Army Boards 101

Late one night, sometime around 2004ish, I was sitting in my office at Fort Detrick fuming over something the Army had did. It could have been any number of things, all I remember was that I was extremely angry at the time. Three hours later, I discovered I had written a handy little Army guide on "how to get promoted." Good job you might say, way to turn that frown upside down. Well actually, I didn't write it so the army could benefit. Quite the contrary, I wrote it out of spite. The Army ticked me off, so I wrote this step by step guide that could be readily followed by all the how shall we say, less than super soldiers. I've lost the original power point presentation. It was online somewhere on a secure server for Sergeants, and I can't remember the web site either. Regardless, most of this is out of date now, so I have no worry of it spreading like a virus. I actually started feeling guilty there for a while, when people started getting promoted by following it. Then I realized, even though I had written the guide with not the best of intentions, it actually turned a few people's careers around. So some good came out of it. Anyway here is a reconstruction of the original text of "Army Boards 101."


To all,

After be bombarded by multiple requests for help on promotion boards, I felt it necessary to release some the following information. Hopefully you will draw something from this and pass it on, thus allowing me to enjoy the fining things in life (i.e. sleep). I've enclosed various bits and pieces from websites, study guides and everything else I've used to get ready or prepare a packet for the army promotion board and life in the military in general. I recommend everyone read the Board procedure section of "The Soldier's Comprehensive Study Manual"

http://www.bandabooks.com/books/creechmn/pdf/brdproc.pdf

Summary and then some:
1. Boards basically evaluate two thing:
a. Appearance
b. And Knowledge (verbal expression of knowledge)
2. Start Preparing Now! http://www.armystudyguide.com or buy/borrow one. No amount of last minute quizzing from other people will help you if you do not do your homework. Start Small.

Board Breakdown:

It works like this. On some appointed day you will proceed with your NCO/supervisor in your spiffy Class A uniform (without beret) to a Conference Room of some type. In the Room sits a Sergeant Major (CSM) in the middle of four to five First Sergeants (1SG) or acting First Sergeants. Each First Sergeant is responsible for grading your knowledge of few general subject areas. They will ask you two to three questions on each subject; you will answer. They are looking not only for a correct answer, but HOW you answer them. Their combined score will equal at max 150 points and or recommendation for promotion.

Your NCO (non-commissioned officer / sergeant) will go in before you and give them a brief bio on your background, military career, current goals, and why you should be promoted and or win the board.

Ensure that your NCO knows this information before he/she walks into that room. Your Supervisor’s job is to clear the path for you, not tick the board off like mine did back in Korea.

Next the Board Recorder (typically lower enlisted) will ask you to knock three times, wait for an answer to "enter" then "Report" to the board.

1. Knock Three times (loud)
2. Listen for "enter"
3. Open and walk through the door
4. Calmly shut the door, exposing as little of your back as possible. DO NOT LET THE DOOR SLAM BEHIND YOU!
5. Walk in a quick military manner up to the board.
6. Center your self on the board.
7. Snap to the position of attention
8. Salute the CSM.
9. Sound off strongly "CSM, Specialist Blank Reports," or "CSM, Specialist Blank reports to the President of the Board."
10. Wait for CSM to drop his/her salute.
11. Drop your Salute.
12. Remain standing at ATTENTION and await further instructions.
Once you Report to the CSM, he will ask you do some Facing movements. Usually:

"Left face"
"Take 5 Steps Forward.
"Right Face"
"About Face"
"Left Face"
"Take 5 Steps Forward."
"About Face"
"Take 5 Steps Forward"
"Be Seated"

The purpose of which is to give the board a good look at your uniform and to see how you carry yourself.

Once seated the CSM (who is seated directly in front of you), will introduce the members of the board then ask you for your BIO/Goals.

Look at each board member in the eye and return their greeting of the day, "Good Morning 1SG, Outstanding 1SG etc."

Note: Your eyes should generally turn with your head. Do not 'Roll' or 'Dart' your Eyes. However avoid looking and sounding like a Robot.

Next the 1SGs will ask the General Knowledge Subject Material.

Once complete the CSM will ask you Current Events, “Why do you want to be a NCO/Soldier of the Year” and to recite the NCO Creed.

Answer the question in the following or similar Format:
1SG: "Specialist Blake, What are some factors that affect your ability to perform well aerobically?"

---Address the 1SG and Restate the Question in the form of your answer.
1. Address
2. Restate
3. Answer
Specialist Blank: 1SG, Some Factors that affect my/our/the ability to perform well aerobically are:

Age, Anemia, Smoking, Pollution, High Altitude, illness, obesity, and Sedentary Life - Style.

1. 1SG
2. Some factors that affect your ability to perform well aerobically are
3. Age, Anemia, Smoking, Pollution, High Altitude, illness, obesity, and Sedentary Life - Style

If you only know some of the answers do the following:
1. 1SG
2. Some factors that affect your ability to perform well aerobically are:
3. Age, Anemia, Smoking, and that is all I know at this time.

If do not know the answer to the question the do the following:
1. 1SG, I do not know the answer at this time.
2. 1SG, I do not know the answer at this time but I will find out...
3. 1SG, I do not know the answer at this time, but the answer can
found/referenced in Regulation FM 21-20 (if you're really good you can quote it to the paragraph)

Another good technique is to pause just after the Question is Asked, then pause slightly between the address, restate, and answer segments. But whatever works for you is the best.

The idea behind all this is to establish a consistent framework in your mind, so that you can fall back onto it when you get rattled. And most boards at some point will try to rattle you. Remember the board is more about how you react under pressure than general knowledge.

Also be sure to sound off, and look directly at the individual asking the question. Once satisfied with your answers the CSM will dismiss you from the board.
1. You will stand up
2. Approach the board centered on the CSM
3. Salute the CSM while sounding off your Company or BN Motto.
4. Step off and exit the Room. Do not Slam the door.

Before the board.

Uniform:
• Day of Board:
o Get a haircut/style. Look sharp.
o Have your uniformed altered. Use Edge Dressing on your boots. Do not mix and match 'Stay Bright" buttons with subdued buttons.
o Have your NCO or one that you respect check and recheck everything.
• This goes for while waiting outside the board too.

How To Get To Your NCO to Recommend You to Go before the Board.

Your current reputation/attitude/work ethic/ and how you present yourself can go a long way upping your confidence level and helping get an outstanding recommendation and introduction to the board.

Army Physical Fitness Score (APFT):

There is no substitute for a Good PT Score. If you do not have a score of 290 or above, then you should start training to get one. Unless you are on medical profile this should be one of your first short-term goals.

In order to get someone to recommend you for promotion you have to at least appear like you want to get promoted. In non-deployed and or non-combat units the Army is pretty much a dog and pony show, so play the part.

Note on Appearance: You don't have to look the best all the time that gets old real quick and your peers will hate you for it. However, while you don't have to be the best, you should always look a little better than the person standing next to you. So, try to stand next to the worst looking soldier in your line. Actually maybe the second or third worst, since you don't want to be caught in the crossfire. Second note: this won't work if you are in fact responsible for the appearance of the ate up soldier you are standing next too.

• Shine / Clean your boots once a week.
o Get a cheater “elastic” diaper cloth so that you can be touch up your boots everyday (it takes like two minutes) so you don’t have to waist time worrying about keeping them really shined everyday
• have uniformed professionally cleaned at least once a month with light starch
o this makes it look like you iron your uniform every morning, even if you only throw it in the regular wash. Note: never wear a starched uniform in the field, ever. Trust me, you’ll only do it once.
• Keep your room and Equipment straight
• Show up to work on time.
• Do a good job.
• Do not bounce checks
• Drink Water.
• Volunteer for everything. It's not such much about sucking up, so much as it's a great opportunity to network outside of your normal duty position. If you want to make the Army a career, trust me you'll need allies.
• Avoid Soda in hot weather and when you are about to be weighed
• If you perpetually get injured, know that most people build a tolerance to Motrin after two weeks.
• If you're wrong, say you're wrong and work to fix the problem.
• Help your team/shift/crew, or at least nod and laugh at their comments and jokes
• Appear to push your self during Physical Training (PT) sessions.
• Learn to carry a guild on (flag).
• Learn to Lead PT, March Soldiers and Call Cadence. Being in charge of people can be nerve racking at first. However it can also be a lot of fun especially if you secretly despise them. Think about it this way, they can't do anything until you say they can, and you get to yell at them
• Ask for explanations example or references in order to do your own research.
• Whether or not you believe it, know that a serving of meat is the same size as a Deck of Cards.
• Yield to better judgment.
• When confronted with a stressed out angry individual:
o Pause. Take time to return respond. (Listen, then Pause, and talk in calm relaxed tone) or play a little dumb/act concerned until you figure out what's going on / who said/did what to whom and why, while you regain your footing. This will either confuse or allow time for the angry individual to calm down or it will make them storm off in frustration. Maybe. In other words, "be flexible enough to hold your ground."
• If being confronted by an NCO on the brink of losing his or her bearing:
o Go into super soldier mode. Lock Up, Answer Quickly, do your Push ups and drive on. Sound off with equal or greater enthusiasm to that of the NCO is directing towards you. If possible do display only enthusiasm and motivation, not anger, rage, distain, or sarcasm. All that negative emotion can be channeled into you sounding off and push ups. That way the NCO will think you're just motivated, and not infuriated.
• If being confronted by a visibly drunk NCO/Soldier, know that in their current state they have lost all credibility and should not be wielding authority.
• Do not Speed on post.
• Do not Speed period.
• Do not date your soldiers
• Do not date your soldier's soldiers.
• If you want your spouse to remain so, do not under any circumstances take your spouse to hang out at the barracks, EVER!
• Avoid stealing your roommate's significant other that will end badly.
• Avoid stealing your roommate checks, then trying to cash them by writing your own Social Security Number on them. I’ve seen it happen.
• Do not steal.
• Know that “tactically acquiring” is the same as stealing
• Condense and carry around you board study material with you. (i.e. note cards/notebooks). This will at least give the appearance that you give a damn about your career.
• Use Soap
• Do not miss Dental appointments. Dentac gives a damn, trust me.

The Board Bio

Memorize the outline of your BIO well before you walk into the board. Note: You are being watched to seen how well you can speak, project, and remain confident under pressure. At this point it really doesn't matter too much what you say as long you say it well.
You can play around with it but a basic bio goes like this:

• "I am or my name is Specialist First Middle Last name.
• I was born in January 1, 1900 in East Bubble, GA.
• I graduated ____ high school/college. In _______
• I joined the army in ______ and attended basic training at Fort _________
• I attended AIT/advance training at _____ as a (Job / MOS)...
• I then PCS'd/Transitioned/moved/ to my first/next/current Duty assignment ________
• I am now stationed at ______ in the duty position of / on team ________ at the _________ (Tech control, Earth Terminal, Warehouse, A Company Ord. Room...)
• ** My major accomplishments include:
• ** I am currently single/ married at this time with ___ children/a son/ a daughter

• My short-term goals are_____. Name 3. (Be Realistic, saying you want the CSM job is not going to cut it, nor is saying you want to get out of this unit / job field)
• Examples:
o Max PT test
o Be Promoted to "SERGEANT" or "STAFF SERGEANT" Do Not repeat Do Not say the Pay grades designations of E5 or E6
o Graduate PLDC/BNOC/ ASAP or accomplish so many hours of school or Associates Degree or community service.

• My long term goals are _______
• Examples:
o Go Airborne, Special Forces. Win a Competition. Become a Warrant Officer.
o Be Promoted "STAFF SERGEANT or SERGEANT FIRST Class" in so many years. Do Not repeat Do Not say E5 or E6.
o Obtain a Bachelor's Degree in so many years.
*Extras

Note: If you are bold enough to say, "I want to be CSM of the Army or CSM, I want your Job." Then you better be able better to sale it. This approach works only for those individuals with very charismatic personalities who show absolutely no fear or hesitation, and even then it can still back fire.

Useful links

http://usassi-www.army.mil/references.html
Well, that's all I can think up right now. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

SSG Honea A Co., Operations "The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself." - General Douglas MacArthur