What duty location should I ask my branch manager for?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 14:50:21 -0500

I will be PCSing hopefully in December 2014. I would like to go to Fort Sam Houston or Fort Hood for my next assignment. I have served at all the levels within in CMF and really want a G1 position. What do you think is the best assignment or duty position to ask for? If anyone wants a rewarding job as a Military Personnel Exchange Manager let me know. This job is for a self starter and can work independently without supervision.

Response by SFC James Baber made Jan 10 at 2014 3:36 PM

SFC James Baber — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 15:36:42 -0500

SSG W.

I think you pretty much answered your own question with your follow up statement, it seems you want central Texas as your next duty location, the question remains, do you want the high OPTEMPO that would exist at Hood or the relative more relaxed and not high fast paced environment of MEDDAC at Sam.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jan 10 at 2014 3:43 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 15:43:39 -0500

While I am a big fan of "duty stations," I would challenge you to look at your next assignment from a different point of view. Instead of duty assignment, look at duty position. Take a look at your Career Map, see what that next duty position is on your professional development ladder that will set you up for success for promotion, and then see where that position is offered. If you go into a conversation with your PDNCO with your professional development as a primary consideration for assignment, it will start your conversation off on the right foot.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2014 11:58 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 23:58:09 -0500

SSG Watson, some duty locations provide a wide array of duty assignments. It sounds like you want FT Hood and I say that because it offers the most diversified positions and the best opportunity to move around to different units. As for growth and development, as an AG NCO, you should be looking to take a BN S1 or BDE S1 slot. G1 is nice but it can keep you too focused in only one area of AG. You don't go to a G1 and hve your hand in awards, actions, strength, policy, etc...you are usually more focused on just one of them. The S1 is where the rubber meets the road for AG. But if you want G1 time, Hood is the place because you have III Corps, 1CD, 13ESC, and DIV WEST all have a G1. Let me know if I can be if assistance.

Response by SFC Seth King made Jan 11 at 2014 12:08 AM

SFC Seth King — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 00:08:31 -0500

SSG Watson,

I second MSG Stankovich's statement. I sat down with the Fort Gordon and Signal Regiment CSM today and asked the same question, kinda, more along the lines of what should I look for as my next duty.

He gave me some good advice that I'm gonna try to follow. He said he has NEVER asked branch to be assigned anywhere, he went where the Army told him. He said when he got to the assignment he looked and asked for the hard job that no one wanted to do, in accordance with his career path, and he did it the best he could.

But, he also said it didn't always work out, and I loosely quote, "Sometimes you don't get what you want when you are looking for that awesome job, if you get assigned as the barracks clean-up NCO, aim be the best damn clean-up NCO there is in the Army and it will be recognized and rewarded."

Seems to have worked for him so far, he's a 2 Star CSM, can't get much better.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2014 8:14 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 08:14:47 -0500

<p>To caveat MSG Stankovich, your focus should be on the position not the duty station, as any duty station will really be what you make of it. However, there are circumstances where you may want to consider a duty station which is advantageous to either yourself or your family. To illustrate I will share a personal experience quite literally JUST secured by branch. I have always gone where the Army has willed me to go. I've always requested Germany and yet its never happened for me (maybe its for the best), but always believing that maybe taking the assignments nobody else wants will be better in the long haul. Quite recently however I needed to take a real hard look at what would better for my FAMILY. Remember, once the uniform comes off at year 20+ the only ones left standing around are your family, IF you took care of them. My wife is an Air Force officer and we are currently not jointly stationed, something we are trying to work on. I am due to PCS out of Korea and Branch presented me with a few choices of duty stations. Alaska to deploy immediately after arrival (most advantageous for my career), Riley, Hood, Bragg, or Benning (supposedly a very lucrative aviator assignment). My first instinct was to ask for Alaska for the deployment, best way to rack up aviator experience. However I took a step back and pulled up googlemaps, the closest my wife would be able to be stationed would be 6hrs away, meaning in the Alaska wintertime we might as well be on other sides of the country. And Benning sounded like a sweet gig but same issues with proximity of assignments. So the obvious choice was Bragg, offering the closest proximity of assignments and a myriad of contingency assignments. </p><p>Now that was a lot of my own babbling to get to my point, you don't want to look at your next assignment as just a geographic location. Take the time to take into account all of the other aspects which go along with it. Broadening of career exp., differences in command positioning, and as always, how will it impact your family/future family?</p>

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2014 8:36 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 08:36:49 -0500

SSG Watson, MSG Stankovich really hit on some key points when discussing future assignments with your Branch Manager but I want to emphasis with you the importance of weighing the assignment you want against other key assignments like Drill Sergeant, Recruiter, AIT PSG etc. Pull up the last three reports from your branch on promotion trends in assignments and locations. This will paint the picture to you on what your branch is looking for from time on average in position to special assignments like I listed above and the percentages of the population that were promoted for each year to SFC. This also will show you specific qualifications, SQIs, and ASIs the board members viewed as more favorable than others. This will assist you in determining which school is more important per say than others when requesting a military school to attend.

Response by CSM Stuart C. O'Black made Jan 11 at 2014 11:05 AM

CSM Stuart C. O'Black — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 11:05:08 -0500

MSG Stankovich and SFC Seth are spot on. With that being said when I talk to branch managers about our NCOs we usually have the same thought. A good Career path should follow the areas below - always exceptions.

1) MTOE Assignment that would have allowed you to deploy.

2) Short Tour - beside one deployed

3) Long Tour

4) Special Assignment, Drill, Recruiter, AIT PSG, AC/RC etc...

5) TDA in terms of Special Assignments above or NCOES Instructor, as long as you don't homestead.

About the only way homesteading is looked at favorably is if you are in a Division that has a lot of deployments. By the time you been there for three deployments and especially if you are a Senior NCO they look to put you somewhere that your experience and talents will payoff.

Again, some Branch Managers - not all are as willing to be engaged and are as open. When I look at our 1SGs in the organization the majority have hit all these marks. I personally went where the Army told me and only engaged HRC one time. I wanted out of a TDA assignment back when GWOT kicked off.

I am in favor of engaging HRC however choices should be made on career path NOT on I want to go to "xxxx" duty station or location. Especially when I hear -"How do I get back to" while not always bad if you have not done the other things most branches won't engage.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2014 12:51 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 12:51:11 -0500

Something to think about is if you have done your CMF jobs it may be time to look at some rewarding positions outside of your MOS. A G1 position may be hard due to a base having enough SSGs or SFCs. If you seek out that position that is outside of your career field it looks very good on you. It tells the Army and your leaders that you are an expert in your field and outside of it too.

Just be careful of starting that conversation up with branch - sometimes they will advertise a position or job as a big deal when in reality they just need someone to fill the slot. Your 1SG or CSM will be able to help you out with great advice.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2014 7:14 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 19:14:50 -0500

Depends on were you want to go?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2014 7:15 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 19:15:26 -0500

depends on were you want to go

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2014 8:02 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 08:02:59 -0500

I would go to a position that is going to be more challenging. There are some good strategic level positions out there, like ARCENT, TRANSCOM, or CENTCOM. SPEC OPS would be a great assignment also. Find something that is going to be good for your career. You don't want to just keep going to the same job over and over.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2016 3:35 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 15:35:56 -0500

If you are the best in your MOS then one day the best assignment will by name request you, as I have had that experience only once and the assignment and duty location was great. So being the BEST that the Army trained you to be is all you can do to take care of Soldiers and lead by example!!