Why should one attend a Soldier of the Month Board before a Promotion Board?

2016-02-22T22:35:23-05:00

I'm a SPC who has been told he must attend the SOM board before going to the promotion board. While this makes sense in MOST cases, I believe it is a waste of time, let me explain: The SOM Board helps soldiers on: confidence, personal appearance, conversation skills, knowledge and attitude.
All items I don't believe I need to 'work on'.
I've demonstrated this time and time again.
Thoughts?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2016 10:43 PM

2016-02-22T22:43:55-05:00

Listen to your NCOs. They have been there before and know what is best for you. Because you believe that you don't need to "work on" those items, doesn't mean that it wouldn't help. If you go to a board over confident, you will probably have to do it again. I have seen it too many times. Just saying....

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Feb 22 at 2016 11:12 PM

2016-02-22T23:12:49-05:00

I see no reason not to go. I don't know what you get now but back in the day I got a savings bond and a letter of commendation in my file for being SOM. Today they probably also give you a medal. There is nothing hard about it especially if you already have all of the things that you mentioned.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Feb 22 at 2016 11:29 PM

2016-02-22T23:29:34-05:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member You are correct and almost perfect. Why display/share your competence?

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Feb 23 at 2016 12:16 AM

2016-02-23T00:16:05-05:00

First, no you do not have to attend the SOM before the promotion board.
Now if you choose not to, and you do horribly on your board attendance please don't cry to us. We (as a group of leaders and former leaders) have taken tons of Soldiers through and we, for the most part, think the SOM is an invaluable tool to help Soldiers get ready for the promotion board. But if you think you are awesome sauce and don't need it; go forward and do great things young one. SMDH
BTW if you win, it is an easy set of points to add to your promotion total.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 1:28 AM

2016-02-23T01:28:49-05:00

I would say that every unit has a SPC who has had this argument with their leadership before. In my opinion, it's a weird one because of the risk/reward comparison.

What risks are you taking by going to the SOQ board before the board? Absolutely none. Bomb it, and they are going to tell you to study more and the CSM is probably going to be impressed with your improved performance at your actual board. Win the board and you are almost guaranteed a recommendation at your actual board as well as some trinket for doing a good job.

Also, I can't understate this enough, if you can handle a competition board then you can destroy a promotion board. You will find yourself almost wanting to laugh at how simple and stress free the process is in comparison.

However, you don't have to do it. Prepare for your promotion in whatever manner suits you. I went to one mock board 4 or 5 days before I went into my promotion board and got recommended. I've spent 35 cumulative minutes of my career in a formal board setting, and in that time my unit felt I displayed the characteristics of an NCO enough to board me. I didn't need a lot of mock boards or SOQ boards, but I also am extremely close friends with the 2014 DA Soldier of the Year runner up; and I studied with him and went over board proceedings and knowledge and that got me to where I needed to be.

Closing thought though. I wish I had went to SOQ boards because as a leader I want to be able to give advice and mentor ship that is based off of personal experience, otherwise known as leading from the front. One day you are going to have a private that is being forced to go to a SOQ board and when he asks for advice to prepare for it you are going to have to look him in the eyes and say "Ah, sorry man I couldn't tell you about competition boards; my unit tried to get me to go to one but I told them to get bent."

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 3:18 AM

2016-02-23T03:18:08-05:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Some units have that as their SOP, you want to go to the promotion board? just play the game and do as your unit wants, can't be that hard if you are ready anyway

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 9:28 AM

2016-02-23T09:28:00-05:00

An opportunity to review your attributes by participating in the SOM activity is not an opportunity to be missed. The members of the board will provide insighst from their perspective that you may find valuable, or might find a confirmation of your own views. Practice is also valuable, and the SOM session will reduce any potential butterflies that might show up before a promotion board. Good luck.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Feb 23 at 2016 9:45 AM

2016-02-23T09:45:53-05:00

If you have never been to a board before, how do you know you do not need to work on those areas? Nothing is like appearing before a board.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Feb 23 at 2016 10:09 AM

2016-02-23T10:09:38-05:00

After reading this a couple of times, if that is how you really feel, you should just sign the counseling that tells you that you will not be recommended for promotion. A LOT of the things the Army will have you do are retarded, stupid as hell, tedious, and redundant. But they all serve a purpose: Attention to detail, accomplishment of a mission even if you do not like it, and a learning experience for when you become a leader. If you feel you don't need to work on "confidence, personal appearance, conversation skills, knowledge and attitude". Then you're right at the rank you need to be at. Putting on stripes doesn't make anything easier, you may think you're getting out of something, but in the LONG run, the tasking's will get harder and harder. You'll WISH all you had to do was mop a floor. I may sound harsh, but I thought just like you once. I learned REAL quick how wrong I was. BTW when/IF you make SGT, those stripes are on your chest, but they do not belong to you; they belong to the Joes underneath you. And BELIEVE me when I say this: how you are NOW is how your first set of Joes will be when you become a NCO. So all those things you feel are beneath you, you'll have to maintain and groom. Wait until what you just said is said back to you by your OWN Joe.

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Feb 23 at 2016 10:38 AM

2016-02-23T10:38:11-05:00

Nothing can prepare you for a board other than another board. It is quite intimidating and just like your warrior tasks, repetition is the best way to prepare

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 11:20 AM

2016-02-23T11:20:03-05:00

I had the same perception of myself before I went to my promotion board , went to a mock board and had a serious wake up call. Nothing prepares you more for appearing before a board of your seniors than actually doing it yourself. I know the SOM board may seem irrelevant now but your leadership is helping you out and setting you up for success for your promotion board. Prepare for your board, take it serious, knock it out and if you have any issues you'll know what to work on for the promotion board.

Good luck with both your boards!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 11:29 AM

2016-02-23T11:29:42-05:00

It's a good way to get great practice for the promotion board. Get all those jitters out of the way before you walk before the Man. Nothing worse than having a massive brainfart at the promotion board in from of your CSM's and 1SG's

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2016 3:16 PM

2016-02-23T15:16:07-05:00

BLUF. You are not responsible for your own assessment. Otherwise we would all be CSMs.

Response by CPL Rick Stasny made Feb 29 at 2016 10:15 PM

2016-02-29T22:15:19-05:00

Young man, and I say this because I am old and gray. Take any opportunity to shine. I had no idea what to expect, but maxed my board. I also sweated hand prints into my pant legs. I never expected one of the First Sergeants to have the wrong answer to his own question, but I stood my ground and did it with tact and it payed off.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2016 10:47 PM

2016-02-29T22:47:40-05:00

If you've done it "time and time again", then you can do it one more time. It takes 4-6 hours out of.your day that shows CoC that you are serious about being promoted. Public speaking and the knowledge tested in the boards is a perishable skill.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2016 1:12 AM

2016-03-18T01:12:12-04:00

I went to my first SOQ board in Iraq in 2004, and it was the foundation for me appearing before the E-5 Promotion Board a few months later (October 2004). I later won NCO of the Quarter Board in Germany (2006) as well as 1st Runner Up for FY06 BN NCO of the Year.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2016 1:16 AM

2016-03-18T01:16:43-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member , everyone can always work on those "items." Also, it helps gain experience. SOM gives great recognition. If you win, all the better. You shouldn't NEED it, but I say you should take it.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Mar 18 at 2016 1:19 AM

2016-03-18T01:19:30-04:00

It's about giving you experience of standing before a board. Learning how to handle yourself in this situation. Some subjects will overlap, some won't. But the experience of preparing yourself, uniform, facing the board is all the same.