Alpha Co Boards 101
POC: SSG Sean Honea (w/ assistance from SGT David Fogel)
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Table of Contents
Basics
Board Breakdown
Supervisor’s Role
Board Procedures
Before the Board
Getting to the Board
FYI
Soldier’s Creed
Sample Board Essay
Packet Examples
12 : Useful links
The Basics
1. Boards basically evaluate two things:
a) Appearance
b) And Knowledge (verbal expression of
knowledge)
2. Start Preparing Now!
a) www.armystudyguide.com
b) Create a study guide.
Board Break Down
• Why we have Boards?
• Who sits on a Board?
• What do they evaluate?
• How do I answer?
• Recommendation vs. Competition
Role of the Supervisor
1) Supervisor’s place in board procedures
-setting the tone
-Why Supervisor needs to know your Bio?
1) What should be in your Bio?
Board Procedures
• Role of Board Recorder
• Entering Board
– Knock 3 times (loud)
– “Enter”
– Opening door
– Walking through the door
– Shut the Door
• Reporting
– Walk in a military manner
– Center yourself on the board.
– Snap to the position of attention
– Salute the CSM
– Sound off: “CSM, SPC Snuffy Reports,” or
“CSM, SPC Snuffy reports to the President of the
Board.”
– Wait for CSM to drop his/her salute
– Drop your Salute
– Remain standing at ATTENTION and await
further instructions
Facing Movements
• Purpose
• Most Common Commands:
1)“Left face”
2)“Take 5 Steps Forward.
3)“Right Face”
4)“About Face”
5)“Left Face”
6)“Take 5 Steps Forward.”
7)“About Face”
8)“Take 5 Steps Forward”
9) “Be Seated”
Bio
• Memorize
• Note: You are being watched to see
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
Example Bio
1) “I am or my name is SSG Sean Steven Honea
2) I was born March 31, 1978 in Decatur, GA.
3) I graduate ____ high school/college. In _______
4) I joined the army in ______ and attending basic training at
_________
5) I attended AIT/advance training at _____ as a 31S…
6) I then PCS’d/Transitioned/moved/ to my first/next/current Duty
assignment ________
7) I am now stationed at ______ in the duty position of / on team
________ at the _________ (Tech control, Earth Terminal,
Warehouse, A Company Ord. Room…)
8) *My major accomplishments include:
9) *I am currently single/ married at this time with ___ children/a
son/ a daughter
Goals
1)
My short term goals are_____. Name 3. (Be honest)
1)
2)
3)
4)
2)
Examples:
Max PT
Be Promoted to “SERGEANT” or “STAFF SERGEANT” Do Not repeat
Do Not say E5 or E6.
Graduate PLDC/BNCOC ASAP or accomplish some many hours of
school or Associates Degree.
My long term goals are _______
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Examples:
Go Airborne, Special Forces… Win a Competition… Become a Warrant
Officer.
Be Promoted “STAFF SERGEANT or SERGEANT FIRST Class” in so
many years. Do Not repeat Do Not say E5 or E6.
Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in so many years.
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 to sell it. This approach
works only for those individuals with either Cocky or Very Charismatic
Personalities who show absolutely no fear or hesitation...and even then it
can back fire.
Greeting the Board
• Eye Contact
• Return Greeting
– i.e. “Good Morning 1SG” or “outstanding 1SG
etc.”
• Head Movement vs. Eye Contact
• Avoid Robot Syndrome
1SG/CSM Questions
• How to answer:
1. Address the 1SG and Restate the Question in the
form of your answer.
a) Address
b) Restate
c) Answer.
2. If do not know the answer :
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)
Example
• 1SG: “SPC Joe, What are some factors
that affect your ability to perform well
aerobically?”
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
More Techniques
• Pausing
• Sound off
• Eye Contact
Exit the Board
CSM Dismisses you.
1)Stand up.
2)Approach the board centered on the CSM
3)Salute the CSM while sounding off with your
Motto.
4)Step off and exit the Room. Do not Slam the
door.
Before to the Board
• Uniform and Hair Cut
– Look sharp
a. Have your uniformed altered.
b.Use Edge Dressing.
c. Do not mix and match ‘Stay Bright.”
d.Have your NCO or one that you respect check and
recheck everything.
e. Uncle Sam is always Right
Getting to the Board
a. Shine your boots/press uniform.
b. Keep your room and Equipment
straight
c. Show up to work on time.
d. Do a good job.
e. Do not bounce checks
f. Drink Water.
g. Volunteer for everything.
h. Avoid Soda in hot weather and
when close to weigh in’s.
i. Know that most people build a
tolerance to Motrin after two
weeks.
j. If you’re wrong, say you’re
wrong and work to fix the
problem.
a. Help your team/shift/crew.
b. Push your self during PT
sessions.
c. Learn to carry a guild on.
d. Learn to Lead PT, March
Soldiers and Call Cadence.
e. Ask for explanations, examples,
or references in order to do your
own research.
f. Know that a serving of meat is
the same size as a Deck of
Cards.
g. Yield to better judgment.
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Do not Speed on post.
Do not Speed period.
Do not date your soldiers.
Do not date your soldier’s
soldiers.
• Do not under any
circumstances take your
spouse to hang out at the
barracks.
• Avoid stealing your
roommate’s significant
other.
• Do not steal.
• Know that acquiring is
the same as stealing
• Condense and carry
around your board study
material with you. (i.e.
note cards/notebooks)
• Use Soap
• Do not miss Dental
appointments
FYI
3)
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.
4)
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 profile this should be one of your first
short-term goals.
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Dealing with Angry People and or Reactionaries
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Dealing with NCOs on the Brink
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Dealing with the Intoxicated
The Soldier's Creed
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United
States and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in
my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United
States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.
Sample Board Essay
SSG Honea, Sean S.
A Co., 302nd SIG BN
“If I were Sergeant Major of the Army, I would focus my energy on these three areas.”
The U.S. Army is one of the most powerful and respected organizations in the World. The Army achieved this by not being afraid to adapt
the needs of an ever-changing society. If I were Sergeant Major of the Army, I would seek to continue this tradition in order to produce a more
capable, adaptive, and effective soldier. To do this I would focus my energy on finances, training, and the evolution of the future role of soldiers.
In order to create a more capable soldier, you need a focused soldier. Not one that is burden by imposed credit card debt. The government credit
card system is overwhelmed. Soldiers today are having their credit ratings destroyed by a system that cannot pay the bank on time. I realize as
SMA, I cannot directly rewrite the law of congress. Still, improved channels of communication between the Agency Program Coordinator of our
Local Travel offices, the current Travel Card Contractors, and the major Credit Reporting Agencies would help to alleviate the situation. With
communications streamlined, a database or more suitable mechanism would be set up to track and flag a submitted Travel Voucher that has or has
not been paid by the Army. Armed with this data, an understanding between the Travel Card Contractors and Credit Reporting Agencies could be
reached to only report delinquent accounts of individuals who have already received their Split Disbursement transfers.
My next area of focus would be on training. My goal would be to create a more adaptive soldier. The war on terrorism has the army
fighting an unconventional and ever-changing foe. All Soldiers must be ready to confront this threat. As SMA, I would push to extend the Basic
Training Course to incorporate additional training in urban warfare, hand to hand combat, and military police tactics. Furthermore, a new MOS
would be created to facilitate this training in regular units. The candidate selection for this MOS would be similar to the Army Retention Program
in that it would draw from a pool of NCO's in previously qualified MOS’s. The unit level positions would be known as Combatant NCO's and
would maintain a fulltime position. In this regard, the Combatant NCO would function more like a dedicated NBC NCO rather than a part time
Retention NCO.
My last area of focus would be influencing the future role of soldiers. The purpose of the soldier has always been that of a fighter.
However, in recent years the soldier has become increasingly involved in peace keeping and nation building efforts. If our Nation charges the
Army to grow in this way, then we should meet it full force. As SMA, I would push to lay the foundation for a new Corp within the Army. This
Corp’s mission would be dedicated to nation building and peacekeeping operations whose chief aim would be to function as a security force
capable of force multiplier operations. The Corp would seek to combine the best elements of the Civil Affairs, Infantry, and Military Police
Commands. The Corp would be set up to relieve the rapidly deploying divisions such as the 82nd and 101st Airborne division or augment forces
joint coalition forces. Brigades of this Corp would be dedicated to specific regions of the world and soldiers of these units would receive
extensive language immersion training in these regions.
The U.S. Army’s ability to adapt and transform itself will determine the fate of our Nation in the years to come. As Sergeant Major of the
Army, I would seek to uphold the respect our institution has earned by providing it with more capable, adaptive and effective soldiers. Soldiers
whose focus should be on the mission, not concerns over their finances, training, or what role they should play in World.
NCO/SOQ Battalion Board Packet
The following information will be placed in the folder:
Section 1:
NCO/Soldier of the Quarter/Year Biographical Data Sheet
Hometown News Release form, DA 2266
Section 2:
Memorandum of Nomination from the soldier’s supervisor
Section 3:
ERB and DA Form 2-1
Section 4:
Individual Photo. (one 8x10 and one ¾ length color photo taken within 6 months of board
date).
Section 5:
Essay. (If you were the CSM of the Army, what areas would you focus your energy on and
why? One page, typed and single-spaced.)
Section 6:
DA Form 705/PT Card
Marksmanship score sheet
CTT score card
Promotion Board Packet
The following information will be placed in the folder:
Section 1:
Biographical Data Sheet (Battalion Standard)
Section 2:
Memorandum of Nomination from the soldier’s supervisor
Section 3:
ERB and DA Form 2-1
Section 4:
DA Form 705 / PT Card
Section 5:
Marksmanship Record from ARCIS
Section 6:
DA Form 3355
Useful links
http://www.ncoteam.org
http://www.bandabooks.com/books/creechmn/pdf/brdproc.pdf
http://usassi-www.army.mil/references.html
http://www.armystudyguide.com