Posted on Nov 15, 2015
Would it hurt my career to go from COCOM to COCOM?
13.5K
47
21
6
6
0
I'm currently with AFRICOM in Stuttgart working for J2. Would it necessarily hurt my career to PCS to another COCOM such as CENTCOM next? Or would it help my career as far as progression and military professional development goes? Or would going back to a "line unit" S-2 be more important?
Posted in these groups: 
Military Career
Military Intelligence
Military Career Military Intelligence
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
7
7
0
It is absolutely critical to get tactical time if you want to stay in the military. Not just for the broadening, but for your own development and time with Soldiers. You aren't leading much at the COCOM or ASCC level. As a SSG you should be around Soldiers and training and leading them.
(7)
(0)
6
6
0
Also take a look at promotion board precepts over the past few years and get a handle on how they look at it. My experience sitting on boards is dated but I lived through the dark years of "joint is death" to "joint shall not be disadvantaged". The issue I've seen more of is similar tours can result in a gap in something else that makes up the desired pedigree. If there are 5-6 must do things, don't delay getting them punched as Cpt Murphy's Law will intervene if you work it too fine. Also consider if you'll lose touch with the important things of your MOS, i.e. hands on doing real things in the real world with your troops.
Think about the kind of paper you'll get from the second tour. About all you can get from a COCOM is "he's a great staff wonk". What you can get elsewhere is paper that directly talks about the contribution you made to primary mission success. That's the difference the "shall not be disadvantaged" piece was supposed to overcome but that only goes so far. Boards not only look at what you've done, they try to project what you'll do down the road and will you likely succeed. Silence on critical contributions and leadership stretches the betting odds, hence a dangerous place to be if you're in the third crunch.
BTW, I had 5 years with PACOM but made sure I had two lives. I was 7th Fleet Engineer a part of it and then shifted to State and USAID work in SE Asia, mostly in Cambodia. So you can get "operational" paper if you're able to get out in the real world.
Think about the kind of paper you'll get from the second tour. About all you can get from a COCOM is "he's a great staff wonk". What you can get elsewhere is paper that directly talks about the contribution you made to primary mission success. That's the difference the "shall not be disadvantaged" piece was supposed to overcome but that only goes so far. Boards not only look at what you've done, they try to project what you'll do down the road and will you likely succeed. Silence on critical contributions and leadership stretches the betting odds, hence a dangerous place to be if you're in the third crunch.
BTW, I had 5 years with PACOM but made sure I had two lives. I was 7th Fleet Engineer a part of it and then shifted to State and USAID work in SE Asia, mostly in Cambodia. So you can get "operational" paper if you're able to get out in the real world.
(6)
(0)
3
3
0
I don't think that it would hurt your career, but I will say that senior boards look closely at variety of assignments. It is to your advantage to seek out new challenges. But if you feel that you have found a niche where you excel, by all means do another tour at a COCOM.
(3)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
Thank you 1SG Jerry Healy. I do believe that I could receive some training at another COCOM that other Soldier's may not get the opportunity to receive, I just don't have any subordinates where I'm at. I wonder if maybe going to a BCT next to get some Platoon Sergeant time would be better. I'm in between decisions. But I'm sure I can advance either way. I have considered applying for an SMU, just trying to plan for the future. I turn 36 on 01 Dec, so I don't DS would be wise, but I am in shape. Any further advise would be great!
(1)
(0)
1SG (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see), there really is no substitute for troop time, because nothing prepares you for having lots of subordinates like having a few, and nothing prepares you to teach Jr Leaders to develop Soldiers like developing a few yourself. If you haven't had leadership opportunities, I would strongly encourage you to seek them out.
I can tell you that in my career, I had few if any subordinates until I was an E-7, and even then it was a Section of 8 Soldiers. It wasn't until I stood in front of a company that I really had a number of Soldiers, and I had to work very hard to develop some of those skills on the fly.
There should be opportunities even in a COCOM. They just love to throw ceremonies and significant visitors come pretty regularly. Look into volunteering to work in areas that allow you to lead a few Soldiers, even if it is a temporary duty.
I can tell you that in my career, I had few if any subordinates until I was an E-7, and even then it was a Section of 8 Soldiers. It wasn't until I stood in front of a company that I really had a number of Soldiers, and I had to work very hard to develop some of those skills on the fly.
There should be opportunities even in a COCOM. They just love to throw ceremonies and significant visitors come pretty regularly. Look into volunteering to work in areas that allow you to lead a few Soldiers, even if it is a temporary duty.
(3)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see) - I did have a Squad in Korea when I was the S-2 NCOIC, and I've also had 4 NCO's here at AFRICOM in my last position on the Intel Watch. But, I do hear what you saying, something larger for a longer period of time would benefit my situation.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google