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

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

SGT (Join to see) You are correct and almost perfect. Why display/share your competence?

SGT (Join to see) , 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.