Army Board Questions for Soldier of the Month and Promotion Boards
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Board Questions for E4 Specialists

Board Questions
for E-4 Specialists

The following list of board questions are designed to be answered by E-4 Specialists who are getting ready to become NCOs. 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.

PFC
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Holistic Health & Fitness

Holistic Health & Fitness

Promotion Board Question

Tell me about our H2F program.

Each unit is different, so explain your battalion or unit's H2F program, including where it is located and the name of PRT professionals that run it.

Enlisted Promotions & Reductions

Enlisted Promotions & Reductions

Promotion Board Question

What are the three levels of promotion authority?

Decentralized (Company level for ranks E2 to E4), Semi-Centralized (Battalion level for ranks E5 and E6), and Centralized (Big Army Level for ranks E7 to E9).

The Army

The Army

Promotion Board Question

What is meant by the Army’s role to win?

Winning is the achievement of the purpose of an operation and the fulfillment of its objectives.

Army Body Composition

Army Body Composition

Promotion Board Question

What are the requirements for Soldiers hospitalized for 30 days or more?

Soldiers hospitalized for 30 continuous days or more will be exempt from the requirements of this regulation for the duration of the hospitalization and the recovery period as defined by their profile.

Land Nav

Land Nav

Promotion Board Question

How does arctic terrain affect navigation?

Snow and ice can obscure features; magnetic compasses may be unreliable

M2 50. Cal

M2 50. Cal

Promotion Board Question

Describe the M2.

Belt-fed, recoil-operated, air-cooled, crew-served machine gun.

Military Justice

Military Justice

Promotion Board Question

What is mitigation?

Reduction in either the quantity or quality of a punishment.

MATVs

MATVs

Promotion Board Question

Why should the MATV engine idle for 3 mins before shutting down?

Idling allows to carry heat away from the engine components and turbo to slow down.

Rifle & Carbine Marksmanship

Rifle & Carbine Marksmanship

Promotion Board Question

What are external ballistics?

The physics of what happens to a round as it flies through the air, from leaving the barrel until it touches the target.

Army History

Army History

Promotion Board Question

What did “The Army Regulations of 1821” cover?

Military etiquette like the hand salute, tactical procedures for marches, and even the basics of camp life such as cooking for the company.

Army Body Composition

Army Body Composition

Promotion Board Question

What is the process for notification and counseling when a Soldier is enrolled?

The commander has 2 working days from initiation of the DA Form 268 to counsel and/or notify the Soldier, enroll the Soldier in the ABCP, and input the date of enrollment in the integrated personnel system.

Equal Opportunity

Equal Opportunity

Promotion Board Question

What are the individual Rights of Soldiers, Family Members and DA Civilians when processing EO Complaints?

Present a complaint to the command without fear of intimidation, reprisal, or harassment, Communicate with the commander concerning their complaints, Receive assistance when submitting a complaint, Receive training on the Army’s EO complaint and appeals process.

MATVs

MATVs

Promotion Board Question

The MATV has 4 12-volt batteries. What are they each used for?

2 are for cranking power, and 2 are for on-board military equipment.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship

Promotion Board Question

How soon after DA Form 5434 is received should a sponsor be assigned?

Within 120 days of the Soldier’s report date or within 5 duty days if there is less than 120 days’ notice.

Holistic Health & Fitness

Holistic Health & Fitness

Promotion Board Question

Name all 8 PRT Recovery Drill Stretches.

Overhead Arm Pull, Rear Lunge, Extend and Flex, Thigh Stretch, Single Leg Over, Groin Stretch, Calf Stretch, and Hamstring Stretch.

NCO Development

NCO Development

Promotion Board Question

What is NCODP?

The Noncommissioned Officer Development Program.

Land Nav

Land Nav

Promotion Board Question

Why is jungle navigation difficult?

Limited visibility, dense vegetation, and unreliable terrain association.

NCO Development

NCO Development

Promotion Board Question

Can courses less than eight weeks in length have an AFT requirement to complete the course?

Courses may require physical fitness standards as set by the proponent or course when appropriate.

Land Nav

Land Nav

Promotion Board Question

What is Composite Risk Management in land nav?

A decision-making process to identify and mitigate hazards during training.

Land Nav

Land Nav

Promotion Board Question

What are safety considerations for land navigation training?

Conduct terrain recon, identify hazards (roads, terrain, wildlife), brief safety procedures, and plan casualty evacuation.

Operations

Operations

Promotion Board Question

What is the textbook definition of an operation?

A sequence of tactical actions with a common purpose or unifying theme.

Wear & Appearance

Wear & Appearance

Promotion Board Question

What are the 5 situations where it's not okay to wear the Army uniform?

When it supports a political cause, is used for business, at protests, hate group events, or if it makes the Army look bad.

Code of Conduct & SERE

Code of Conduct & SERE

Promotion Board Question

What is the 6th Article of the Code of Conduct?

I will never forget that I am an American fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention

Promotion Board Question

What are some examples of primary gatekeepers?

Chaplains, Chaplain Assistants, Counselors, Family Advocacy Program Workers, Army Emergency Relief Workers, Emergency Room Medical Technicians, and Medical Health Professionals

The Army

The Army

Promotion Board Question

What does it mean to have adaptive and innovative leaders?

They are comfortable with complexity and capable of operating from the tactical to the strategic level.

Army Substance Abuse Program

Army Substance Abuse Program

Promotion Board Question

What should a leader do if a Soldier smells of alcohol at morning formation?

The leader should remove the Soldier from duty, notify the chain of command, and refer them for evaluation if needed.

Army Body Composition

Army Body Composition

Promotion Board Question

What are DA Forms 5500 and 5501 used for?

DA Form 5500 is used for male Soldiers and DA Form 5501 is used for female Soldiers to document body fat assessments.

Army Community Service

Army Community Service

Promotion Board Question

What are the criteria for establishing an ACS center on an installation?

An installation must have 500 or more active duty Soldiers, authorization by HQDA, and space provided by the garrison commander.

Mk 19

Mk 19

Promotion Board Question

What is the weight of the MK 19?

77.6 pounds without the feed throat; 78.0 pounds with the feed throat.

Army Leadership

Army Leadership

Promotion Board Question

What are the five requirements and expectations of “lead”?

Leads others, Extends influence beyond the chain of command, Builds trust, Leads by example, and Communicates.

Mk 19

Mk 19

Promotion Board Question

What is the muzzle velocity of MK 19 ammunition?

About 241 meters per second for common 40-mm high-velocity rounds (for example target practice and several service rounds).

Army Leadership

Army Leadership

Promotion Board Question

What are the four requirements of presence?

Military and professional bearing, fitness, confidence, and resilience.

Army Body Composition

Army Body Composition

Promotion Board Question

What are the required actions for commanders after determining a Soldier exceeds body fat standards?

The commander has 3 working days to Flag the Soldier using DA Form 268 and 2 working days from initiation of DA Form 268 to counsel and enroll the Soldier in the ABCP.

Army Leadership

Army Leadership

Promotion Board Question

What are the four requirements and expectations of “develops”?

Fosters esprit de corps (a jealous regard for one’s own unit), prepares self, develops others, and stewards the profession.

Rifle & Carbine Marksmanship

Rifle & Carbine Marksmanship

Promotion Board Question

What are the five phases of rifle marksmanship training/basic rifle marksmanship (BRM)?

1. Preliminary Marksmanship Instruction (PMI). 2. Downrange feedback range firing. 3. Field firing. 4. Advanced Rifle Marksmanship (ARM). 5. Advanced optics, lasers, and iron sights. Use the mnemonic PDFAA

M2 50. Cal

M2 50. Cal

Promotion Board Question

What is the beaten zone?

The elliptical pattern formed on the ground or target area by the cone of fire.

M2 50. Cal

M2 50. Cal

Promotion Board Question

What are the main differences between the M2 and M2A1?

The M2A1 has fixed headspace and timing, a flash suppressor, and a quick-change barrel.

SHARP

SHARP

Promotion Board Question

What are the five techniques of dealing with Sexual Harassment?

1. Direct approach 2. Indirect approach 3. Third party 4. Chain of command 5. Filing a formal complaint.

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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.

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