Can a Soldier be forced to attend a promotion board?

[ECKSRAY]

Originally Posted by brak

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.

Hey that's what I love about the Army today. Hugs and High-Fives!

SPC to the SFC: Hey Sarge, I am not going to the board and you can't make me 'cause I am getting out.

SFC to the SPC: Well SPC, even though I have a responsibility to train, educate and prepare you for positions of greaty authority, your right..I can't force you...but "don't sell yourself short!" You have all the makings of a great NCO in you and I feel you should go to the board!

SPC to the SFC: Yeah Sarge, that briefs well but. It's not going to happen.

SFC to the SPC: Okay SPC, whatever you want to do is okay with me.

SPC to the other PFC's and SPC's: Hey, if you don't want to go to the board just tell Sarge what I said and besides, he can't make you.

SFC to the 1SG: Hey 1SG, most of my PFC's and SPC's are getting out or don't want to go to the board, so I counseled them and told them it was okay with me if they didn't.

1SG to the SFC: Well that's fine PSG. I had the same choices when I was a SPC and you did the right thing. Ask them if they want to do SGT Time training this week.

1SG to the CSM: Hey CSM, we feel that it is the Soldiers choice to go to the board. Based on that feeling, I am not sending anyone to the SOM/NCO Boards or to the promotion board this month. When they feel like they are ready to go, then I will update my OML and shoot you an email.

CSM: That's fine 1SG. I love Hugs and High-Fives! Let me know when you have someone that wants to come and I will set up a board.

BN CSM to the BDE CSM: Hey CSM, we need to cancel the BDE boards this month, I don't have any SPC that want to go to the BN Boards so I won't have anyone for your boards. They plan on getting out.

BDE CSM to BN CSM: Hugs and High-Five's CSM, Hugs and High-Five's!

WTF, Over?

[eddiegom3z]

I personally think that nobody should get forced to go the board. Obvisiously if the soldier refuses to go to the board, then he is not confident and should not be sent. I paid my due's, i've earned what I have and where im at, i would not like to have a Team Leader or a peer that was never up to par to my left or my right just because he was forced to go to the board. Who ever forces soldiers to go to the board that don't want to go or that are not ready (especially if your not mentoring them) is making my life a living hell!!! Thanks alot!!! Instead of training and taking care of my squad, now i have to counsel a sorry @%% Team Leader that doesn't know how to do his job. Tango Mike

[CarryOn]

If you don't want to attend, tell your squad leader or platoon sergeant. Let them know your reason(s) for not wanting to attend, you do not have to be an android and accept anything and everything.

If your chain of command (yes your sqaud leader and platoon sergeant) can't come to understand your reasons, then represent them at the promotion board by embarassing them. Thats right. Give them what they want, and don't answer anything correct, have your uniform jacked up, show up late, and I am sure you won't get recommended for promotion.

Do keep in mind that no matter what you want, the military is looking for excuses to kick folks out.

If it is tolerable, makes sense, or is smart, then it is fine to follow. If its dumb, stupid and ignorant, then that is what you are if you follow. You can still be disciplined and not be a dumb%%%

Carry On...

[CarryOn]

FACT: People in the military get out of the military early because people in the military piss one another off by not listeining to others.

FACT: Their are very few people in position of authority who actually deserve that position, hence, their experience at authority, versus managing personell, is a flop and their soldiers see right through them.

FACT: If a Soldier has a different career goal than his/her chain of command wants, then the chain of command should support the Soldier, elswise, the chain of command fails that soldier by not helping that Soldier with their career goal

FACT: No one (to include CSM's give a rats a&& about the OML. All we care about are numbers. If you have to make numbers by screwing another Soldier out of their career goal, then that is all you get accomplished.

FACT: Most early, force made promotions lead to failure in leadership, lack of experience, lack of occupational knowledge, and a weak to moderate NCOER that actually hurts the Soldier in the long run.

FACT: Don't promote numbers, promote quality. If they don't want to go, dont send them, they obviously don't need to be promoted or advanced. Chose someone who wants it and will fight to earn it and keep it.

Carry On...

[Jdaniel394]

I agree they can, but it does not make sense for them to be forced. If a Soldier is forced to go to the board that means an NCO was forced to sponsor him. The NCOs time would be much more wisely spent helping a Soldier who wants to go to the board study.

[ECKSRAY]

Originally Posted by CarryOn

If you don't want to attend, tell your squad leader or platoon sergeant. Let them know your reason(s) for not wanting to attend, you do not have to be an android and accept anything and everything.

If your chain of command (yes your sqaud leader and platoon sergeant) can't come to understand your reasons, then represent them at the promotion board by embarassing them. Thats right. Give them what they want, and don't answer anything correct, have your uniform jacked up, show up late, and I am sure you won't get recommended for promotion.

Do keep in mind that no matter what you want, the military is looking for excuses to kick folks out.

If it is tolerable, makes sense, or is smart, then it is fine to follow. If its dumb, stupid and ignorant, then that is what you are if you follow. You can still be disciplined and not be a dumb%%%

Carry On...

Often in the military, one will find themselves in a job they don't like or having to do something that they do not particularly want to do.

A Professional Soldier (yes…this is a profession) is going to carry out their assigned task professionally and to the best of their ability.

To suggest that a Soldier should go into a promotion or SOM/NCO board and embarrass themselves, their NCO’s, and their Unit is a travesty and indicates that you are not worthy of wearing the uniform. Because anyone who would recommend a young Soldier do something like that is teaching that Soldier that they should not have the integrity and commitment to complete their assigned mission. What kind of leader are you?

This is an All-Volunteer Army. Volunteering for something means you sometimes get marching orders and you just need to execute.

Regardless of future career goals and desires, you are still in the Army until the day that DA 214 is in your hands and you are driving off post. Up until that time and about 30 days after, you are being paid to be a Soldier.

Leaders have responsibility to train and educate Soldiers. Preparing for boards is all part of professional development, regardless of whether or not it leads to promotion.

It is obvious that some of you need to reassess what type of leaders you are.

[CarryOn]

ESKSRAY;

This column is not for you, it is for the person who wants to know if they can be made to go to a promotion board. The fact is, even though your ill experience doesn't think so, is that no... they can not be made. And if the retarded leader choses to push the issue, then the soldier should give that NCO what he or she deserves, and that is... a sub standard Soldier.

In other words... if the Soldier is not ready, or nor worthy, then the Soldier should not be recommneded. If you send a piece of SH** to a promotion board, and he/she gets promoted, then you produce the same.

Now since you did decide to intervene, and try and get involved with this conversation, you may want to educate yourself, rehearse what you intend to say, and then try and compete with me. Until then, Carry On!

Young readers and or recruits... trust me, their are few people that will tell you the truth, the others will hide the truth behind their fake, boy scout mentality and pretend to know the answer; when the sad truth is that your baby sister knows more about the truth.

What king of leader am I ? I am the kind of leader that will drag you out in public, embarass you, and then send you home crying without even thanking you for trying. Now CARRY ON!

[SJray]

In regards to this comment, I have to say that this way of thinking is not always the smart one. Yes we are in the army and yes we have to follow orders unless in is immoral or illegal. The army harps on quote on quote building leader, but how can you force someone to be something that they feel that they are not ready to do. I personally believe that one cannot build a leader, it is natural and has to be developed, and not by going to those farly outdated NCOES schools. A true leader will emerge when given the chance, and one that has those qualities will show them, but may need some guidance by another leader. Another caveat to that statement is that, just because you have the rank, does not always mean that you are a leader. Furthermore as far as the board is concerned, it is obsurd to think that this is a way of shining, or to think that it can determine if one should be promoted. I can take a high speed 6th grader, give him a study guide and tell him to study it for three months, teach him how to march and wear the uniform, and take him to the same board. So now that 6th grader is now qualified to be a NCO.....are you kidding me!!!!! It is only those who have never been to a real professional job interview, who think that a military board is a way of shining...(it is only rope memorization)! This is coming from a former MSG, who saw the light and went officer!

[SJray]

I have to say that I agree with you whole heartly!!!!

[SJray]

Originally Posted by ECKSRAY

Hey that's what I love about the Army today. Hugs and High-Fives!
SPC to the SFC: Hey Sarge, I am not going to the board and you can't make me 'cause I am getting out.

SFC to the SPC: Well SPC, even though I have a responsibility to train, educate and prepare you for positions of greaty authority, your right..I can't force you...but "don't sell yourself short!" You have all the makings of a great NCO in you and I feel you should go to the board!

SPC to the SFC: Yeah Sarge, that briefs well but. It's not going to happen.

SFC to the SPC: Okay SPC, whatever you want to do is okay with me.

SPC to the other PFC's and SPC's: Hey, if you don't want to go to the board just tell Sarge what I said and besides, he can't make you.

SFC to the 1SG: Hey 1SG, most of my PFC's and SPC's are getting out or don't want to go to the board, so I counseled them and told them it was okay with me if they didn't.

1SG to the SFC: Well that's fine PSG. I had the same choices when I was a SPC and you did the right thing. Ask them if they want to do SGT Time training this week.

1SG to the CSM: Hey CSM, we feel that it is the Soldiers choice to go to the board. Based on that feeling, I am not sending anyone to the SOM/NCO Boards or to the promotion board this month. When they feel like they are ready to go, then I will update my OML and shoot you an email.

CSM: That's fine 1SG. I love Hugs and High-Fives! Let me know when you have someone that wants to come and I will set up a board.

BN CSM to the BDE CSM: Hey CSM, we need to cancel the BDE boards this month, I don't have any SPC that want to go to the BN Boards so I won't have anyone for your boards. They plan on getting out.

BDE CSM to BN CSM: Hugs and High-Five's CSM, Hugs and High-Five's!

WTF, Over?

it is easy to tell that you live by every regualtion in the army, and will probably continue to do so once you reitre...not trying to be rude.....lol