Posted on Feb 24, 2014
1SG Master Leader Course Facilitator
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As you read in the recent MILPER messages, Officers are given the ability to compete for a wide variety of broadening assignments that allow them to attend post graduate schools, work for the White House Communication Agency, etc.. Why isn't there more opportuinities for Enlisted Soldiers? Many of us have or are working for degrees and would love the ability to compete for those types of assignments. I have seen that a few broadening assignments are open for NCO's but again, this is one or two. Why not make it so that if you have a degree, you can use your experience to compete with some of these officers for those jobs? If you don't know what I am talking about, look at the HRC Webpage and look at the MILPER Messages for concerning broadening assignments. What are your thoughts?
Posted in these groups: The pentagon us department of defense building Assignments5a9f5691 CollegeCa2 Career Advice
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SGM Matthew Quick
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The Army HAS opened up plenty of broadening assignment opportunities for NCO over the years...just gotta stay proactive.

We have NCOs working in the White House, as senior enlisted advisors to members of senate and most recently as members of the HQDA Strategic Broadening Seminar.

Officer and enlisted opportunities will never be equal...it's been that was from the beginning of time; BUT, we have gained SO MUCH traction over the past two centuries ('Thank you', Friedrich von Steuben!)
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SGM Matthew Quick
SGM Matthew Quick
10 y
Here is a Broadening Opportunities Program (BOP) link:
http://www.armyreenlistment.com/bop.html


Note: These are for officers, warrant officers and enlisted.
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SGT(P) Motor Transport Operator
SGT(P) (Join to see)
10 y
I actually looked at that and they are all open to officers, even the degree completion ones.
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1SG Master Leader Course Facilitator
1SG (Join to see)
10 y
Thanks MSG Quick!
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1SG Master Leader Course Facilitator
1SG (Join to see)
10 y
So, I went in and looked at that MSG Quick and it was like I said at the begining, 90-95% only open to officers, even the degree completion, which boggles my mind. That component of Commisioning was scuttled years ago. I would like to see them offer Senior NCO's and maybe Junior NCO's the ability to finish their degree if they meet certain criteria, and not the Reenlistment option.
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1SG First Sergeant
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Edited 10 y ago
1SG,

There still are opportunities out there for enlisted Soldiers to broaden their horizons, be it additional assignments or schooling opportunities. As SFC Gates pointed out, there are opportunities for Defense Attache, Joint assignments with foreign services, as well as some limited schooling.

While it is unfortunate that the enlisted do not have some of the same opportunities as the officers, such as their degree completion program, there are still other avenues out there. One that comes to mind is a recent MILPER reference HQDA Strategic Broadening Seminars, which is available to SFC and above, as well as GS and some officers as well.

Not as many options, but as they come we as enlisted have to jump on what we can, when we can find it.
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SGT(P) Motor Transport Operator
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1SG,

I am following your line of thinking. These opportunities are out there, so long as you are looking for them. Most of them do have a strict qualification process that many Soldiers find unattainable. You are right, however that there are opportunities that us enlisted aren't privy to. I also wish we had a bit more say in our assignments.
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