Posted on Nov 30, 2015
Making sense of the Army’s Battalion Command selection.
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Rally Point members. If you're in the Army, do you understand the Army's Battalion Command selection process? This doesn't apply to me, but for those of you in the Army, I thought you might be interested in this article. It breaks down how their selections are made. You may already know about this. If you do, move along. (-:
And now for the rest of the story:
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The Army’s centralized selection list process explained.
http://taskandpurpose.com/making-sense-of-the-armys-battalion-command-selection/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tp-today
And now for the rest of the story:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Army’s centralized selection list process explained.
http://taskandpurpose.com/making-sense-of-the-armys-battalion-command-selection/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tp-today
Army
Rank
Battalion Commander
Officers
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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This article is good, but does not go deep enough into the process. An important aspect it neglects is being named an alternate. While you can only be named a primary on a single list (infantry, maneuver, CA, etc.) you can be the alternate on multiple lists. If the list is published and you were not selected, you may still have a chance if the primary cannot or will not serve. I received my CA battalion command as an alternate. If you get a strange call in the middle of the night offering you command take it! I have an official OPD that I regularly give to my units on this process. If anyone sends me a request from your .mil address to mine, I will give you a copy. No narration, but I think it is fairly self-explanatory and you can always ask me questions.
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SGT (Join to see)
BG (Join to see), Sir thank you for your comments. If anyone would know, it would be you. I really appreciate your input.
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Very informative.
I was following along until I got to the "only officers of the highest caliber are selected for O-5 and O-6 command".
If only.
Can't win 'em all.
I was following along until I got to the "only officers of the highest caliber are selected for O-5 and O-6 command".
If only.
Can't win 'em all.
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SGT (Join to see)
SGT David T., I wasn't talking about her gender. I was talking about all we had back then was male commanders. Women have played many important roles in the military, going all the way back to the Civil War. Ego's can be a bad thing to have when you're a commander, and just Joe Blow American.
1SG (Join to see), I've worked with a lot of people who won't own up to their screw ups. In the end, they got demoted or fired.
1SG (Join to see), I've worked with a lot of people who won't own up to their screw ups. In the end, they got demoted or fired.
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1SG (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see), in the first case the joker got promoted and went on to continue to screw up in Iraq, getting fired from his position in Mosul. It didn't matter; he is still in. In the more recent case there is still hope he will get his. The damage he has done to the unit has not escaped notice.
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SGT (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see), Good, he doesn't need to be in charge of anything, causing that unit damage.
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CSM (Join to see)
I can say after being on three different CSL's for CSM and modestly assessing myself and peers.... it is purely a paper assessment for CSM at BN & BDE levels. Waiting until the nominative level for interviews (even telephonic) is a travesty.... some of my worst peer-ranked CSMs are at the BN & BDE level. For example, it wasn't too long ago back when they were 3rd ACR, they played "inside baseball" on the Regimental CSMs (BDE comparable) and cronyism selections yielded less than inspirational leadership for the NCO Corps. The previous NCOs who noted dissatisfaction with the phrase "only officers of the highest caliber are selected for O-5 and O-6 command", I do not disagree with... but it occurs in the same result with CSMs. It is not uncommon (since it's only paper quality assessments) to have Battalion level CSMs exceed the skills, intelligence, and competencies of the BDE level CSMs.... but the very few "polished" BDE CSMs who get selected for nominative levels (via paper quality assessments), also have to prove themselves at the next level (Presence, vision, and inspirational qualities). Don't get me wrong, a BDE level CSM who has good records and is skilled at Army Rhetoric may win the day during the interview process, but will come up short in executing his duties. Not a perfect system, but always (at least) merit based.
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SGT (Join to see) - Having served on a couple of battalion command selection boards, I can attest that the article is pretty close to being completely accurate. It is a fair process, but, like all boards, members are under tremendous time constraints to review files and make judgments that impact the lives and careers of those under consideration. A very similar process takes place for brigade command selection.
One thing I will note is that there is more "involvement" in slating (deciding where an officer is assigned) than the article acknowledges. Between the time the selections are made and the list/slating is released, input goes to HRC (whether they want it or not) from a variety of sources.
One thing I will note is that there is more "involvement" in slating (deciding where an officer is assigned) than the article acknowledges. Between the time the selections are made and the list/slating is released, input goes to HRC (whether they want it or not) from a variety of sources.
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SGT (Join to see)
COL Jean (John) F. B., Thank you Sir for your comments. It's better to hear it from someone who knows about it than read about it.
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