Can a Soldier be forced to attend a promotion board?

[lilreeves]

Hey Delat14 I'm going through the samething,I'm being forced to go to the promotion board and I ETS in Jan go figure!!! I was told that once I get promoted I would change my mind about the Army,I have yet to study or make a attempt to study to me this shows that I have a lack of motivation making me unfit to lead others but I guess I'm the only one who see it that way.If the Army is hurting for NCO'S that bad then maybe they should do more to keep soldiers in ranks instead of forcing soldiers who are not ready or willing to attend a promotion board.

[SSgtAllen3381]

Originally Posted by delta14

I don't understand the Army or it's leaders at rimes. Can you be forced to go to a promotion board, while you're trying to reenlist and reclassify, especially if you're not ready to go?

I wish that was a process we Marines had to do. I guarantee there wouldn't be as many people at their present rank.

[brak]

I think this is one of the major problems the Army is having right now. When a Soldier enters the secondary zone, the first thing people seem to be concerned with is "Has he been to the board?" That shouldn't be the first question. A more appropriate question is "Is he ready for the board?"

The promotion board is not the time to learn to be an NCO. Soldiers should be ready to lead Soldiers and pin on hard stripes before they knock on that door.

Soldiers can be NCOs in 18 months now. Maybe I'm old school, but that's really fast to me.

[NAM6768]

Originally Posted by Biglew97

I just want to pile on with Jay here

But yea, if you don't want to go to the board, get out of the Army and go for an interview in the private sector, nearly the same thing.

The board is a wonderful experience, priceless almost, and those sitting on the board know you don't know everything, the whole Idea is to review you as a soldier, you should know Basic Soldiering 101 for your particular MOS, That experience gets you a leg up on others that want to be promoted, or aspire to do great things in the Army.

and You were told to, so quit whining and do it, and let yourself shine, those that are sitting on the board were in your position once and you have nothing to worry about. It is there responsiblity to develop you as a future Leader and NCO....a leader, mentor, and role model of Soldiers...

Move out smartly and Drive on

I think his situation is that he wants to reclassify into another MOS and if he goes to a promotion board and is promoted in his current MOS, he will be stuck for the time prescribed by regulations. I've been retired now for 27 years, I was a Senior Personnel Sergeant. I ran into this a few times. As for being 'FORCED', I don't think anyone can be forced to do anything, however, they will suffer the consequences. Back in the early 60's we had a lot of soldiers that retired as E-3's. When asked why they didn't want a promotion, they would say something like "I want to drive my truck, I don't want to be the motor Sergeant". Those were professional soldiers that were professionals in their grade and MOS. However, the Army changed over the years and things changed. I remember Cooks and MP's having a difficult time making it to E-6 and many retired as E-5's, or SFC E-6's. Yes, SFC E-6, we also had MSG E-7 back then too. My have things changed over the years. I say inform your Commander of your intentions so he can select the next best person to go to the board in your place. Truck on and do Re-Up.

[JStatus330]

LOL today my supervisor said I'm going to the Soldier of the month board next month. I said no I'm not, I don't wanna do that. He jokes and stuff but I hope he's not serious cause I'm not doing all that stuff. There are other people in the office that he can choose.

[Michaep]

Originally Posted by JStatus330

LOL today my supervisor said I'm going to the Soldier of the month board next month. I said no I'm not, I don't wanna do that. He jokes and stuff but I hope he's not serious cause I'm not doing all that stuff. There are other people in the office that he can choose.

Go for it.....to civilians, Soldier of the month/year/whatever....makes you look like a rockstar

[CABRYANT41234]

Originally Posted by Sal

AR-600-8-19 para. 5–11. Declination of selection board consideration.
a. A Soldier who is within the zone of consideration for promotion may decline such consideration before his or her
promotion packet is assembled and sent to the promotion board. Once the packet has been sent to the board, the Soldier
cannot decline consideration. However, if selected and placed on the PPRL, the Soldier may request removal from the
list per paragraph 5–27c.
b. A declination of board consideration will be a written statement signed by the Soldier, witnessed by an NCO or
officer, and inserted in the Soldier’s MPF. The declination will remain in effect for any subsequent boards unless the
Soldier changes his or her mind and requests board consideration. In this event, the declination will be removed from
the MPF, annotated by the custodian to indicate the declination was withdrawn on a specified date, retained by the
custodian until the next regular board is convened, and then destroyed.
c. When a Soldier declines promotion consideration, it is essential that the Soldier’s immediate supervisor and the
CDR determine the reason for the declination and provide adequate counseling.

If everyone answerd simple questions like this based on Military Regulation, it sure would save a lot of time.

[KMSTORM64]

Originally Posted by FieldArtillery07

Just because they send you to the board doesn't mean you have to be an e4p. You could always go there forgetting everything. "i dont recall at this time sir." If they dont think you are ready they wont give you promotable status. Just a suggestion.

That is the best way to make sure you never go again, any time soon. You have the option of reporting tot he president of the board and telling them you had planned on re-classing and did not feel it would be a benefit to the service to take a slot from some one else. I would have more respect for some one who did that than act the fool.

[ECKSRAY]

Originally Posted by JStatus330

LOL today my supervisor said I'm going to the Soldier of the month board next month. I said no I'm not, I don't wanna do that. He jokes and stuff but I hope he's not serious cause I'm not doing all that stuff. There are other people in the office that he can choose.

Reading this stuff is crazy! The stuff perpetuated on this blog is what is wrong with Soldiers in the Army today.

BLUF: As a Senior NCO I can direct any of my Soldiers to go to the board. It's called TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT!

I wish I would have a Soldier tell me they are not going to do something. First I would be very professional and talk with the Soldier about their responsibility to better themselves as a Soldier regardless of whether they were getting out or felt they were not prepared (this board will work on their preparation).

If the Soldier still tried to tell me they didn't want to go (after I had channeled my anger in a positive manner) It will be a bad day for that individual! I would counsel that individual, come up with some corrective training, recommmend UCMJ to the CDR in the form of an Article 15, Summarized Proceedings for violation of Article 92, Failure to obey an order, so I could get them on some extra duty and work the dog S*** out of them!

[brak]

Originally Posted by ECKSRAY

Reading this stuff is crazy! The stuff perpetuated on this blog is what is wrong with Soldiers in the Army today.

BLUF: As a Senior NCO I can direct any of my Soldiers to go to the board. It's called TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT!

I wish I would have a Soldier tell me they are not going to do something. First I would be very professional and talk with the Soldier about their responsibility to better themselves as a Soldier regardless of whether they were getting out or felt they were not prepared (this board will work on their preparation).

If the Soldier still tried to tell me they didn't want to go (after I had channeled my anger in a positive manner) It will be a bad day for that individual! I would counsel that individual, come up with some corrective training, recommmend UCMJ to the CDR in the form of an Article 15, Summarized Proceedings for violation of Article 92, Failure to obey an order, so I could get them on some extra duty and work the dog S*** out of them!

Well, if a Soldier was on the teetertotter about staying in, this would definitely drive them out. While I agree that if Soldiers do plan to stay in, they should be required to advance if able. No sense in forcing them to go as soon as they hit the secondary zone, but once they hit the primary, they should be ready to step up.

I do not agree with, or see the sense in, "forcing" Soldiers to attend the board when they do not have the time left in to pin on the next grade. Counsel them on their eligibility and give them the "don't sell yourself short" speech, and then let them make the decision. What's to be gained by forcing them to go to the board? Threats of corrective training and UCMJ action do not retain Soldiers. If the Soldier re-enlists and then wants to go, no harm no foul. Usually we're not talking about Soldiers closing in our their RCP. On of the steps of building junior leaders is empowering them. Let them participate in their own success and manage their own careers, not have it dictated to them.