Hello and welcome to Big Sarge's "Cheating the EPS" page. Here we'll provide an ongoing list of examples of how incestuous, morally-bankrupt leaders have cheated the Department of the Army's Enlisted Promotion System at local levels in Ohio in order to "keep it in the family". Please share your own experiences and we'll add them to the list!
1-134th Field Artillery, Submitted by: Not a NARC
In early 2020, the 134's Battalion S4 position became vacant when SFC Chet Sutter was reassigned. Instead of submitting the request-for-fill, the Battalion forced an E6 AGR into the position "unofficially" as the interim S4 for nearly 4 months while the Battalion waited on SSG Sarah Fennick to become eligible for promotion. She was ranked #1 on the EPS list but she hadn't reached the time-in-grade eligibility yet, so wasn't selectable from the list. To keep from having to select an unknown, they delayed posting the vacancy for almost 4 months. SSG Garlow, the E6 who was forced into the position as a placeholder, had allegedly been told previously by the command that he wasn't ready for promotion. The photo below is the list at the time of the 1-134's S4 vacancy.
Recruiting & Retention, Submitted by: 1SG Concerned Too
The RRB continues to ignore the established G-1 personnel management special consideration annex for 79Ts to ensure their favorites were placed on the E-9 promotion list, although they are not eligible. Specifically, to be considered for E-9 in the RRB, the individual must have served successfully as a Region 1SG. The RRB ignored this rule to allow MSGs without 1SG experience to be placed on the E-9 promotion list.
371st SUS BDE (multiple), Submitted by: Señor NCO
Around 2018-19, the 371st Sustainment BDE S4 (MSG Wayne Turner) moved on to a position at JFHQ. Instead of requesting fill for the vacancy, BDE leadership wanted to move their BDE Ops NCO (MSG Jerrod Kreitzer) into the position. According to SGM Kevin Jones (371st Ops SGM turned G4 SGM), they wanted to help MSG Kreitzer gain logistics experience to help his career because he had never been in any Supply or S4 role. At the annual logistics conference, Jones actually tried to justify the the move by proclaiming "MSG Kreitzer WILL be the next G4 SGM". But since Kreitzer wasn't a 92Y (he was previously an 88M who held MOS 92A by virtue of being the Ops NCO), the BDE manipulated their entire AGR manning roster instead of following established fill policy. They moved the BDE S4 NCO AGR position into a para/line that was previously an M-day 92A slot within the brigade. This made the 371st the only MSC in possibly the entire National Guard whose S4 wasn't a 92Y.
But why stop there when they can sneak in another well-connected NCO too? SFC Matt Spain was an 88M in a subordinate Transportation BN under the 371st. He was at the top of the 88M list but their weren't any vacancies at the time for him. With other competition creeping up on him, the BDE had to act fast. They again manipulated the long-standing AGR manning to get their guy. Instead of requesting fill on MSG Kreitzer's newly-vacated BDE Ops slot, they moved the AGR slotting to an M-day 88M para/line on the MTOE, allowing them to immediately promote Spain. Again, architect SGM Kevin Jones tried to justify the debauchery to the crowd of depressed logisticians at the conference by suggesting that they had always wanted that position to be an 88M. But if that was true, they could have easily (and ethically) made that change while Kreitzer was in the slot, since he was also an 88M. To add even further ethically-questionable moves to their legacy, rumor has it that MSG Spain is now trying to enroll in 42A MOS reclass in order to once again jump into a promotion ahead of more qualified candidates. The fact that his application & ETP made it through his Company-Battalion-Brigade commanders shows the corrupt culture in place in the 371st Sustainment Brigade. Surely there isn't a shortage of qualified 42As in the state that would justify such an egregious waste of funds. Maybe next they'll try the Kreitzer move again and get him 92A or 92Y.
It's also worth mentioning that a Congressional was filed regarding the Kreitzer move. The G1 Office, whose OIC was also coincidentally the 371st Commander, replied to Congressman Jim Jordan's inquiry with what amounted to boldface lies regarding the EPS process. They referenced selecting the "best-qualified" for positions. So apparently putting someone into a BDE S4 NCOIC position who has zero experience in the field fits that bill. Did anyone at the PAO question the G1's easily-debunkable nonsense before forwarding it to the Congressman's office? Of course not.
JFHQ Historian, by Big Sarge
In 2008, JFHQ decided to create an AGR position for "State Historical NCO". Instead of posting this new job to the street, they opened it only to current E7s who possess MOS 19D (Cav Scout). Odd MOS choice, right? As it turned out, this was designed to eliminate all competition for the ADOS NCO who was performing those duties in a temporary capacity. He was an E7 19D.
Was he the best candidate? Probably. Was the hiring process fair, transparent, and IAW with pertinent regulations? Not at all.
Please help us add to this list by sharing your own tales of nepotism. Send to colonelsix@dongvideos.com , Attn: Big Sarge
