What do you think about promotions to Sergeant (E-5) without going to a board?

E5 needs to be strictly on merit, back in the day we didn’t have a board that I was aware of but promotions were based on points. The Company Gunny told me I was the first promotion on points he’s seen in a hell of a long time. Points we’re based off performance reviews ,pt scores, range scores, college courses etc. The points cutoffs were based on need and mos., so they varied wildly and I was an E5 at 3 years and 6 months, and out at 4 years. I wasn’t anything special, I never got in trouble, but I have to admit to short timers blues about the time I was promoted. A peace time military was a hassle imo, it was boring and petty sometimes, like most then I’d be curious about a war time Marine Corps. It’s what you train for.

I've been in the reserves 11 years and in that time, unless you're AGR, you didn't appear before a board. You just put a packet together or your UA put your packet together and submitted it. I made my 5 in 3 due to this. I was happy as it afforded me the rank to make changes, albeit small ones and opened my eyes to a lot of. Then the step up program happened and Soldiers were getting pinned who didn't want it, had no plans to re-enlist or was a full fledged member of the E4 mafia that just became an even bigger shitbag upon promotion. The biggest problem to the automatic promotions is when these Soldiers submit their packets for E7 & E8 and the shitbags are placed in PSG and 1SG positions. THIS IS WHY WE HAVE A TOXIC LEADERSHIP PROBLEM AND THE AD COMPONENT THINKS WE'RE A JOKE.

Not sure about other "automatic" E-5 promotions but one place this happens is with 35L - Counterintelligence Special Agents. Mainly because you have to be an E-5 to be credentialed agent, however you can't apply unless you are at least an E-4. That being said, although its true once you graduate the Counterintelligence Special Agent Course (CISAC), you are automatically promoted to E-5 (and technically without a board), the long applicant process--in my opinion--trumps a simple/single board review. With us, there is an interview process, writing test, detailed background check, etc. And that is only after you meet the initial requirements. Additionally, you still have to pass the course, which many don't. SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint

Not much

How is a topic when they stopped auto promotions?

First he needs to be recommended by his supervisor, then he Needs to be boarded finally, the army needs to bring back the SQT

What in the hell has happened to the Army?When did you start handing out promotions to "Leadership Positions" . What in the hell is an automatic promotion. Leaders are developed, there is no such thing as a born leader. There are some soldiers who have no business in a leadership position, no matter how long they have been in service. To be an NCO, is something that must be earned not gifted. I know times have changed (I've been retired for 16 Years). Apparently I have not fully grasped the damage done to our military during the socialist purge the last 8 years.

My first board? SFC. And we don't even attend those. I was a BFIST instructor in Ft. Sill as a PFC and as a SPC. Next thing I know, I'm promoted to SGT and on platform as a 13F instructor. Lasted until TRADOC freaked out about a SGT teaching. But my unit had my back, just couldn't stop me from being moved to USAREC. Where I earned my Recruiting Ring of Excellence and an auto promotion to SSG.

Was I the best NCO ever? No. But I was sure as hell better than most.

Soldiers followed me. Seniors listened to me. Units fought to keep me. I was put in charge of senior ranking members. I was trustworthy and dependable.

This all goes to show it's the individual, period.

For me the board was a right of passage. It was what I had been working for 2 years. I was going to be a Sp5. what we did not know at the time was that Sp5 for my MOS was going away. Every thing was set up so that we would make Sp5 then do the NCO Academy then get scouted as a Sgt. That was the way. Auto promo sounds so under handed. The boards are looking for your knowledge. not whether you are a good or bad NCO. that comes later. After you are the NCO in charge.

I came into the ARNG in 2002 and before moving to the Reserve side and commissioning was an NCO and at that time an in-person board was required to promote to E-5. I thought of it as a right of passage that each and every NCO before me had to endure, and it was overall, a good assessment of my ability to think on my feet, show my technical and tactical proficiency, TTPs etc., and also very importantly to show my level of maturity and presence. I would agree with the poster that said most of the SMs complaining about boards are probably not ready to become NCOs, and in my opinion that is clearly illustrated by their lack of understanding the purpose of boarding and what it is the board is trying to assess. That being said, I recall a useful that I haven't seen anyone yet mention, it was a Specialist Evaluation Report, which were set up like real NCOERs, and I found those to be a great tool in helping me prepare to become an NCO and show me the areas in which I needed work. I have not seen these used since and I think that would be a great practice to get back into, in helping to develop our future NCO Corp. I think it may have been a NG specific practice, but unlike their AD counterparts, Reserve Component soldiers don't normally get the amount of regular counseling that they need to mature like they would on Active Duty.