7,740 sergeants could be cut from promotion list

Army Times — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 10:53:41 -0500

From: Army Times

Nearly 8,000 sergeants will be removed from the staff sergeant selection list unless they comply with a new rule that links E-6 promotion eligibility to the completion of the Structured Self Development-2 course.

SSD-2 replaced the common core phase of the Advanced Leader Course on Oct. 1.

The ALC common core course and SSD-2 ran simultaneously from June 1 through Sept. 30, and soldiers who completed the common core of ALC before Oct. 1 have met the promotion requirement.

However, sergeants only will receive promotion points in the military education section of the Promotion Point Worksheet when both the ALC common core or SSD-2 and the ALC technical resident phase are completed.

The 80-hour online SSD-2 not only is a requirement for E-6 promotion consideration, but is a prerequisite for attendance at the Advanced Leader Course, a resident training regimen that focuses on technical and specialty-specific topics appropriate for leaders in squads and platoons.

The new promotion requirement will apply to selection boards that meet in January to recommend sergeants of the Regular Army and the Army Reserve component of the Active Guard and Reserve for integration onto the E-6 lists that will apply to staff sergeant promotions in February and beyond.

During the transition to the new system, promotable sergeants — those soldiers who already have been integrated onto the E-6 list — must have credit for the common core phase of the Advanced Leader Course, or Structured Self-Development-2, no later than Jan. 8 to retain their promotable status.

Failure to comply with the new requirement by that date will result in automatic removal from the staff sergeant list.

About 21,000 sergeants are in promotable status as of late December, according to information provided by the evaluation, promotions and selection division of the Human Resources Command.

Included in the total are 7,740 sergeants, or 37 percent of the soldiers on the E-6 list, who do not have credit for SSD-2, and who will be removed from the list Jan. 9 unless they complete the distance learning requirement by Jan. 8.

Soldiers who are removed from the list only can regain promotion eligibility by completing SSD-2, and being re-boarded and recommended for promotion by their chain of command.

The Structured Self Development system is a centrally managed set of common-core leadership and soldiering content that must be completed before attending the resident Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Senior Leader Course and Sergeants Major Course. The online courses each are 80 hours, and must be completed within two years.

The timeline for the deliberate, continuous, sequential and progressive process is:

• Upon completion of initial entry training, soldiers automatically will be enrolled in SSD-1, which is a prerequisite to attend the Warrior Leader Course. The WLC is limited to specialists and corporals. Privates first-class and below are not eligible to attend the WLC.

• Soldiers automatically are enrolled in SSD-2 upon completing WLC and promotion to sergeant. Completion of SSD-2 is a prerequisite to attend the Advanced Leader Course.

• Soldiers automatically are enrolled in SSD-3 upon completing ALC and promotion to staff sergeant.SSD-3 completion is a prerequisite to attend the Senior Leader Course.

• Soldiers automatically are enrolled in SSD-4 upon completion of SLC and promotion to sergeant first class.SSD-4 completion is a prerequisite to attend the Sergeants Major Course.

A new course, tentatively called the Master Leader Course, is under development and could be piloted in late fiscal 2015.The course would prepare soldiers for duty as master sergeants.

• Soldiers automatically are enrolled in SSD-5 upon promotion to sergeant major. SSD-5 completion is a prerequisite for assignment to nominative E-9 positions and joint duties.

The Structured Self Development courses are formally linked to promotions as follows:

SSD-1: required to be recommended for promotion to sergeant.

SSD-2: required to be recommended for promotion to staff sergeant.

SSD-3: required to be considered for promotion to sergeant first class.

SSD-4: required to be considered for selection to master sergeant.

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/enlisted/2014/12/23/7740-sergeants-could-be-cut-from-promotion-list-ssd2-promotion-requirement/20804823/

Response by 1SG Nick Baker made Dec 24 at 2014 11:01 AM

1SG Nick Baker — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 11:01:15 -0500

I wished the Army had pushed more education during my time. Education gives you a foundation with the latest practice.

Response by SFC William Adamek made Dec 24 at 2014 12:42 PM

SFC William Adamek — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 12:42:04 -0500

I see more than one problem here. It is surely the individuals responsibility to make sure that they meet all the requirements for promotion (and there may be a small percentage of exceptable excuses) but I also see this as a leadership problem. If they were deemed ready to be boarded by the soldiers chain of command that same chain of command should be on top of making sure that they fulfill the rest of the requirements. This is as much a leadership problem as it is a sign that many of these individuals may not be ready for promotion and possibly should not of been recommended for boarding in the first place.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 12:41 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 12:41:22 -0500

I've already started on it and probably be done before news year's....so this guy will be ready!!!!

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 1:08 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 13:08:55 -0500

I finished mine in November, so I should be good here. The only issue I had with this announcement was the timing! Most of my peers were out on Christmas block leave when the change was announced, and the suspense date is three days after the end date for block leave. That's not a whole lot of time for the word to get passed around and to complete an 80 hour online course.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 1:27 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 13:27:35 -0500

Reserves have known and been pushing getting SSD done for at least a year. As far as promotion points go and the timing...If I read this article correctly this was announced in October. I don't know how well the communication of this went; the Army does have it's issues in this, as we all know.

If I were in charge, I would let the promotions go through with the threat of administrative reduction is SSD2 is not met by, lets say 60 days.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Dec 24 at 2014 1:25 PM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 13:25:46 -0500

I completed this requirement immediately after promoted to E-5. I have little sympathy for E-5s who have put it off until the last possible moment. It's an online course, so as long as you have internet it's not that difficult to complete.

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Dec 24 at 2014 2:51 PM

SFC Michael Jackson, MBA — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 14:51:02 -0500

These are NCOs already, presumably in leadership roles and understand responsibility.
Any NCO up for promotion should be responsible enough to maintain his eligibility
I share SMsgt Thomas feeling that this will be sad, but maybe for different reasons
I saddened that the military had to draw this line on NCOs for failing to meet a requirement

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Dec 24 at 2014 3:09 PM

SGT Michael Glenn — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 15:09:49 -0500

Why not just get it done???

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Dec 24 at 2014 3:25 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 15:25:38 -0500

It sucks, but I don't really have a lot of sympathy for them. DL PME is too easy not to just knock out as soon as you are eligible.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 7:23 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 19:23:41 -0500

I believe that if an NCO is too lazy to sit in front of a computer a couple hours a day and work on SSD 2 then they should be dropped from the list.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 7:24 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 19:24:16 -0500

About 38% are not in compliance. That been said i'm sure much more will be Soon

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 10:45 PM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 22:45:09 -0500

I have less than no sympathy. The SSD has been mandated since 01OCT, and they've known about it since at least then. It's three months later. They knew, they didn't do it.

One third of E-5's failed to take it. That means that only about 15,000 people are READY to be promoted to E-6 - and I don't mean qualified - I mean ready to take charge of their own careers and do what is required to be promoted. If they aren't ready, willing, and able to do that for themselves, what will they do for a junior soldier?

Answer: Less. If they don't care about their career, they won't care about anyone else's.

Nope. Not one inch of sympathy.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Dec 25 at 2014 4:25 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 04:25:56 -0500

I have completed up to SSD-3 so I am set until I need SSD-4.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Dec 25 at 2014 4:31 AM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 04:31:04 -0500

There have been numerous ALARACT and MILPER Messages out over the past 18 months talking how completion of SSD will be tied to promotion. There also have been numerous threads on RallyPoint discussing this topic. For those that are not in compliance and may end up removed from the promotion standing list, I do not have very much sympathy for you. There has been ample time to ensure that you get into compliance. If you wait until the last minute to do something, you only have a minute to do it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2014 8:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 20:06:24 -0500

This nothing new I you are a LEADER you knew you where required to take this course. I myself completed common core and was grandfathered on SSD 1, however still competed all passed and present SSD's. Not just because it was a requirement but also to reinforce what I have already learned.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 2:38 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 02:38:21 -0500

The ARMY today is about staying one step ahead. The SSD's have been out for a bit now. Although SSD-2 has not been out as long it was known that it replaced "Common Core."

It is hard to feel bad for anyone being removed from the list for something that does not take long if you are motivated to complete it. I personally have done one's that were not required of me so that I could learn the new methods being utilized and know what my Soldiers have to go through.

The signs were out there and that these things must be completed. It was recognized that not enough Leaders were motivated to complete it on their own and therefore it became mandatory. Now everyone wants to complain and have extra time.

As a Platoon Sergeant I have stressed the importance of getting registered and completing SSD's, College, Technical Certifications, and Correspondence Courses. Almost no one listens. It is for this reason I have no sympathy.

With that said I wish everyone the best of luck. I believe it is nearly impossible to get it accomplished if you are not already registered. Like I always mention. "you cannot help someone who does not wish to help themselves."

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Dec 27 at 2014 12:28 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 12:28:55 -0500

the National Guard has the system all screwed up. I was grandfathered in. I had to complete SSD I but had WLC first. Have everything complete. SSD I is in the system.1059 for WLC is in the system. The system has be blocked for SSD 2 because WLC isn't complete but it is there but I cant take the required schools because of the system.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 3:36 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 15:36:37 -0500

This is not a new rule, and SMs have had access to the SSD programs for at least 3 years. This is part of professional developement, and meeting standards.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 3:38 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 15:38:58 -0500

As long as everyone that needs to complete SSD2 has been enrolled and given the chance to complete it, I see no issues with the request. I was promoted back to sergeant back in January of this year and received my email confirming I was enrolled to complete Common Core in March, then when I completed Common Core I called and got a reservation at ALC. I think that a some people sit and wait for the opportunities to open up instead of taking charge of their careers and make phone calls. You have to set yourself apart from you're peers in order to stay competitive.

Response by CSM Tee Oden made Dec 27 at 2014 5:42 PM

CSM Tee Oden — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 17:42:37 -0500

Prerequisites are in place for a reason. Any Service Member who has the opportunity to comply with the required training necessary to be promoted and fails to meet the time restraints should be removed from the promotion list and began all over to regain promotional status. Service Members who for some legitimate reason was unable to comply with the course completion requirements should be reevaluated by their command staff for completing the requirements and promotion potential.

Response by SPC Daniel Edwards made Dec 27 at 2014 10:37 PM

SPC Daniel Edwards — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 22:37:04 -0500

Do I have to be a SGT already to do this or can I go ahead and get it out of the way? Just the online portion anyways.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2014 2:30 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 02:30:57 -0500

I see no problem wih this because I see a lot of promotable SGT take along time to get promoted. The main reason is military education, some too lazy to finish correspondence courses.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2014 10:31 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 10:31:14 -0500

SSD-2 being a requirement is nothing new. If there are E-5's out there that haven't completed it, that is their fault. No sympathy.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2014 11:54 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 11:54:14 -0500

Absolutely!!!! It's time for Sarge to get his/her ass into gear and get this done like yesterday. You know where you can find sympathy if you're looking for it from me. Get hot SGT!!!

Response by CW3 Eddy Vleugels made Dec 28 at 2014 11:54 AM

CW3 Eddy Vleugels — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 11:54:28 -0500

Even though it is an individual responsibility to ensure you meet ALL promotion eligibility requirements, it is also a leadership responsibility to ensure that all those who have not met the requirements are offered the opportunity to do so. I figure there is probably enough blame to go around for both parties...individuals as well as their chain of command. STILL THOUGH...in the end...it is an INDIVIDUAL responsibility!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2014 1:29 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 13:29:42 -0500

I just completed mine, I'm not eligible yet, still need time and ALC. There is no excuse not to have accomplished such an easy task. But hey, better for me when my time rolls around. They won't be in my way.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Apr 10 at 2015 9:22 AM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:22:38 -0400

Well laast time I look I wasn't on the list. Time in Grade. But I have still to take the SSD 2 because Big Army has the computer system screwed up. I was grandfathered on the SSD 1. was told I didnt have to take it. So got WLC. Then came back and they said That I had to take it. So I took it. Now the computer system says that I don't have WLC and wont authorized the SSD @. I CoC is aware and have tried fixing the problem several times. Has went all the way to state and is still screwed up. So I guess We will see if it gets fixed in the future.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Feb 25 at 2020 12:38 AM

SPC Nancy Greene — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:38:55 -0500

This Military Leadership Course Completion was a requirement in 1984-1987! It was a requirement before a SGT/E5 was EVEN recommended to appear before the Promotion Board!
It’s 2020, and the Army is Finally making this Military Education a Mandatory Requirement?!