Professional Development Guide
THIS CHAPTER NOT TESTABLE
Although this chapter is not testable, you should not dismiss its content. Even if there won't be any questions from this chapter on the test, it is still the most important chapter in the book. Because without a plan on how you will be studying and a serious intention to cover all the material, you might be just wasting your time.
The contents of chapter one are pretty much common sense. The key to good test results is study. The foundation of effective study is habit. Make studying a habit. Do some thinking and figure out how you can fit an hour of studying into your daily schedule. That's all it takes. One solid hour a day of undisturbed study. That is, if you start early enough.
Plan Ahead. Don't start studying until you have a plan, until you have worked out how much there is to study and how much you can study every day. Don't forget to take your SKT into account. There's a lot of material to cover in the PDG so I suggest starting five months before your test date. Of course, by the time you get your test date, it might be too late so I recommend assuming that the first day of your test window will be your test date. It probably won't be but this way you're sure to allow enough time for studying. Check the PDG, paragraph 15.35. and Table 15.2. for the test months for SSgt (May-June), TSgt and MSgt (Feb-Mar), and higher.
Make a Calendar. Draw up a calendar of those five months and assign one chapter to each week. Making a plan like this will give you time to thoroughly read each chapter and cover all the material. Covering all the material is essential. It's no good if you maintained a good daily study routine for months but failed to allow enough time for the last two chapters. And most importantly, post the calendar somewhere where you cannot fail to see it every single day. This will be a constant reminder to study and an indicator of whether you're on track or lagging behind. I recommend posting it above your computer.
Choose a time to study. We're all different. What works for me might not necessarily work for you. It would be ideal if you had one hour of quiet time, with no distractions, at the same time every day in which to study. That way, it's easier to make it a habit. If you have to stagger your scheduled study time, due to work or school, you can still study effectively as long as you stick to your plan. Study when you're fresh. For some people, a half hour of study when you're fresh (that's mornings for you non-shift workers) equals an hour of tired, just before bedtime study.
Make a Stand. In order to study effectively, you must have the cooperation of your spouse or roommate. If they don't understand your need for absolute quiet and aren't willing to support your efforts, make the library your regular study location and go alone. Studying at Starbucks or the Mall Food Court is not a good idea. Most of the people you see there with books aren't really studying.
Motivate yourself. Let's face it: most of this material is really dry and won't hold our interest on its own. Think about the reasons you want to be promoted and find a way to symbolize that so that it's constantly around you. If you plan on buying a new car with the thousands more you'll be making, put a poster of it above your desk. Buy a set of stripes and tape them to your mirror. Go a step further and have them sewn on a uniform and hang it up where you can see it. Find some way to constantly remind yourself of the big pay off for all of this suffering.
Keep a positive attitude. Believe that you can do it. The questions on the test aren't hard. They're generally taken word for word from the text of the PDG. If you put in the time and effort, you're guaranteed a good test score and, unless you're in one of those weird career fields with 20 members or have referral EPRs, you're almost certain to be promoted. So what if the cutoff is high and there's few projected vacancies. You only need one!
