Let me try to explain this so it will make sense to more than 4 or so people on this board. I love what I do for the US Army. Unfortunately, job satisfaction does not always go hand in hand with promotion. The US Army requires points in order to get promoted to Sergeant or Staff Sergeant. Points are given for things such as civilian education, military education, weapons skill, and ability to demonstrate your ability to excel in three physical fitness events. A perfect score for a person attempting to get promoted is 800 points. In my field to get promoted to Staff Sergeant, 798 has been the requirement for as long as I can recall. My MOS (Military Occupational Specialty–job) has required 798 points for as long as I can recall.
I am not in great physical condition. I can pass an Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), but not get a perfect score (one of the conditions for promotion when the points are that high). I also cannot fire an M-16 as accurately as Army standards require. I only handle my rifle twice a year on the days when I must (struggle) to qualify. Well, the points dropped. I just barely made it.
I actually knew that I would be promoted two weeks ago, but did not say anything to anyone that did not need to know for fear of there being an error in calculation, or that I would get in trouble somehow and lose a rank before my date of rank. (I know of that happening to two of my former coworkers.)
After two years of saying it will never happen, after trying to cheat the system and getting caught twice, I made it on my own.
No, in other MOS’s, there might have been an Article 15, or some other form of non-judicial punishment. I instead work for mental health care professionals. On the first occasion, my Senior NCO told me that the papers I submitted were not accepted and he would help me on another occasion. The second time I had a different 1SG, he made me explain to him why I did what I did and its potential effect on the Army and the junior enlisted in our unit. I almost would have preferred the Article 15.
Thank you,
No, it does not, but soon after, I had a Staff meeting to attend, Staff Duty was discussed, and I found Staff-a-coccus bacteria in my bathroom.
A hearty congratulations. Having retired almost 30 years ago I have somewhat forgotten how hard military promotions can be, especially in certain specialties. This is a significant step in your military career, have a belt for those of us who preceeded you, and a WELL DONE!
Congrats! You said you work for mental health care professionals. I’m curious. Can you tell us more about what it is you do in the Army? I’m intrigued, interested and nosy.
I work for a Combat Stress Control Detachment. My job title is Mental Health NCO. What I do when deployed in my current job is try to prevent maladaptive Combat Stress reactions. I help people deal with the stresses of being in combat. I help people learn new ways to respond in positive ways to being separated from home, to seeing friends and soldiers die. Some people have the same day to day stresses that effect us all such as: Does my boss like me? Can I make the rent this month? What is the meaning of life? Then there are those that I interact with that have diagnosable mental health disorders. If the conditions and the symptoms permit, we help the person remain in theater, if not, we try to get the person help at an appropriate place–maybe between home and Iraq, maybe stateside.
We use a few tested theories in order to help people respond to what we call Critical Events–IED’s, large scale losses, and things like that. The jury is out on whether what we do actually decreases the likelihood of PTSD, but most feel that it does no harm and can help.
The way we do our job is to meet Soldiers as they are being Soldiers. I ride in convoys across Main Support Routes. I go along on mounted (in a vehicle) and dismounted patrols. I work in motor pools of supported units. Some will even spend some time serving chow to the soldiers of the Forward Operating Bases (FOB’s) that they are stationed on. We meet the Soldiers wherever they are and try to join their “in-group.” Some will open up to us and tell us what they are feeling or are stressed about. Sometimes Commanders will ask us to check on a particular person.
If you really want to know what my job is like, watch MAS*H reruns. Major Freedman is my role model, and, as crazy as it sounds, is probably the reason I chose this job.
Yes, congratulations are in order on sewing/pinning/Velcroing on the 4 stripes, SSG Schwartz. May there be much success at this new career level, your billet is one of huge importance.
Now a few more years before you start really worrying about the boards for SFC …
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