Posted on Feb 2, 2015
Why don't E6 promotion boards ask more questions about MOS knowledge?
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Why is the Army still basing the E5 and E6 promotions on boards about general Army questions and questionable leadership styles? Why not MOS capabilities knowledge? We joined the Army to learn a skill, gain some self-awareness, discipline, and to become a leader. Everyone needs to know their job before they think about becoming NCO's. What are your thoughts?
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Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 8
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SGT (Join to see) someone recommended to attend the promotion board is recommended by their leaders. They should already be proficient in their MOS if their leaders are recommending they be promoted. There should be more than just general questions asked at a promotion board. The SMA required promotion boards to ask questions based on doctrine from the ADPs and ADRPs, along with general Soldier knowledge. To be a good NCO you need to know more than your job, you need to know what to do if one of your Soldiers is having financial problems, you need to know how and why the individual tasks you train your Soldiers on compliment the collective tasks that support your units METL, you need to know unit/Army history so you can teach your Soldiers how proud they should be to serve in the unit.
I have thrown many Soldiers and NCOs out of promotion boards who were not ready to be NCOs or the next level of NCO. I knew they were damn good Infantrymen, just weren't ready to be damn good NCOs.
I have thrown many Soldiers and NCOs out of promotion boards who were not ready to be NCOs or the next level of NCO. I knew they were damn good Infantrymen, just weren't ready to be damn good NCOs.
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From my experiance i think that would be a great idea but unfortunitly does not happen. It could be just my unit but If your not in the "IN" crowd it does not matter if you know your job. When i was an E4 i have taught everyone in my section how to properly be an Apache helicopter mechanic from subordinates, peers, and superiors alike to be passed on by them. Because i wasnt in the "IN" crowd i focused on my job and to make sure everyone met or excedded the expectations of their job. I could just be frustrated too. Ive been with the same company for 7 years and 3 deployments and just irritated with it. My 2 cents anyways.
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SGT (Join to see), it seems to me that the promotion board these days is sort of a formality.
It is not a true promotion board that grants points like back in the day.
It is not a true promotion board that grants points like back in the day.
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SGT (Join to see)
In a way that's true. But if a Soldier "fails" the board, their not promoted. So that means there is some reason we still hold these boards. Most of the time, it seems they just want to try and make Soldiers scared or nervous.
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SSG (Join to see)
Unfortunately they can still pop up on the automatic promotions list now when they have the time in service.
It is crazy. I have seen it.
It is crazy. I have seen it.
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CSM (Join to see)
Soldiers and NCOs appear on the CLI because their leaders fail to conduct proper counseling. If a Soldier is circled NO on the AAA but there is no counseling on why the eligible Soldier is not being recommended he/she will be integrated for promotion with the default promotion points.
Units are always complaining about shortages of mid level NCOs. Look at any USR and the critical shortages are usually skill level two and three. It is the leaders responsibility to develop their Soldiers to be leaders IAW ADP 7-0. Unfortunately developing leaders is more of a catch phrase these days. If units cannot produce enough mid level NCOs to fill the ranks the Army can lower the promotion points to the CLI default and fill the required shortages.
It is important to develop leaders and send them to promotion boards. If all development fails and the Soldier does not have the potential to be a leader, he/she need to be counseled and guided towards ETS. If you as a leader do not develop or counsel you could possibly end up with a NCO promoted from the CLI who will do more harm than good.
Units are always complaining about shortages of mid level NCOs. Look at any USR and the critical shortages are usually skill level two and three. It is the leaders responsibility to develop their Soldiers to be leaders IAW ADP 7-0. Unfortunately developing leaders is more of a catch phrase these days. If units cannot produce enough mid level NCOs to fill the ranks the Army can lower the promotion points to the CLI default and fill the required shortages.
It is important to develop leaders and send them to promotion boards. If all development fails and the Soldier does not have the potential to be a leader, he/she need to be counseled and guided towards ETS. If you as a leader do not develop or counsel you could possibly end up with a NCO promoted from the CLI who will do more harm than good.
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If you are going to the SSG board there should be less MOS specific questions because your new rank will require more administrative skills. I always ask situational based questions that show knowledge of Army systems and programs, ei ACS. You should have already shown mastery of your MOS to your first line supervisor who made the recommendation for you to attend the board.
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SGT and SSG de-centralized promotion boards are based off of general military achievement and overall performance potential attributed to whether or not you have the potential to be a good leader. Your NCOER's are reviewed in your promotion board packets to SSG, so those NCOER's will reflect both general leadership and MOS capabilities. MOS proficiency is the responsibility of your rater and senior rater. It's thier job to ensure that you are MOS proficient and that you are getting the proper OJT and low density training to help improve your MOS skills.
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Today I listened in on a infantry promotion board and found that my question still stands. Why is the standards for an infantryman different than that of another MOS within this unit? They say that they are treating rack Soldier the same regardless of MOS, this is very untrue. Not to say that this is just for the infantry. While I was in Korea, I sponsored a Soldier (92y) to the board and he was given very hard questions. While a 13m was just asked to say the NCO creed. WTF!
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CSM (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see)
I don't know all the details about what you are angry about but it sounds like you are saying that the units you have served in are not conducting a proper promotion board? Sounds like what you are saying is the 92Y Soldier would only be recommended for promotion if he/she was working in a BSB? Or in your current unit Infantrymen are receiving preferential treatment while other MOSs are held to standard questions.
This sounds like a leadership problem and starts and ends with the Command Sergeants Major. The CSM is the president of the board and sets the standard for the battalion level semi-centralized promotion board. The CSM of any unit should represent every branch/MOS in the battalion and should take care of all Soldiers regardless of MOS. The promotion board standard should be the same for every Soldier/NCO attending with no exceptions, there should be no favoritism.
You are not going to get a solution to your problem here on RP but I will give you a few suggestions.
1. Use the chain of command/support channel to address the fact that you don't believe the promotion board is fair to all Soldiers/NCOs in the battalion.
2. Speak with a BSB NCO if you are an attached to a battalion but organic to the BSB. See if it is possible for your Soldier to attend the promotion board with the BSB or organic unit.
3. Call IG and explain to them the board procedures you have observed.
I hope you can get some resolution.
I don't know all the details about what you are angry about but it sounds like you are saying that the units you have served in are not conducting a proper promotion board? Sounds like what you are saying is the 92Y Soldier would only be recommended for promotion if he/she was working in a BSB? Or in your current unit Infantrymen are receiving preferential treatment while other MOSs are held to standard questions.
This sounds like a leadership problem and starts and ends with the Command Sergeants Major. The CSM is the president of the board and sets the standard for the battalion level semi-centralized promotion board. The CSM of any unit should represent every branch/MOS in the battalion and should take care of all Soldiers regardless of MOS. The promotion board standard should be the same for every Soldier/NCO attending with no exceptions, there should be no favoritism.
You are not going to get a solution to your problem here on RP but I will give you a few suggestions.
1. Use the chain of command/support channel to address the fact that you don't believe the promotion board is fair to all Soldiers/NCOs in the battalion.
2. Speak with a BSB NCO if you are an attached to a battalion but organic to the BSB. See if it is possible for your Soldier to attend the promotion board with the BSB or organic unit.
3. Call IG and explain to them the board procedures you have observed.
I hope you can get some resolution.
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You are being promoted to be a leader of Soldiers i.e. you best know how to lead. Also depending on the unit you could have several different MOS as board members and not even on from your MOS. For example, my second and third board appearances were in a MI battalion and I was a signal MOS. None of my board members were even signal so how are they going to ask an MOS question to me. However, my second board in the MI Battalion was situational questions because the CSM believed anyone could upchuck the answers from the study guide, he wanted to see what stuck from studying and to see if you were ready for the next step.
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SGT (Join to see)
1SG, I'm in an Infantry unit. What can a infantry 1SG know about the specifics of my MOS? I'm sure they know some of the basics, but that's it. And anyone can look up some questions.
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