Would you rather see a written exam for NCO promotions in the Army?

OK this is my issue right here, not everyone is good at everything and that's what you seem to think. Everyone must be good at EVERYTHING. I'm a hands on person, it's how I learn not learning from a book. I work my butt off every day for my soldiers and for the mission yet a person that has no clue how to do their job or how to take care of soldiers. But they are fine MEMORIZING the freaking study for the board. It's unfair and I've had to deal with it having to study my butt off for something in my opinion doesn't mean you are a good leader and should be the next rank. I'm a terrible writer and I now that, again I have to work my ass off to do my research so I can do it correctly. Not everyone is good at everything as I mentioned above and not every person that can memorize everything is or should be a leader.

I don't truly care about exactly how great the writing skills may or may not be....but in the days where everybody is addicted to their smartphones and laptops, if you don't at the very least type up your junk, use MS Word to help you proofread and spellcheck before printing and submitting...then you're likely an idiot that few are really going to follow anyway, I don't care what rank you wear.

You cannot logically argue you need these devices while not learning how to use them.

My first NCO board was in 1984 and was conducted very professionally, unlike today where a Soldier is humiliated and is based on favoritism. In the 80's the board President was a field grade Officer and his vote did not count. He was there only as protocol representing the Company Commander. All questions and scenarios were based on actual events. It was serious and no playing, my last board was a joke and took place in 2009. The Sergeant Major was playing roundhouse boxing with the NCO's on the board and told jokes all through the proceedings. I was told I couldn't cut the grade and not promoted. Other boards are worse then this so why would you expect an NCO who doesn't know his job to perform and to conduct himself as an NCO when board preceding are like this. I took my rank seriously even though I was not allowed to get beyond E-5 and I retired as an E-5 I was still proud of my service.

Absolutely. I've seen reports, sworn statements, memos, etc etc, from every link in the nco chain that have been absolutely terrible. If you cannot express yourself in writing with proper punctuation, spelling, and grammar, you shouldn't be promoted. You have to be able to express yourself clearly and concisely, because confusion due to misspelling or misuse of words can lead to some serious SNAFUs.

How about leaders fairly assessing the competence of the Soldiers they rate? We all know the old 1/1 overinflation has been going on for years and is the root of our evils. Well, alongside the need to grow our strength for the war....

There are already evaluations of one's writing ability in NCOES. With STEP fully implemented, and grade point averages included on the 1059s, there will be a de facto "written exam" put into the process

I wish there was a written and a skills based test. People say SSD is supposed to be the written but honestly the SSD is a joke since Soldiers are just sharing answers now just like they did on the old Army correspondence courses. An actual hands on test would at least show they are competent in their MOS and NCOES will help teach leadership skills.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE COMMENTS AND IMPUT! Nice to see responses from all ranks and branches! GOD BLESS

Yes, but at the same time the cheating found in the Navy system is insane.

That's essentially what NCOES is for. If it were done that right way... You wouldn't be able to be promoted until you attended your proper NCOES(BLC before you can get E5, ALC before E6, and so on). In the NCOES, you are tested on your leadership and MOS skill capabilities. If anything... Make NCOES more challenging and testing.