“You always remember your first board. The anticipation, the anxiety, the excitement, the silly things you say
when you don’t quite remember the answer you should
give, and the feeling that you’re doing something that opens
the gateway to your career. It’s been two years since my
first Soldier of the Month Board. I desperately wanted to be
the best. I studied like I was in college again. They, they
being my NCO’s and former NCO’s, had told me over and
over again, that going to boards and studying for boards
gets easier. I didn’t believe them until this board, the Battalion NCO of the Month Board on 28 May 2014. I realized
that the difference is the comprehension of information versus the memorization of information”.
“Two years ago when I studied for my first board
with Division Signal Company, I studied to memorize. I
memorized because I didn’t necessarily understand how I
was supposed to apply the given information or the given
documents. For my first board as an NCO, I reviewed and
understood the tools I had in front of me. Because of the
leadership and mentorship I’ve received over the past two
years with DSC, I understood the information—I had applied a great deal of the knowledge I was expected to describe or explain. I understood basic ideas and theories,
rather than regurgitating information”.
“Additionally, having my own soldiers gave me the
perfect opportunity to hone my skills. In teaching my soldiers, I re-taught myself. I was required to explain subjects
to them and explain why, for whatever questions they had.
We sat down, the three of us, and asked each other questions. We used flash cards for the memorization portion,
and we all created clues and funny little witty sayings or
jokes to remember certain information and to help in deciphering it from other similar information. In doing their absolute best, they made me do my absolute best. There’s no
way I could ever let my guys down. Now I just need to get
at least one of my HUB Platoon guys to win our Battalion
Soldier of the Month Board”.
“My time with DSC has proven to be a maturing a growing
experience. The help, support, and guidance I’ve received
from both Officers and NCO’s in my unit has given me
countless opportunities to learn, train, and develop as a
leader and as a soldier. I couldn’t ask for more than that, or
for a better family of Bigg Doggs.”
Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion Page 15