Has anyone ever felt that their leadership was trying to prevent them from getting promoted?

2016-02-05T10:49:15-05:00

Not to sound like a complainer, but I was recently recommended to go to the board. I did not go that month due to certifications. Then something came up and I did not go the next month. Now my squad leader gave me a 3 page non rec. for things that didn't happen since the before the recommendation.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2016 10:58 AM

2016-02-05T10:58:14-05:00

Well, your first stop is some self-reflection. If after doing so you believe that you are in the right I would suggest you then talk to your 1SG and or CSM.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2016 10:58 AM

2016-02-05T10:58:28-05:00

If your leadership gave you a non recommend, I would say it is a good sign they don't want you promoted.

Read the three pages and discuss it with your squad leader. Work out the issues and earn your recommended status back!

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 5 at 2016 10:59 AM

2016-02-05T10:59:14-05:00

Were the items on the Non-Rec "valid?" As in did they happen, and were they things you were responsible for and could have corrected or prevented?

If so, just because Leadership failed to counsel before sending you to a board doesn't mean that they were fully aware of issues at that point.

If not, did you discuss the Non-Recommendation with your your Squad Leader to adjust anything on the counselling that was not valid. You are entitled to present your side of things, especially if there are inaccuracies on the statement.

After that, we have some follow on issues. First is making sure your certifications are complete. That is a matter of being proactive. That's on you. Second is "something came up." Things do come up, but this is YOUR career. If it's important, make time for it. Third is "addressing the concerns" as presented in the counselling statement (aka non-rec). Basically fix the issues so they don't have an excuse. Finally is whether you would have had the points to be promoted. If not, you have time to correct the issues. If so, refer to 1 & 2.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2016 12:40 PM

2016-02-05T12:40:59-05:00

If you do not agree with rating contest it......especially if items from outside the rating period were included......before doing that I would take a deep hard look in a mirror and make sure that you truly feel the rating does not fit......have you earned awards, decorations this year, deployed, Solider f the Quarter, do you have significant additional duties...etc.....if all you did was come to work and stay out of trouble a midline rating is appropriate....he may actually be doing you the greatest favor in the world by forcing you to evaluate your standing in your peer group, the unit, and the Army.....anyway if you are the super troop and think you're being screwed go to legal and contest it....if you are right you can get it ex sponged .....if after reflection you decide he was right buy him a beer and say thank your for setting you on the right path

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2016 2:50 PM

2016-02-05T14:50:21-05:00

The answer to this question hinges significantly on what that "something" was that "came up."

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2016 6:35 PM

2016-02-05T18:35:39-05:00

As for a non recommended counseling. I have seen these counselings given for many reasons. Most of the time it's an invalid reason however if the reasons are real then that is a different story. I have seen counselings because their leadership failed to administer a mock board, or the soldier hasn't been to a soldier of the month board. However if you are in your primary zone, counselings are 100% mandated

Response by SGT Robert Andrews made Feb 5 at 2016 11:45 PM

2016-02-05T23:45:55-05:00

Sometimes you get on the radar for one reason or another .... The best way to get promoted is being off the radar. Once your on the radar it is very hard to get off because everyone is waiting for the next event. Let time pass maybe transfer and a fresh start would help too

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 8:56 AM

2016-02-06T08:56:20-05:00

You've got two ways to handle this. Number 1, let this bother you, effect your work performance, and become a sub standard Soldier that just wants to get out. Number 2, man up, learn from mistakes, and buckle down to prove you are worth sending to the board. Promotion to SGT is not something that just happens. As a PSG I can not control 40 guys running around on the OBJ. Team Leaders controlling their guys at the lowest level will mean success or failure for that PLT. This is not something to take easily. Good luck.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 1:06 PM

2016-02-06T13:06:54-05:00

I've experienced this before so i was an e-3 and i was battling asthma and couldnt pass the run on a pt test. so finally i pass the pt test and working my ass off my 4 and my platoon sgt wouldnt stop finding flaws in everything i was doing. finally when i think im about to get promoted my 4 isnt on my erb so i go to him and talk to him about it and he tells me to go fuck myself essentially. so halfway through the month my 4 pops up on my erb and i go show him and t=you could see the rage in his eyes. take my advice brother dont let the man get you down just keep striving to do your best get points get schools go to the board and he cant stop the promotion.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2016 2:53 AM

2016-02-07T02:53:36-05:00

So you guys deserve a brief on the end result. Something I strongly care about. (letting people know the end result) So anyways when my packet was reviewed my commander decided that I deserve a chance to go to the board. I want to thank everyone for their advice and support.

Response by PO3 Thomas Dickey made Feb 9 at 2016 10:17 AM

2016-02-09T10:17:30-05:00

Yes! When I was on shore duty in Japan, my LPO did everything in his power to keep me from being able to take the E-4 exam. I was literally working 19 hours a day, yet got lousy evals and he went around constantly slandering me to all of the other senior enlisted. I was finally able to be promoted after he transferred.

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Feb 9 at 2016 10:47 AM

2016-02-09T10:47:29-05:00

Sure it happens. Watch your six for the political correctness bug to bite you. But in reality, other things can change, too, most likely your competition and your leadership. You might not be the leaderships top recommendation anymore due to someone else that is shining a bit brighter right now. Or the leadership might just be fickle and felt you had a shot. Either way, you have to make yourself the person the leadership wants to see promoted.. work harder.. be honest...show initiative...be motivated and don't hold a grudge.

Response by MSG Robert Conrad made Feb 9 at 2016 7:53 PM

2016-02-09T19:53:20-05:00

I've been on both sides of this, it sucks in either lane. First, don't skip the leader chain, you rob them of a learning experience. You have a good position to start the discussion, first lay it out for them. Use the facts. I was expecting to be recommended and here is why; my XYZ is at standard, I have demonstrated my readiness for the next higher position and my ABC scores show it. Then present the reasons you feel the recent findings are wrong/innacurate or irrelevant. If there counseling is weak, inconsistent or fabricated, gather the evidence and move up the chain. It will get to a point that you will be recommended, corrected or you will decide on you own after examining the facts, that it is better to wait for another shot. I can tell you I have had to make the call to hold somebody back and hope it didn't totally demotivate them, leaders change there minds.

Response by CMSgt John Momaney made Feb 10 at 2016 11:34 AM

2016-02-10T11:34:12-05:00

So, you are saying you do not agree with what the Sgt wrote? If they were incorrect who above your Sgt can you elevate this too? Once Ai missed promotion to E-8 by two points because I did not complete a coarse that was worth 50 promotion points. I would have made E-8 with 12 years in. Took me 5 more years to make it. Entirely my fault. Did you wait to long?