ALC Phase 1 seat reservation does that mean I will automatically go to Phase 2 and 3? Need help understanding the phases?

SGT April Thomas - I want to explain few things and I don't want to sound like I know it all; I currently work at the AMEDD NCO Academy as the Ops NCO and deal a lot with questions like yours and similar. I'm quite certain that you already are familiar with the new STEP model. If not, I strongly recommend that you learn as much as you can for your benefit as well as your Soldiers. HRC is utilizing that model to schedule NCOs for ALC and SLC (and probably for BLC). HRC has a priority list they follow as well as an OML for every MOS and it's based on promotion points for ALC. Find MILPER Message 16-089 to learn more. Most MOSs are similar when it comes to ALC; they have two phases only. There are very few MOSs in Army's inventory that have three phases, and 68CMF is one of those. There's a misunderstanding out there about AMEDD ALC phase 1 Distributed Learning (DL). A lot of Soldiers think that it is either ALC Common Core (CC) which was replaced by SSD2. It is not. AMEDD ALC phase 1 DL is specific to AMEDD. You have to have completed ALC CC or SSD2 in order to be scheduled for AMEDD ALC Phase 1. Most of the time, HRC will schedule you for all 3 phases, which is how it's supposed to happen. However, it there are empty seats, HRC will try to fill those. AMEDD ALC phase 2 is basically common core leadership and MOS immaterial, meaning that you will be in this course with other 68 series NCOs; however, it's not the same as your warfighter ALC. Finally, AMEDD ALC phase 3 is MOS specific technical track. For you as a 68T, you will be in that course with other 68Ts only. What you also have to understand is that not every AMEDD ALC class will have 68Ts attending (that applies to most 68 series). I will assume that HRC scheduled you for phase 1 to possibly have you as a stand-by in case another 68T with phase 2 and 3 reservation is unable to attend (for whatever reason) and you having completed phase 1 already can pick up and go (just my assumption). So my recommendation is that you definitely finish your phase 1 and be ready to attend phase 2 & 3 at a moment's notice.
Also, we just updated AMEDD ALC class dates in ATRRS for FY17 so go on ATRRS and look up the following course numbers: AMEDD ALC phase 2 - 3-68-C45; Animal Care ALC (AMEDD ALC phase 3) - 321-68T30-C45. There's a lot more that I could write but see no reason for it at this time. And if you are still confused, call me in my office at [login to see] . But I hope that this info helps. Good luck and I hope you like Ft. Carson. I miss that place.

Every phase requires its own seat and reservation (from what I have seen thus far). You can look all courses up through ATRRS (just go to the course catalog and do a search) and it may become a little more clear to you. Usually, phase 1 is a distance learning (yes, in addition to the prerequisite SSD), and phases 2 and 3 are the courses at the actual school. Your schools NCO should be able to walk you through all the info you need.

No. You have to have a reserved slot in each phase to be guaranteed a seat. If you are in a wait status, you could roll to a reserve if there are cancellations (depends upon how many waits and where you are on the list). Hope that helps.