Who is or has prepared for the Sergeant Audie Murphy Board?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 11:35:28 -0400

I'm determined to be inducted into the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. What are some study tips that current members would advise? Are there any other NCOs preparing for SAMC?

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Mar 16 at 2016 11:38 AM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 11:38:41 -0400

sorry to say I have never heard of this.

Response by SSG Daniel Deiler made Mar 16 at 2016 11:51 AM

SSG Daniel Deiler — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 11:51:42 -0400

I have...and it is a BEAST. And I had it "easy" as I did it while deployed so did not have as many boards or events to go through. I studied my arse off, and then studied some more. I was in the board for close to an hour and when I was finished, felt as if I had just completed an APFT and a road March because it was so mentally challenging. I ultimately missed being inducted by 1 vote (must be unanimous) because they felt my leaders book was not up to standard. The fact we were deployed made no difference. It's very selective, as it should be as it is a very high honor few achieve. I still have my study material sitting next to me at my desk at work.

Response by SSG Daniel Deiler made Mar 16 at 2016 12:02 PM

SSG Daniel Deiler — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 12:02:03 -0400

Study a lot. And not a promotion board study guide. Study the FM's. Locate a SAMC study group or form one yourself. Quiz each other machine gun style and don't just go down the line of board members one at a time. Do it fast. My board experience had the board members firing questions in a way that when I was on the last syllable of my answer, another question was being asked by another member. And your question NEED to be scenario based...these are not book answers you should be giving. (I. E. A stellar Soldier of yours gets a DUI while rushing his child to the hospital after falling from a tree while they were out camping. what is your recommendation to the BN CDR?

Response by SFC Thomas Howes made Mar 16 at 2016 12:11 PM

SFC Thomas Howes — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 12:11:41 -0400

I did it back in the 80's was not that hard and I only did it because I was told I could not pass it. I didn't even study that hard

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Mar 16 at 2016 12:12 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 12:12:47 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member, the SAMC did not exist when I was a sergeant (E-5) in '71-'72! Good luck!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2016 12:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 12:26:49 -0400

That's a great goal and it won't do your career any harm, good luck.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2016 1:45 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 13:45:24 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member, Go for it! I was inducted back in 2004 as a young Buck Sergeant with no service stripes at the time. I got hammered at the Battalion, BDE and Division pre-board, so the installation board wasn't as bad. We had a APFT, weapons familiarization and range as well. You can study standard board questions but don't stop there, get into the regulations. Also, do your research on Audie Murphy, don't just stop with the standard description or bio. Dig into his life, read a biography or two. Dig up his history. Many of the questions are situational based and the board members want to draw from your experience as an NCO backed by regulations and procedures. Good luck!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2016 2:07 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 14:07:41 -0400

End state: situational based questions which require you to provide clear guidance at your current position level.
Examples may include: As a squad leader, you observe this..., As a Platoon Sergeant, you receive the following report.
Understand what your role and responsibility is in regards to the service members, families, and military as a whole.
Some examples of questions you are likely to see:
1. As a squad leader, you receive a new soldier one month before your unit is set to deploy. He is newly married to his wife who only speaks Spanish, and she is seven months pregnant. This is his first duty station. What actions do you take?

2. As a squad leader, you have counseled your soldiers prior to long weekends about underage drinking and drinking in the barracks. You get a phone call about a party in the barracks and are directed to check on it. You knock on the door and one of your soldiers who is over 21 answers the door. Behind him you can see another soldier that you know is under 21 carrying a beer. Also, your 16 year old daughter is sitting on the couch with a beer in her hand. What actions do you take?

3. As a squad leader, you receive a letter from your 1SG that shows one of your soldiers has been delinquent in paying his credit card for seven months. You know the soldier well and it is very unlike them to have this issue. They also just recently purchased a new car. What actions do you take?

4. As a squad leader you are conducting physical training and observe a fellow NCO berating a soldier for falling out of a run. The soldier is obviously limping and the NCO is yelling and pushing at the soldier. What actions do you take?

5. One of your Soldiers fails the run on his latest APFT. On his height and weight he is 2% over. What actions do you take?

6. One of your Soldiers informs you that he is having suicidal ideations... etc. etc.

Your answers should be roughly in line with the following: (referencing the first question)
First, I would ensure that the service member knows that their issue is important to me and reassure them accordingly. Then I will provide them written counseling on DA Form 4856 where I detail the expectations and how I will help them work through the process. In accordance with AR _____, I will ensure that the soldier has a sponsor and that the sponsor is someone who is appropriate. In other words, that the sponsor has a spouse or child as well to provide relevant context to the transition process. In accordance with _____, I would encourage the soldier and his spouse to take part in English as a second language classes available on base through the _____. In accordance with ______, I would direct the service member to complete a financial readiness class to ensure that he is prepared during the deployment for the expenses back home. While the unit is preparing to deploy, I would ensure that the Family Readiness Group understands the specific family issues involved, and is prepared to assist. I would additionally contact the chaplain to create an open conversation and support group up front for the service member and spouse. I would verify and ensure that the spouse is listed as a dependent on the monthly LES, that the spouse is currently listed in deers and has a current primary care manager under Tricare Prime. I would encourage the soldier and his spouse to participate in all pre-deployment briefings and updates, as well as has all red cross point of contact information for the unit. Then I would validate whether she plans to stay on base or go home during the deployment. Once we deploy, I would ensure that the soldier has shared his address with his spouse and continues to update the chain of command about the status of his family as needed.

Welcome to what could potentially become a 3 hour board with 15 minute answers. Good luck

Response by 1SG Bill Farmerie made Mar 16 at 2016 4:05 PM

1SG Bill Farmerie — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 16:05:33 -0400

It depends upon where you are going for the board. Each post does it totally differently. Find someone who went where you are stationed and ask them. Ft Carson had multiple steps prior to the boards, but Ft Hood was one board

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2016 6:37 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 18:37:30 -0400

Find a fellow Sergeant Audie Murphy Club winner on your installation for mentorship and guidance.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2016 7:04 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 19:04:28 -0400

Study and be confident. Also know the book answers but think of them as situational also and if one of your guys had an issue how you would solve it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2016 8:17 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 20:17:15 -0400

Study Audie Murphy facts to the point where you live breath and eat it, to include the bio! You also must know things about your local chapter. I am currently the secretary for fort Riley SAMC. It's no joke and you have to come with your A game. Here you must bring one of your soldiers with you to the board and he/she will describe your leadership skills to the president of the board. In addition you must go through a week long event once you get to the division level which includes a APFT, weapons qual, AWT testing, written test, essay, and then on the last day, a formal board. Again this is fort Riley process. Overall your uniform should be PERFECT and you must know it to the point where you can list your awards in order of precedence. Board wise you must be ready for anything. I.e. Describing how you would handle situational questions backing them with the reg. The board process is not hard but you have to be motivated and readily prepared. If you have any further questions please feel free to message me.

Response by SSG Leo Bell made Mar 16 at 2016 10:30 PM

SSG Leo Bell — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 22:30:59 -0400

Good luck with the board

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Mar 17 at 2016 1:27 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 01:27:59 -0400

I saw Audie Murphy when he marched in the St Patrick's day parade in Southie in 1947. I wondered who is the high school kid in this parade. But my Dad knew who he was. My Dad also said there are a lot of Irish in this country who have been awarded the Medal of Honor. Murphy was in civvies and had a blue ribbon around his neck. But I was really stunned by how young and short in stature he was..

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2016 3:30 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 03:30:16 -0400

Learn the bio verbatim. Learn about the club, the crest, and Audie's medals, films, and songs. Learn doctrine, starting with ADPs and ARs. I wasn't brought up with much doctrine base, so my references were terrible. It's a rapid-fire board, and they will try to channel you down a hole. Every answer you give will lead to another scenario, many of them being outlandish, but still possible. Be prepared to be talked down to and broken into pieces as a leader. They are going to try to rattle you, and if you allow them to find holes in your leadership and execution of doctrine, and don't completely shut down the question, they will eat you. Be completely honest with how you would handle situations, and don't let them rattle you, and never change your answer.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Mar 17 at 2016 6:12 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 06:12:47 -0400

Sergeant Audie Murphy Board.....good luck to all for entry in this club. I am old enough to remember this WWII Army hero. I never met him but my Dad knew all about him & his heroic exploits in Europe during the war..I did stand a few feet away from Murphy when he walked by us in a St Patrick's Day parade in Southie & he was the Grand Marshall for this parade..
. Today I think we have Dropkick Murphy whose Irish Band is very popular with us Bostonians even those who are NOT Irish. Dropkick will be one of the dignitaries in the St Paddy's Day Parade along with the usual bunch of Boston Pols who keep getting rich by playing politics as usual in MA.

Response by LTC Jason Bartlett made Mar 17 at 2016 10:32 AM

LTC Jason Bartlett — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 10:32:32 -0400

I was inducted back in 1997 at Fort Hood, I am sure the requirements have changed a bit. The biggest thing was it wasn't your typical question i.e. what are 5 colors of a map. They were more detailed and ensured you actually read the Field Manual or Army Regulation. Then there was the part where they looked at your individual records (nothing was digital back then) and would ask you how you got this or why you didn't wear that. Why only a 296 on your and not a 300 ect.... III Corp has a hall where all inductees names are located. Good luck.

Response by SFC Justin Rooks made Mar 22 at 2016 12:58 PM

SFC Justin Rooks — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:58:35 -0400

1) Check at your Battalion or Brigade headquarters. They should have a representative at each level who can help you with all phases of the process. Also, try to go to a meeting with them to meet the other members and let them meet you.
2) Know all you can about Audie Murphy aside from the study material given to you (ie. The movies he starred in, songs other than Shutters and Boards that he wrote), watch To Hell and Back. These things can help you a lot.
3) Get into the manuals for the subject areas you are going to be questioned on. Although the questions cover a scenario, the knowledge contained in the manual and your knowledge of it will be the determining factor.
4) Don't BS the board members. If you don't know, say it. As NCOs, we are constantly evolving and learning and the board members know this, but if you try to BS them and they already have the answer in front of them, it won't look good for you.

Best of luck on your endeavor!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2016 9:16 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 09:16:00 -0400

Reading all the responses, everyone is right in their recommendations and guidance. Each board is going to be slightly different, and yet, the same. Look into the FORSCOM regulation 600-1 regarding the SAMA, that will give you a nice look at membership, wear of the medallion, and overall process. I was inducted a little over a year ago, and there is nothing like being with a group of NCOs whom all intend on being the best and using excellence as the standard. Good luck, and let us all know how your board goes, SSG Pando!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2016 8:53 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 20:53:08 -0400

SSG Ramiro Pando, did you go and how was it? Details....

Response by 1SG Bill Farmerie made Jun 16 at 2016 5:36 PM

1SG Bill Farmerie — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 17:36:48 -0400

Get with someone who went at the Post you are on. Each Post runs their differently. Some places run there boards like promotion boards, while at other places they ask 95% situational questions.

Response by SSG Brian Carpenter made May 19 at 2019 10:59 PM

SSG Brian Carpenter — Sun, 19 May 2019 22:59:16 -0400

Study, study, study!!! Find a good mentor they will already know who what when where and how. Watch the movie Audie Murphy played himself so it is accurate.