Army Board Questions for Soldier of the Month and Promotion Boards
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Board Questions for E-3 Privates Second Class

The following list of board questions are designed to be answered by E-3 Private First Class who have gotten a hang of their everyday duties. They are randomly ordered, and cover a wide area of topics. Study these board questions if you are preparing to go to the soldier of the month board, or if you are preparing for your promotion board and want to make sure you have the basics down. These questions will help you understand what types of questions will be asked, and figure out what topics you need to study more.

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Land Nav

Land Nav

Promotion Board Question

What are the Three Land Navigation Methods?

Dead Reckoning, Moving by Terrain Association, and Combination of Techniques.

Army Substance Abuse Program

Army Substance Abuse Program

Promotion Board Question

When does the limited use policy not protect a Soldier?

The Limited Use Policy does not apply when a Soldier is identified through investigation, apprehension, inspection testing, or voluntary consent testing.

Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention

Promotion Board Question

What are the 5 overarching strategies of suicide prevention?

1: Developing positive life coping skills, 2: Encouraging help-seeking behavior, 3: Raising awareness of, and vigilance towards, suicide prevention, 4: Synchronizing, integrating, and managing the Army Suicide Prevention Program, and 5: Conducting suicide surveillance, analysis, and reporting.

Wear & Appearance

Wear & Appearance

Promotion Board Question

How should headgear fit?

Headgear will fit snugly and comfortably, without bulging or distortion from the intended shape of the headgear and without excessive gaps between the headgear and the head.

Army Substance Abuse Program

Army Substance Abuse Program

Promotion Board Question

What are the five methods of identifying substance abusers?

The five methods are self-identification, command identification, biochemical testing, medical identification, and investigation or apprehension.

Rifle & Carbine Marksmanship

Rifle & Carbine Marksmanship

Promotion Board Question

What is overmatch?

Overmatch is the Soldier applying their learned skills, employing their equipment, leveraging technology, and applying the proper force to create an unfair fight in favor of the Soldier.

NCO Development

NCO Development

Promotion Board Question

What does DA PAM 600-25 cover?

It is the U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Guide

Land Nav

Land Nav

Promotion Board Question

How do you measure a curved distance, such as a road or stream, on a map using a graphic scale and a piece of paper?

Place a tick mark on the paper and map at the beginning point. Align the edge of the paper along a straight portion and make a tick mark on both map and paper when the paper leaves the straight portion. Keeping both tick marks together, pivot the paper until another straight portion is aligned with the edge. Continue this until the measurement is completed. Move the paper to the graphic scale to determine the ground distance from the first tick mark to the last.

Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention

Promotion Board Question

Who are gatekeepers?

Individuals who have regular contact with Soldiers and are trained to identify at-risk behavior.

Pistols

Pistols

Promotion Board Question

What is the textbook description of the M9?

The M9 Service pistol is a semi automatic, magazine-fed, recoil-operated, double and single-action weapon that is chambered for the 9- by 19-mm (millimeter) NATO cartridge.

The Army

The Army

Promotion Board Question

What does the Army contribute to the United States?

A land force unequaled in skill, adaptability, professionalism, and power.

Army Body Composition

Army Body Composition

Promotion Board Question

What happens when a Soldier is removed from the ABCP?

The commander will remove the DA Form 268 and counsel the Soldier on the importance of maintaining body composition and the potential for future re-enrollment if standards are not maintained.

Holistic Health & Fitness

Holistic Health & Fitness

Promotion Board Question

What is Sleep Readiness?

The capacity to obtain adequate, quality sleep to restore brain function, enhance decision-making, and support overall health and performance.

SHARP

SHARP

Promotion Board Question

What is the Catch a Serial Offender (CATCH) program?

A DoD tool allowing victims to anonymously submit suspect info to identify repeat offenders.

Operations

Operations

Promotion Board Question

What is a major operation?

A military action, consisting of two or more related tactical actions, designed to achieve a strategic objective, in whole or in part.

NCO Common Core Competencies

NCO Common Core Competencies

Promotion Board Question

What is the role of the Sergeant First Class (SFC)?

Serves as Platoon Sergeant or NCOIC and is primarily responsible for the health, welfare, training, and development of Soldiers.

SHARP

SHARP

Promotion Board Question

Can DA Civilians use SHARP services?

Yes, they may file a report and receive advocacy but not expedited transfers or legal services unless otherwise authorized.

Land Nav

Land Nav

Promotion Board Question

What is the textbook definition of an Azimuth?

A horizontal angle measured clockwise from a north base line.

Land Nav

Land Nav

Promotion Board Question

What is a handrail?

A linear feature (e.g., road or stream) used to guide movement.

Land Nav

Land Nav

Promotion Board Question

What is Map Orientation?

Aligning north on the map to north on the ground by rotating the map. The first step to land navigation.

Rifle & Carbine Marksmanship

Rifle & Carbine Marksmanship

Promotion Board Question

Explain the difference between thermals and night vision

Night vision uses infrared light, which humans can't see, to illuminate objects. Thermal imaging detects heat signatures.

Counseling

Counseling

Promotion Board Question

What are the four stages of the counseling process?

1. Identify the need for counseling 2. Prepare the counseling session 3. Conduct the counseling 4. Follow-up

Army Leadership

Army Leadership

Promotion Board Question

What is Intellect?

The knowledge the leader possesses and their ability to apply it.

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Brought To You By The Board Questions Podcast

This website is an extension of The Board Questions Podcast. I created the podcast first because I was ejected from my first board. I was brand new to the Army, just sent on rotation to Germany after OSUT, and my squad leader had it in his head that every one of his soldiers would attend a soldier of them month board. I knew nothing, got chewed up and spit out, and failed. I refused to accept that as a final result.

I decided to build something that I needed. I gathered the questions, studied the regs, and used an AI voice to create The Board Questions Podcast. I used the podcast the study up, I won my battalion's Soldier of the Quarter board, and have worked hard to help as many soldiers as possible prepare.

Not everyone learns from audio, so I built this website. However, if you'd like to suppliment your studies by listening to the podcast as well, each of the topics by difficulty episodes covers the exact same questions that are covered on this site. The podcast even has explainations for each answer, some additional memorizational guides, and repetition chapters to help you go over it while your ear and mind are free, like commuting, playing video games, or doing chores.

Feel free to listen!

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