The Army adopting the Navy's promotion test to advance in the ranks?

2014-02-27T18:45:10-05:00

What do you think about the Army using the Navys way to promote with written tests? Using more MOS related topics, rather than just a few Q&A about regulations, weapons, pt etc.. What you do think ?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2014 6:46 PM

2014-02-27T18:46:44-05:00

I think it will be great!!!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2014 6:52 PM

2014-02-27T18:52:28-05:00

to me written test are more stressful but that's just a personal opinion, it may or may not be a great idea. Lets find out.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2014 7:02 PM

2014-02-27T19:02:52-05:00

Agree - great idea. Air Force tests as well.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2014 7:49 PM

2014-02-28T19:49:55-05:00

I like it. I remember taking my SQTs back in the 80's. Shame that went away. A written test is good, but I feel an application type if test would be more beneficial.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2014 8:00 PM

2014-02-28T20:00:28-05:00

The entire system needs to be reevaluated in a way that is practical and fits the Army's needs. I think of the changes that occured a few years ago with semi centralized promotions. Adding deployment time to the points system was short sighted and doing away with board points was the worst part of the transition. I have family In the navy. One thing I know is that a E4 CPL in the Army in many cases can expect to have more leadership requirements than an E6 in the Navy. The services view junior NCO's in very different ways and use them in very different ways. In other words a SQT may be useful but the Army cannot rely on one as heavily as our sister services. Im not trying to do any service bashing... Just my opinion

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2014 3:33 PM

2014-05-22T15:33:14-04:00

So I'll share a few experiences I've had on this topic and then my opinion on whether or not we should or should bring a test of some sort to determine skill level in the Army.

When I was working as a satellite controller in Okinawa we had to pass an on the job training (OJT) portion before we were considered qualified to work at any given position without supervision. This was due to the nature of the job and the fact that you controlled millions of dollars of equipment and real time communications. Our Operations Analyst had his old SQT book from back in the 80's that he kept on his desk as a reminder of where we came from. You marked in it in pencil and it stayed with you and it got updated every year.

Working with some Air Force and Navy personnel I saw that there test was a lot more difficult. They don't get to study for a specific job. They have job fields they need to qualify in. A much broader area of knowledge was required for them even if they didn't work in that particular section. For instance, the Air Force Wideband Radio field covered everything from HF up to Radar and the tests got pretty specific.

An issue I see currently with us as an Army moving to a test like this is an establishment of a standard. As a Signaleer when I went out to the field back in the MSE days there was an ARTEP standard with a given time for exactly how long everything should take to set up so you knew where you needed to be and when. Because we are constantly changing the equipment we are working with it is very hard to maintain those standards. Until we have a fair level of stability across the force with equipment I don't believe we could expect our Soldiers to reliably test with predictable results.

Response by SPC Daniel Edwards made Jun 16 at 2014 1:59 PM

2014-06-16T13:59:01-04:00

Damn right. A Sergeant needs to know how to do his/her job.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made May 1 at 2015 1:20 AM

2015-05-01T01:20:12-04:00

The way I see is that the Army builds leaders, well we want those leaders to be at the top of their field you can't always have the best of both worlds. The promotion board allows leaders to view a soldier's potential, their dedication to succeed, and how they perform under pressure. Many things a test would not identify. I work with a lot of Navy folks and they do not build leaders the way the Army does. Yes, you may know the knowledge, but can you apply that knowledge? That is what is important.