Posted on Nov 19, 2021
What would you do if you are preparing a soldier for a board, but they do not seem to be progressing towards being successful?
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Before I say anything, I’m not the type to bash on others I’m just looking for honest opinions on the situation.
I currently work with a soldier, she’s a SPC. I say ‘work with’ because her supervisor is my SSG, not me. Tomorrow morning I will be sponsoring her for a mock board, not by choice. My SSG will be one of the members of the board along with my 1SG as the president. She’s been in a few months shorter than me but I don’t think she’s ready. I feel that way because of the many mock boards she’s been to in the past and studying with her I can tell she’s not. She somehow still gets the motto of the unit wrong. My NCO has not given up on her but, after I have worked with her for the past year before I got promoted, I sadly have. I’ve tried several times teaching her how to fix or work something but a lot of things don’t stick. She deployed with my battalion to Europe beginning of this year (I couldn’t go because of my dwell time) and I heard way too many stories from people she worked with of her messing up or doing something weird. One of them being her going into the fridge, taking a bite out of someone’s sandwich, realizing it had meat in it (she’s vegetarian), then throwing it out. Anyway, now I’m getting a little off topic but my question is what would you do in my shoes? Would you continually try to work on her like my NCO is or would you avoid her?
I understand we’re in a SOF unit and most things are relaxed but we still have a standard to uphold, right?
I currently work with a soldier, she’s a SPC. I say ‘work with’ because her supervisor is my SSG, not me. Tomorrow morning I will be sponsoring her for a mock board, not by choice. My SSG will be one of the members of the board along with my 1SG as the president. She’s been in a few months shorter than me but I don’t think she’s ready. I feel that way because of the many mock boards she’s been to in the past and studying with her I can tell she’s not. She somehow still gets the motto of the unit wrong. My NCO has not given up on her but, after I have worked with her for the past year before I got promoted, I sadly have. I’ve tried several times teaching her how to fix or work something but a lot of things don’t stick. She deployed with my battalion to Europe beginning of this year (I couldn’t go because of my dwell time) and I heard way too many stories from people she worked with of her messing up or doing something weird. One of them being her going into the fridge, taking a bite out of someone’s sandwich, realizing it had meat in it (she’s vegetarian), then throwing it out. Anyway, now I’m getting a little off topic but my question is what would you do in my shoes? Would you continually try to work on her like my NCO is or would you avoid her?
I understand we’re in a SOF unit and most things are relaxed but we still have a standard to uphold, right?
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 7
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. All you can do is be an NCO and mentor her as best as possible, prep her for the board as best as possible. The rest is up to her for the performance at the Board. I also recommend you speak with the SSG and express your thoughts and feelings that the SM is not ready.
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Her performance on the board is on her. Win or lose the ball is in her court. You and your SSgt are doing your job by supporting your troop but the onus is on her to put the rubber to the road. Be supportive but don't wipe up their mess for them either. Her potential failure or success isn't yours. You are doing your job and that should be enough whether or not she shows her butt on the board. If leadership wants her on the board that is their decision. You can't attach your emotions to it and you should not waste energy worrying about it.
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MSG (Join to see)
Her possible poor performance is probably gonna come back on her SSG. How's that gonna be when the SM bombs the board with her SSG (who is also her FLL) sitting on the board? Gonna look bad for that SSG.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
MSG (Join to see) - Oh I don't disagree one bit. It has the potential of blowback for sure. But this Sgt has nothing to stress about. He just needs to check his boxes and move forward
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SGT (Join to see) I am ‘old school’ Army and had to prove myself before I was even recommended for the promotion board. In addition, board members were Not in my direct chain of command, so I had to be ‘squared away’. It seems to me you have gone above and beyond to try to assist this SM. If her performance is substandard as a SPC/E4, her promotion to SGT/E5 as an NCO could ultimately be detrimental to the unit and the mission. Has she received counseling statements or AR15’s for her substandard performance? You appear to be in an extremely difficult and sensitive position. I wish you the best of luck and would refer you to SFC (Join to see) as he is extremely knowledgeable in regard to Army Regulations
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