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This is a very broad issue: I'm up for promotion to SSG, have not completed ALC (leaving for it in April), and I have not deployed. My promotion points are seriously lacking. I could give plenty of excuses (because that's all any reason is). My APFT score is being worked on (I PT regularly yet still can't seem to make my score better), and I just went to the range Friday and scored 38/40. I am in the process of some wonderful e-learning, but that's still only going to get me maybe 25 points when all is said and done. I have two AAM's and two ARCAM's. I wish THAT list was longer... My last NCOER was really good, and I have no badges or skills beyond my MOS and Instructor.
So, the question is: What would be the best thing for me to do? Would a deployment be my best option? (I'd like to deploy regardless, but with schools/AT's already scheduled, additional duties, and currently unemployed, time is a bit of a factor.)
So, the question is: What would be the best thing for me to do? Would a deployment be my best option? (I'd like to deploy regardless, but with schools/AT's already scheduled, additional duties, and currently unemployed, time is a bit of a factor.)
Military Career
Deployment
Promotion Points
Soldier
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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Broaden your military education (and points) by doing distance learning courses. They are easy to work into your schedule, and board members like to see efforts at self-improvement.
See if there are opportunities to volunteer for exercises or missions that your unit has on the horizon. They build great experience, provide excellent training, and offer an opportunity to potentially earn an award if you do well.
Look for ways to contribute to the community, and when you do, let your supervisor know. The Military Outstanding Volunteer medal is pretty rare in the Reserve.
Lastly, look for ways to stand out. Your description of yourself presented above was (no offense, please) fairly ordinary for a Soldier in your position. Make yourself extraordinary. Try for Best Warrior. Audie Murphy Board. NCO of the Year. Volunteer. Be Jonny-on-the-spot when work needs to get done.
You are doing a great thing by soliciting advise on what to do to better yourself. That shows me potential. Let me know if you want specific suggestions. I do a lot of promotion boards both administratively and as a member. Your MOS is relevant to the discussion as well.
Good luck, SGT (Join to see)
See if there are opportunities to volunteer for exercises or missions that your unit has on the horizon. They build great experience, provide excellent training, and offer an opportunity to potentially earn an award if you do well.
Look for ways to contribute to the community, and when you do, let your supervisor know. The Military Outstanding Volunteer medal is pretty rare in the Reserve.
Lastly, look for ways to stand out. Your description of yourself presented above was (no offense, please) fairly ordinary for a Soldier in your position. Make yourself extraordinary. Try for Best Warrior. Audie Murphy Board. NCO of the Year. Volunteer. Be Jonny-on-the-spot when work needs to get done.
You are doing a great thing by soliciting advise on what to do to better yourself. That shows me potential. Let me know if you want specific suggestions. I do a lot of promotion boards both administratively and as a member. Your MOS is relevant to the discussion as well.
Good luck, SGT (Join to see)
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SGT (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see), I am a 25L/U Instructor. I have already taken on two additional duties for my unit, and I've volunteered for another three - pending approval. I am currently trying to knock out some e-learning, and plan to do more (as they would help with one of my additional duties). I last did the Best Warrior Competition in 2011 and due to an injury (I won at Brigade level with a pulled Achilles tendon) I was not permitted to continue. I will have to inquire about FY15's Competition. I will have to also see about getting credit for what I currently do (I crochet hats, gloves, baby blankets and donate them).
I'm trying to not spread myself thin. I have an ADOS packet pending approval for all the extra missions I've taken on this year, and I'll be drilling for points by June at the rate I'm going!
I'm trying to not spread myself thin. I have an ADOS packet pending approval for all the extra missions I've taken on this year, and I'll be drilling for points by June at the rate I'm going!
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1SG (Join to see)
One thing you have not mentioned is whether or not you actually have line time leading Soldiers and working on equipment. Instructor time is super and a lot of troops never do it, but you need experience as a leader too.
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SGT (Join to see), I'm probably too far removed in time (retired in 2006) to give you good current advice, but something you said doesn't seem to make sense to me. You wrote that you are currently unemployed. Wouldn't that be the perfect time to volunteer to deploy? If I'm way off, please school me.
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SGT (Join to see)
I would agree, but I have ALC coming up in April. So, would I push that back, or wait until after? How much would deployment help?
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CW5 (Join to see)
That's the thing ... I don't know. We'll have to hear from people who have built up their promotion points on how they did it.
When I was promoted to SGT and SSG, the scoring was undoubtedly different, but the essentials were probably similar. I had to have certain leadership schools, civilian education helped, correspondence courses (now military e-learning, I assume) helped as well. I had the luxury of being in an MOS that had a relatively low score at the time, but I still worked hard at getting promoted.
The items you mentioned (PT, weapons qualification, awards, education, board score) put me where I needed to be to get promoted as fast as possible after successfully attending the board.
There were no deployments in the late 70s and early 80s, so that was not a factor. Do you get promotion points for deploying? If not, and if you have the option, then maybe you want to do something else. Do you have or are you working on a college degree?
When I was promoted to SGT and SSG, the scoring was undoubtedly different, but the essentials were probably similar. I had to have certain leadership schools, civilian education helped, correspondence courses (now military e-learning, I assume) helped as well. I had the luxury of being in an MOS that had a relatively low score at the time, but I still worked hard at getting promoted.
The items you mentioned (PT, weapons qualification, awards, education, board score) put me where I needed to be to get promoted as fast as possible after successfully attending the board.
There were no deployments in the late 70s and early 80s, so that was not a factor. Do you get promotion points for deploying? If not, and if you have the option, then maybe you want to do something else. Do you have or are you working on a college degree?
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SGT (Join to see)
Yes, Chief. Deployment gets you more points than Civilian Education does. With the implementation of SSD, we thought that would add to e-learning points, however, they roll it in with WLC/ALC. Also, I believe you could get points for WLC when promoting to SSG in the past, and it doesn't count anymore because it is a REQUIREMENT for promotion to SGT.
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CW5 (Join to see)
Those courses used to be PNCOC and BNCOC (for whatever that's worth).
It sounds to me like deployment, after you complete ALC, is a good option. It would be good to get someone else's opinion, though, because I've been away from this for too long to give you the best advice. I see 1SG (Join to see) gave you some advice. You're in good hands there (much more capable than me) regarding career/board/promotion advice.
Also, have you asked your supervisor, your NCO chain?
It sounds to me like deployment, after you complete ALC, is a good option. It would be good to get someone else's opinion, though, because I've been away from this for too long to give you the best advice. I see 1SG (Join to see) gave you some advice. You're in good hands there (much more capable than me) regarding career/board/promotion advice.
Also, have you asked your supervisor, your NCO chain?
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