Getting tapped for NCOES while on deployment... is there a way to fight this?

2016-01-14T02:44:05-05:00

I am currently deployed/TDY and just received my ATRRS email to attend ALC halfway through my deployment. I am really enjoying my mission here and want to remain in country to complete the mission and sustain operations. Is there a way to argue/fight this? I am more than willing to attend NCOES after my tour, it's just that this couldn't have come at a worse time. All help and advice is welcome!

Response by SGT Curtis Earl made Jan 14 at 2016 3:16 AM

2016-01-14T03:16:31-05:00

It's just a reservation. Find the person in your chain that made the decision to send you and ask them to change it. Worked for me. Your mileage may vary, tho.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 3:27 AM

2016-01-14T03:27:26-05:00

I tried to do this and it didn't work. In the long run its good for you so, just go. In the near future you won't be able to attend unless you are promotable. How ever good luck.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 4:17 AM

2016-01-14T04:17:37-05:00

Same thing happened to me on my 3rd deployment. Talk to your 1SG, and he can have your BC sign a memorandum to HRC that changes your class date.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 6:13 AM

2016-01-14T06:13:20-05:00

With the current operational environment and considering the changes with the STEP program, you should re-deploy to attend ALC. You may be moved to an undesirable location on the OML which will result in a different Rallypoint post later down the road, "I can't get promoted because I haven't attended ALC yet; how can I get a school date?"

We are sending guys back from my current deployment to attend PME schools.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 7:40 AM

2016-01-14T07:40:37-05:00

Needs of the Army and your career outweigh an "enjoyable mission" that will get accomplished whether you are there or not. Start packing.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 7:52 AM

2016-01-14T07:52:37-05:00

You can do a deferment but I wouldn't recommend it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 7:53 AM

2016-01-14T07:53:30-05:00

I would go to ALC, this day and age it's not wise to turn down opportunity.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 8:07 AM

2016-01-14T08:07:43-05:00

Prior 2010ish deployments trumped NCOES....now it's an unwinnable situation from the numerous ones ive seen

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jan 14 at 2016 8:29 AM

2016-01-14T08:29:52-05:00

Never, ever turn down an Army School! Deployments will come, school slots will not always be there.

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Jan 14 at 2016 8:47 AM

2016-01-14T08:47:20-05:00

If NCOES is given, take it! Trust me you are being noticed and the deployment will go on without you.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 9:07 AM

2016-01-14T09:07:25-05:00

Get in shape and just go.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 9:41 AM

2016-01-14T09:41:38-05:00

I agree with most everyone here. Strike while the iron is hot, you never know when you might get another chance. I've seen too many people get passed over for promotion because they couldn't get into the school they needed. There were 3 MAJs in my ILE phase III class that were scrambling because they had waited until the last minute and were at risk for missing the O5 board.

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 10:33 AM

2016-01-14T10:33:54-05:00

Career choice:
1. If you are going to ETS, turn down the school and continue the mission. That action frees up a slot for another high potential NCO.
2. If you plan to continue in your field, take the opportunity for the class. As another has already stated - you are being noticed, and the school asignment is recognition of that.

Response by SFC Thomas Howes made Jan 14 at 2016 10:35 AM

2016-01-14T10:35:00-05:00

It is better for you and your career to attend this course now

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 14 at 2016 10:35 AM

2016-01-14T10:35:36-05:00

Don't do it! Everyone and their grandmother has deployed. NCOES opportunities are becoming a hot commodity. Don't hurt yourself in the long run for short term enjoyment...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 11:48 AM

2016-01-14T11:48:08-05:00

Go knock out your PME. The mission will be there when you get back. When you are ready to get promoted, you may not get another opportunity on time.

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Jan 14 at 2016 11:56 AM

2016-01-14T11:56:46-05:00

There is a lot of wisdom on this page. I was asked to attend, which was an honor because I was a relatively junior E-5. However, that was when Viet Nam was ending and there was a lot of bad morale. All I wanted to do was get out because of the new generation of officers who told us we lost Viet Nam because we did not know how to fight the war. All I wanted was to get out - but if I had gone to the school I may have been able to do something else. So, I turned it down, but in retrospect many years later, going may have been exactly what I needed at that point. Good luck to you in any event.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 1:21 PM

2016-01-14T13:21:45-05:00

I just want to say that I did not cancel, nor did I turn down my NCOES slot. After speaking with the command, they are handling it as they see fit. I appreciate all the input and advice from so many of you with experience that I can only dream of having. This is my first deployment and I waited 5 years for it and even volunteered! I do appreciate all the input though. Thanks everyone.

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Jan 14 at 2016 1:26 PM

2016-01-14T13:26:34-05:00

There are ways you can get deferred from ALC. You can ask you Senior NCO about requesting deferment for school. While this may seem like the thing to do, it will hinder your progression in your career. If it were me, I would seriously look at attending the school. Sometimes getting a slot can be very hard to get. Deployments will come and go, but selection for ALC may be few and far between. You are competing for this slot with fellow NCOs and by deferring it could move you to the OML.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2016 1:38 PM

2016-01-14T13:38:58-05:00

I think that you would be making a mistake if you do not go.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jan 14 at 2016 2:17 PM

2016-01-14T14:17:20-05:00

Where are you deployed, Tahiti? Seriously, take the school, you don't know when the next slot will come. School is done, and that is another notch in getting the next stripe.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2016 2:28 AM

2016-01-15T02:28:02-05:00

Go to school! The comments preceding my comments also "hit it on the spot". I was always told, "don't turn down an opportunity to advance".

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Jan 15 at 2016 1:38 PM

2016-01-15T13:38:36-05:00

sometimes depending on the location of your deployment and the base your on there will NCOES schools offered on that base, if offered take the opportunity to advance yourself while your there.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 5:57 PM

2016-01-16T17:57:32-05:00

MI NCOA does not like Soldiers skipping school. When I went to SLC in AZ, SLC 1SG and NCOA Commandant were all taking about NCOs skipping NCOES and how they had a grat number of SFC that had deffer SLC on various occasions. I can tell you that your command better have a valid reason to deffer the school. I don't see a deployment in Eastern Europe hard to come by specially if you are assigned to 66th. So go to school and I am sure your unit will have a replacement to fill the gap.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2016 1:06 AM

2016-01-17T01:06:12-05:00

Most definitely do NOT decline a school. I agree with nearly everyone on taking the school instead of staying on the deployment. I'm glad you decided to take the school to better yourself.

Response by SGT Kevin McCourt made Jan 27 at 2016 9:57 AM

2016-01-27T09:57:07-05:00

I understand you not wanting to leave your guys during a mission. You will not be failing them by doing this. Why would you want to fight something that will benefit you? NCOES will only help you become a better leader. You need to pay attention to the current change in standards. The Army is/will be going back to how it was in the 80s/90s. Schooling was required for advancement. Turning it down, you may find it hard to get a slot later on. Jump on it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2016 10:01 AM

2016-01-30T10:01:31-05:00

As the Course Chief for MP ALC at the MSCoE NCOA, I would recommend that you attend if you are able to go. As I told another SGT in this thread, we lost a total of 135 slots from FY 15 to FY 17. With STEP, you will NOT get promoted without attending ALC. That's just the way it is. Just think of it this way, are you willing to forego the chance to step up and start leading more troops? Squad Leaders are where the rubber meets the road in the Army and you will have the ability to influence more than just your team. At the end of the day, if you miss this chance, you might be waiting longer than right when you get back from deployment.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 4:26 PM

2016-02-04T16:26:22-05:00

Go to school. It's a priority now.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2016 1:53 PM

2016-02-12T13:53:40-05:00

yeah , go to ALC while you can !!!! in fact start running there now LOL

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jun 11 at 2016 12:21 AM

2016-06-11T00:21:37-04:00

Young man, you got your orders - GO TO SCHOOL. You will have a lot of cool assignments later. Remember to keep moving up, if that's what you want.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2017 1:22 AM

2017-09-30T01:22:41-04:00

This new STEP Program is even dumber then the original tattoo policy. We are Americans and we are at War, lets make our priority to fight for our country and keep leaders there, not send them home just to go to some worthless NCOES school and take them out of the fight. If you actually learned anything from these NCOEs schools my opinion would be different, however i went to WLC, ALC , SLC and mowed lawns and stood in formation.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2018 3:55 PM

2018-08-07T15:55:06-04:00

I'm 2+ years late to this party. Did you return early from deployment and go to your NCOES?

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 13 at 2018 5:00 AM

2018-08-13T05:00:11-04:00

The Army made a decision (I believe) Bach in 2004 to continue with NCOES. You can ask for a waiver, unless you are in specialty that cannot be accounted for during your units timeline it is not likely that you will receive a waiver. Can’t hurt to try. Thank you for your service.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2018 5:21 AM

2018-09-21T05:21:08-04:00

I know you have received a lot of advice and you are going to school, but I want you to know I went last year halfway through a deployment and came back to finish the deployment. It sucked but getting promoted a month later while deployed was good.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jun 10 at 2019 11:26 AM

2019-06-10T11:26:35-04:00

It is the policy of the Army that Soldiers no longer defer for deployments, even combat. Thank you for your service.