Prepare early for Army board

  • Published
  • By Percy Jones
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  It's that time of year again, and all Army staff sergeants should begin preparation for the upcoming Sergeant First Class Promotion Board.

Per MILPER Message 10-260, the deadline for Official Military Personnel Files updates is Jan. 21, 2011, but Soldiers are highly encouraged not to wait until the last minute to have their official Department of the Army photograph taken.

Your DA photograph is the first impression the board gets of you so the sooner you prepare, the smoother your photo shoot will go, and the better your chances will be for pinning on that second rocker.

You should first review and update their records by signing onto their AKO account and validating their Enlisted Record Brief.

If the ERB has missing or incorrect information, you should take all supporting documents to either your S-1 personnel office or to the Enlisted Records Section of the Military Personnel Division located on the second floor of Building 600 for an update.
Once your records are updated, it is time to prepare your uniform for your DA photograph.
Most common problems can be solved before photo shoot time by ensuring your uniform has a proper fit, and if not having it altered.

While the Digital Imaging Center will do what it can to make sure you look your best, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that your uniform is correct, before arriving for the photo shoot.

This means pulling out Army Regulations 670-1 and 640-30, putting your uniform on, and having a senior NCO take a look at it for any discrepancies in fit or appurtenances.
You may be photographed in either the Class A Green Service Uniform or the Army Service Uniform and will wear basic branch insignia, all permanently authorized awards, decorations, combat and special skill badges and tabs.

The shoulder sleeve insignia (patch) and distinctive unit insignia (crests) will be worn and are the only exceptions from the permanent rule.

You are responsible for ensuring these items are worn in accordance with AR 670-1.
Leader tabs, flashes, infantry cords and any other decorations not in your official records will not be worn at the time of the DA photograph.

Unit citations may be worn, if you served in that unit at the time of the campaign for which it was awarded.

DA photographs are taken by appointment only, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:15 to 11 a.m, and Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Digital Imaging Center located in the basement of Building 652 on the corner of Fifth Street and Richardson Drive.
Appointments can be scheduled by calling 384-7183.

For more information, check the Uniform Guide link at the Digital Imaging Center Website at www.jber.army.mil/RDIC.