1. Purpose: To establish a standard operating procedure (SOP) for holding a NCO Promotion Board.

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2. Applicability: This SOP pertains to all cadets of the Knights Battalion. Ambitious, motivated cadets will be given frequent opportunties to demonstrate their abilities, to earn promotions, and to take on the even greater responsibilities of being a cadet Non-Commissioned Officer. The "spirit" of the Board is positive... it is designed to recognize cadet succuss, not to limit advancement or to eargerly look for reasons not to promote.

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3. Responsibilities:

A. Battalion Commander:

(1) Ensures the provisions of this SOP are followed.

(2) In September, gives finial approvial to the recommended schedule of at least four (4) NCO Promotion Boards during the school year between October and April.

(3) Reviews the recommended promotion list subsequent to each Board.

(4) Formally promotes each cadet selected for promotion soon after the selection board  at the next monthly Battalion formation or delegates to Company Commanders the formal present presentation of the promtions at the next uniform day following the Promotion Board.

B. Executive Officer:

(1) Ensures the provisions of the SOP are followed.

(2) Supervises the preparation of the S-3's annual/monthly calendar of events which include the scheduled NCO Promotion Boards.

(3) Supervises the S-1's posting of promotion board results into JUMS and the preparation of promotion orders.

(4) Supervises the S-4's acquisition of new ranks in preparation for the formal promotion presentations.

(5) Supervises the S-5's readiness to record and to document the promotion presentations.

C. Command Sergeant Major

(1) Ensures the provisions of this SOP are followed.

(2) In September, prepares a schedule of at least for (4) NCO Promotion Boards for the school year with October the first Board and April the last Board and obtains approval of this schedule from the Battalion Commander.

(3) Ensures First Sergeants and Platoon Sergeants are aware of the NCO Promotion Board schedule and have informed the cadets of this schedule in advance.

(4) Identifies and trains cadet NCOs to serve on the Board prior to the scheduled Board.

(5) Ensures Board Members are prepared themselves (uniforms, appearance, bearing, drill ability, etc) before they evaluate others.

(6) Identifies and trains the cadets who will march as a squad/platoon, using the drill competition unarmed squad/platoon drill sequence. Minimum squad size is four (4); minimum platoon size is nine (9).

(7) Selects seven (7) Common Knowledge questions to be used for the "Knowledge" evaluation.

(8) While the Board is in process and candidates move frim station to station, monitors the event to ensure procedures are followed and evaluations assigned to candidates are accurate and impartial.

(9) Complies the promotion list and obtains the Battalion Commander's concurrence to the recommended selectees. Share the Board results with the Senior Army Instructor and the Army Instructor who have final approved authority of the promotion list.

(10) Once the list is reviewed by the Battalion Commander and approved by the SAI/AI, provide the XO a copy in order that the Staff can take its required actions.

D. First Sergeants/Platoon Sergeants:

(1) Ensure cadets PFCs, Corporals, Sergeants, and Staff Sergeants are informed of the next scheduled NCO Promotion Board at least a week beforehand.

(2) Encourage the best cadets to seek promotion.

(3) Make available "study" materials to each cadet expressing a desire to appear before the next Promotion Board. Materials include 50-Common Knowledge Questions, individual unarmed and armed drill commands, the Squad/Platoon Drill sequence, and the uniform inspection checklist.

(4) Provide additional instruction/training (especially in drill) to ensure the cadet is ready to successfully engage the Promotion Board.

(5) Serve as "evaluators" of the NCO Promotion Board and operate the (4) "stations".

(6) If in charge of one of the four "stations", make impartial assessment of each candidate.

(7) At the end of the Board, assist the Command Sergeant Major in tallying scores.

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4.Promotion Boars Procedures:

Uniform Insppection; Cadet Knowledge: Individual Drill- armed and unarmed, and Lead Squad/Platoon Drill. Cadet NCO's are "trainers" and must demonstrate individual competencies and knowledge before they attempt to teach and to set the example for younger cadets.

(1) Boards should be held after school on a uniform day between 1600-1730 Hrs.

(2) All "stations" are run concurrently with candidates moving from one station to the next automatically.

A. Uniform Inspection:

Each NCO candidate will receive a precise uniform inspection using the Uniform Inspection checklist. Proper placement of accounterments, shine of brass items (including belt buckle and hat brass), hair/facial, cleanliness of shoes, proper wear of beret, and general sharpness and cleanliness of the uniform will be emphasized. Each "Yes" element is worth 7 1/2 points. A score less than 80% (three (3) errors) constitutes a failure of this event. Total Time per candidate: 3-5 minutes.

B. Basic Unarmed and Armed Drill:

Each candidate must demonstrate exact execution of each drill command- unarmed and armed (M-1 drill rifle). Particular attention will be paid to bearing, placement of hands, foot position, position of rifle, preciseness of movement, sharpness/snappiness of each movement, and proper length of foot movement. The Board Member evaluating this station must excel at individual drill him/herself. The list of drill commands is attached. Foe each movement executed, the candidate will receive a "Go" or No Go". Seven (7) "No Go" ratings constitute a failure of this of this event. Total time per candidate: 6-9 minutes.

C. Lead Squad/Platoon Drill.

Using the LET 1 inspection Sequence routine, each NCO candidate must demonstrate the ability to drill a squad or platoon. Particular attention will be paid to proper command voice, giving the command correctly on the correct foot, executing movements correctly oneself, and confident control of the squad/platoon. Candidates for promotion to Corporal and Sergeant will drill a squad (4-6 cadets). The Board Member evaluating this station must excel leading squad/platoon drill him/herself. Each drill command will receive a "Go" or "No Go" rating. Five (5) "No Go" ratings constitute a failure of this event. Total time per candidate: 5-7 minutes.

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5. The Promotion List.

A. After the candidates have completed all four (4) events, the Command Sergeant Major will collect and keep private the score sheets. If anytime permits that day or at a convenient time the next day, the Command Sergeant Major and the four (4) evaluators of the Promotion Board will average the four (4) scores received and assign  this grade to each candidate.

B. Minimum score/grade to pass the promotion board are:

(1) To Corporal: 75%

(2) To Sergeant: 80%

(3) To Staff Sergeant: 85%

(4) To Sergeant First Class: 90%

C. Names of those with passing scores be kept confidential by the Board Members, Battalion Commander, Executive Officer, and S-staff.

D. Cadets selected for promotion will learn of their selection at the time the promotion orders are read aloud formally in front of the battalion or company formation.

E. Those not recommended for promotion, at a later convenient time, will be shown their score sheets individually and privately by the First Sergeant or Platoon Sergeant who was a Promotion Broad Member and will be counseled on the particular areas needing improvement. These cadets will also be strongly encouraged to appear before the next promotion board.

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6. Rank Alignment and No Quotas:

A. There should be only one Sergeant First Class per platoon. If there are three companies of three platoons each, for example, there should be nine (9) cadets ranked Sergeant First Class. If there are no known or expected Sergeant First Class. Let the achievers achieve! A Sergeant First Class position will be found.

B. Likewise, a Squad Leader can be a Staff Sergeant, Sergeant, or Corporal. A Squad can have more than one NCO in it. The Promotion Board should not hesitate to recommend and outstanding cadet for promotion merely because there will be too many NCOs in a platoon. Let's not hold anyone back.

C. The Assistant S-1, S-2/3, S-4, S-5 and S-6 positions can be held by Corporals to Sergeant First Class cadets.

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