12:27 AM

2014-06-06T00:27:40-04:00

Position yourself to get to go to WLC as soon as you can (if your command allows you to go as it varies between units). Volunteer and be visible (do not hide behind the sham shield when it comes to details). Seek leadership positions and work with your leadership to get you assigned positions of greater responsibility. This way when you pin E-5 everyone will be like wow he earned that and should have had that a bit ago. The key thing is separate yourself from your peers.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2014 12:38 AM

2014-06-06T00:38:44-04:00

Thank you MAJ Zeski and Cpt Maurelli for your feedback i will definately implement those key points and work hard to set myself above all the rest.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2014 1:13 PM

2014-06-06T13:13:44-04:00

The Army promotes based off potential. You are doing things right for a SPC, staying out of trouble, PT is good and weapons qual is good. To get to the next rank, you need to show your command you have what it takes to be a Sergeant (i.e. lead). Think of everytime you are given a detail, it is a test in leadership. Excel in the small things, and big rewards will come.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2014 1:34 AM

2014-07-31T01:34:28-04:00

As a medic start showing initiative in your platoon as a medic and show your senior medic. Also have the other company medics follow your example. Line Medic you can perform the following:
-IFAK contents are up to date with platoon. List who is deficient
-Initiate a platoon spreadsheet listing who's CLS certified, profile, allergies
-Conduct platoon TC3 exercise with PL/PSG approval

Their are an infinite amount of ways. Heck, start a sick call rotation for your company medics to held out in the BAS. Gotta go above and beyond

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2014 2:49 AM

2014-07-31T02:49:45-04:00

One more thing you can do is talk to your schools NCO, find out what schools and classes are offered on JBLM that you can attend, I picked up SGT after 3 1/2 years and with Volunteer with out side groups i work with the BSA and the GSA those can go towards a MOVSM and that is 10 points per award, and class It put be in a good spot, Also college is a must
Look for :
Field Sanitation
Combatives level 1, 2, 3, 4
Unit Armorer
CBRN
anything you can get ask for , Hell i have been my units master driver shortly after i got my P status.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Jul 31 at 2014 11:55 AM

2014-07-31T11:55:02-04:00

All of their input is spot on, most of all stand out above your peers and those one grade ahead of you but if you really want to make it, stop using the grade and utilize the rank for titles, rank is used as a title to demand respect, respect from others and from the person with the title (of desiring it) a grade is a tracking mechanism for pay and personnel management. Don't aspire to be a tracking mechanism.

Response by SGM Eric Lobsinger made Feb 22 at 2015 12:55 AM

2015-02-22T00:55:54-05:00

SPC Morales, Congratulations on your promotion and best of wishes in your endeavor to achieve the rank of SGT. I would ask that you think about your correspondence. I think the question should actually be "What can I do to put myself on the right path for earning the rank of Sergeant?" Too often as enlisted soldiers, we address ourselves as E-something, which is a pay grade, versus the rank of Sergeant, which is a noncommissioned officer. The philosophic difference is tremendous. As far as the minimums you should shoot for include 90s in all categories of the APFT, Expert in weapons qualification and attempt to maximize your points in both military and civilian education. I would ask that you think of yourself as a Specialist, not an E-4. We never say someone is an O-3, we say a CPT, a leader of men and women. We should also call ourselves a SGT/SSG/etc., direct leaders of men and women. Best of luck.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 1:03 AM

2015-02-22T01:03:39-05:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Have you discussed this with your immediate supervisor and his/her supervisor?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 3:27 AM

2015-02-22T03:27:09-05:00

1. School
2. Network
3. Volunteer
4. Mentor others
5. Get out of your comfort zone. Request to do stuff you don't wanna do. Help with a training, lead a training, etc

Response by SGT Clay Pankewicz made Feb 24 at 2015 12:49 PM

2015-02-24T12:49:16-05:00

First of all man, don't call it E-5... Everyone wants to be an E-5, no one wants to be a Sergeant anymore. Stand out from your peers in the right way, take initiative, show your leaders that you want to be a sergeant and not just another turd that drinks with joe on the weekend and last but not least, take pride in yourself and your unit. Show others what right looks like and be the model soldier. Study study study for the board- best of luck

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2015 1:10 PM

2015-02-25T13:10:39-05:00

Thanks for all your words of advice. It has all been helpful. Thanks for enlightening me on the difference between the two, I realize I don't want to be just another E-5 but an outstanding non commissioned officer and a leader of soldiers. I have asked the administration to change the title of this thread from E-5 to non commissioned officer.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2017 10:25 AM

2017-12-22T10:25:32-05:00

Know how to perform 2 levels above your grade ask your ncos for more and more responsibility stay on your college stay on tje correspondence courses