Promotion / Soldier Board Prep Worksheet
Prepare for a SGT/SSG promotion board or a Soldier/NCO of the Month board: eligibility, uniform, reporting, biography, the required question areas, and your study plan.
What this worksheet covers
Name, rank, and unit prefill from your service profile.
Board data
- Name (Last, First, MI)
- Current grade
- Unit
- Board
- Board date / time / place
- Sponsor / first-line leader
Eligibility
- Eligibility (AR 600-8-19, para 3-6c) — check what is confirmed
Table 3-1: SGT secondary zone 16 months TIS / 4 months TIG, primary zone 34 / 10. SSG secondary zone 46 / 6, primary zone 70 / 16.
Uniform and reporting
- Uniform check (inspected by / date / fixes)
- Reporting procedure (as your unit conducts it)
Local SOPs vary; confirm with your sponsor. Most follow knock, enter, halt two paces in front of the president, salute, and report.
Biography and opening
- Board biography
- Opening statement / leadership philosophy
Required question areas
- Required situational question areas (para 3-11a) — what you would do as a leader
Areas: sexual harassment / sexual assault; domestic and child abuse; suicide; racism and extremist activity; retaliation; drug and alcohol misuse; physical and mental fitness; failing to attend or graduate PME; a subordinate's reenlistment decision.
Study plan
- Other expected questions and your answer notes
- Study plan
Common topics: leadership (ADP 6-22), counseling (ATP 6-22.1), training (FM 7-0), the NCO guide (TC 7-22.7), drill and ceremonies (TC 3-21.5), uniforms (AR 670-1), first aid and TCCC, weapons, land navigation, command policy (AR 600-20), Army history, and current events.
- Individual Critical Task List tasks to demonstrate (Digital Job Book)
- Mock boards (date, run by, feedback)
After the board
- Result and board feedback
How to fill out the Board prep worksheet
A Regular Army or AGR Soldier recommended for SGT or SSG appears in person before a unit-level board (AR 600-8-19, para 3-8). The board decides yes or no on your potential for the next grade using questions on leadership, Army programs, basic soldiering, and world affairs. This worksheet organizes your preparation. When: As soon as your commander recommends you (primary zone Soldiers are sent to the board automatically once fully qualified). RA boards run monthly between the 10th and 26th.
Step by step
- Confirm eligibility with your first-line leader and S1 (see the checklist).
- Get your uniform inspected by your sponsor at least a week out; fix measurements and awards against DA Pam 670-1.
- Practice reporting to the board president until it is automatic.
- Write a short biography and an opening statement you can say in under two minutes.
- Prepare an answer for each required situational question area, based on how you would lead your Soldiers through it.
- Study the remaining topics on a schedule, then do at least two mock boards.
What a strong one looks like
- AR 600-8-19, para 3-11a: boards must ask situational questions on sexual harassment and sexual assault, domestic and child abuse, suicide, racism and extremist activity, retaliation, drug and alcohol misuse, physical and mental fitness, what happens if you fail to attend or graduate PME, and a subordinate's decision to reenlist. They want how you would act and which resources you would use, not a regulation quote.
- The board will also check proficiency on your Individual Critical Task List at your current skill level in the Digital Job Book (para 3-11b).
- The board looks at appearance, bearing, self-confidence, speaking, and attitude (para 3-11c).
- If the board doesn't recommend you, it must tell you why, and your first-line leader must counsel you (paras 3-11d and 3-13d).
Common mistakes
- Memorizing definitions without being able to apply them to your Soldiers.
- Uniform measurements checked the night before.
- Guessing. "I don't know, Sergeant Major, but I will find out" is better than a wrong answer.