ALC, I am a Newely Promotable SGT and I keep getting told that I'd be lucky to get ALC enroute to my next duty assignment. What do I do?

SGT(P) Crystal Marie Gray-Wallace — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 21:59:06 -0400

Response by SGT Dylan Epp made Sep 5 at 2015 10:03 PM

SGT Dylan Epp — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:03:44 -0400

It takes time to get a slot as there are still (depending on MOS) plenty of E-6s who still need to go to ALC and will certainly take priority. I wouldn't worry your number will come up in due time :)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 2:24 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 02:24:07 -0400

Basically, you thank your lucky stars when you get it.
If you want to go enroute you have to call up the professional development NCO for 68W branch. He'll tell you if it's possible, then have you submit a 4187, usually. Assuming all the slots for that time frame aren't taken and there aren't other people who take higher priority being slotted.

Response by CSM Carl Cunningham made Sep 6 at 2015 3:04 AM

CSM Carl Cunningham — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 03:04:11 -0400

I was going to recommend going to ALC en route from or to Korea. That is usually the best time to line it up. However, I see that you missed that boat. I am with SGT Dylan Epp , it will come in due time. I can only assume with the rule change, that CSM's and 1SG's would be pushing it a little harder. I know I would.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 8:44 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 08:44:55 -0400

Make sure that you finish SSD2 yesterday!!! Call the NCOES NCO at branch. That way they can get you on the list. If it comes from them, the only way your unit can say no is because you failed a PT test or HT/WT.

Understand there is an OML, and as a newly promoted E5, you are at the bottom of the list.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 9:28 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 09:28:44 -0400

Under the guidance of the STEP program you will be slotted for the next NCOES in accordance with your promotion criteria, such as you need to be promotable before attandance to the next NCOES

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 9:37 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 09:37:31 -0400

Coordinate with your S1 and schools NCO. You can also look at ATTRS to see which school date match up with your report date. If need be, your S1 can help with a deferment 4187 so you can attend school heifer your report date. If not, S3 can still get you locked into a date and they you can just go TDY from your new unit.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 10:18 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 10:18:12 -0400

REQUEST - REQUEST - REQUEST

While it's proven that ALC is hard for an E5 to get due to backlog, it's not impossible. I went as an E5 and about half my class was E5.

There are limited slots, but what's really going to help you is to research (look on ATRRS, check even National Guard availability), find that slot, get the coordination done with schools and get yourself in there.

If you do all the work, your far more likely to make things happen. Remember, no one cares about your career as much as you!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 2:54 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 14:54:58 -0400

It depends on how high your promotion points are for your MOS. Hit me up on PM and I will get you in contact with AMEDD C&S school house. I know the 1SG, 1SG Masters, pretty well and the ATRRS people. I am not saying that I'm giving you an "in", but if you are qualified, these are the folks to be communicating with for school reservations.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 6:49 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 18:49:50 -0400

Continue to push yourself to attend ALC. Make sure that you are taking care of yourself and your Soldiers. This is your career you can not expect someone else to do anything for you. BTW congrats on becoming a Non-Commission Officer. Lead your Soldiers the way you wanted to be led when you were in their shoes.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 8:17 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 20:17:50 -0400

I wil say never down turn a NCOES opportunity. Back when I was an SGT I was about to ETS in two months. A slot for PLDC (WLC) came open and my company asked me if I wanted to go. So I said yes. I did go to PLDC and graduate with less than a month left in the Army. I was planning on going to the National Guard and my unit just fudged my ETS a year or so so I could go. It worked for me. I really wasn't supposed to go but I didn't let that stop me. I got BNCOC and then OCS. I still seek out as many opportunities for training as I can get. If there is a chance for anything I will ask and find a way. Best of luck.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 5:08 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 05:08:20 -0400

Hey SGT France!! I actually just came from ALC and they were saying that with the STEP program coming out, you would have to wait for branch to slot you and it would be based on promotion points. PM me and I'll tell you everything they said would be changing come 1 October! Good luck though! Hopefully you get slotted soon!! And congrats on passing the board!!

Response by SSG Christopher Matthews made Sep 7 at 2015 3:09 PM

SSG Christopher Matthews — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 15:09:59 -0400

Call your branch manager, Bn sergeant major always has connections in branch. Always network with old soldiers

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 10:45 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 10:45:52 -0400

SGT France,

You need/want to complete SSD2 like yesterday. Then request from branch via the NCOES NCO. Welcome to the Corps of NCOs. If you have a SGM/CSM mentor see if they can also contact someone on your behalf. This will be your first of many opportunities in the Army of marketing yourself and competing for that next rung in the ladder. God speed!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 2:54 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 14:54:22 -0400

Keep trying they were all telling me the same thing and look only 7 years in and I have completed SLC already. Could have been that I was lucky but I kept on trying and got in. Good luck.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 7:28 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 19:28:40 -0400

I would put in a DA 4187 to be put on the shortlist list should a last minute no show occur. You need to ensure you are 100% physically (APFT & HGT/WGT) goof to go and then wait for the email or phone call because it happens all the time. Although I am AGR and for some reason we seem to be treated differently but I would still try. The worst they could say is no, but it would at least show your motivation level

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Nov 18 at 2015 2:33 PM

SSG Audwin Scott — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 14:33:08 -0500

I didn't go when I PCS'd but I was able to attend while I was stationed over in Italy. The thing is I would just submit and request to go, worse they can tell you is no.

Response by SSG Dave Johnston made Jul 28 at 2017 10:24 PM

SSG Dave Johnston — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 22:24:24 -0400

DA 4187 requesting TDY/School in route. The approval of school in route PCS move has a higher approval rate

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2017 8:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 20:31:58 -0400

ALC slots are based off of an OML made by HRC the two major factors are promotable and the number of promotion points. Bear in mind that you cannot attend on a temporary profile. If you want to go as soon as possible work on maximising your promotion points anything over 600 should get you relatively high on the OML.