Has anyone gone to BLC or any other NCOES in the middle of the semester during college?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 09:06:02 -0400

I know it's all about priorities, but I'm wondering if it is worth it in regards to college. Is it missing too much time of the semester to make it up? I've had others in my unit do it and end up failing classes as a result. There are some that took a whole semester off for a 3 week course so they didn't have to worry about failing. Just trying to get some outside input on the topic. To clarify, I am asking this question in regards to attending actual classes, not taking online classes.

Response by TSgt Joe C. made Aug 10 at 2016 9:08 AM

TSgt Joe C. — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 09:08:17 -0400

Not me,no.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 9:21 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 09:21:31 -0400

I'd take the semester off if you plan on making a career of the military, if you plan on getting out, then the rank and training may not have as much meaning to you in the long run. Can your unit schedule you during off time? You're ARNG, they should be able to select when to send you. The new reg makes SSD 1 and BLC a requirement prior to pinning E-5.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 9:26 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 09:26:02 -0400

If you can just hit it up in the summer. WO1 is right. If you want to make a career out of the army, getting ranked is a big deal. If it's not, don't put too much pressure on yourself, but get it done as soon as you can.

Response by GySgt Bill Smith made Aug 10 at 2016 9:59 AM

GySgt Bill Smith — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 09:59:12 -0400

Short answer: Don't take classes and BLC at the same time and do not take off a full semester to go to a 3 week school unless you are financially secure.

This is one of many gripes I have with the Guard. The GI Bill was my paycheck and college was my job after getting off active duty. I wanted to get promoted to SFC so I needed to go to ALC. I had to wait a year for an ALC course to come up over the summer months because I was not going to take off a fall or spring semester for a 2 week course. I feel the Guard or Reserves need to come up with a program to encourage service members to earn their degree and still meet all qualifications for promotion. What the Guard/Reserves do not understand is colleges don't have to follow the same labor laws as employers have to follow. Good topic of discussion

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 10:50 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:50:58 -0400

I went through WLC and did two classes at the same time. Didn't want to pass up the chance to go and have to wait again since I would be promoted literally as soon as I got back to my unit. The way I have always saw it is that if your going to be good in the army you are going to put yourself in some stressful situations. If your doing classes online you should be fine. After all your day in BLC you should get some down time to study whatever you learned for the day. If you know the basic army stuff then you can use that time for your college. Myself and a few other soldiers were doing that every night. Granted I will say it will greatly depend on the type of class you are taking for college. If you are taking any classes that require a major essay then you need to think carefully if you can handle your stress. Time management is also key.

You said in another post that you are looking to make the army a career. There will be plenty of times where you will have multiple tasks and all of them will be a "priority". If you do take your classes while in BLC my advise is have confidence in the course, make a schedule, and stay focused. Don't let any petty drama grab your attention.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 11:24 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 11:24:05 -0400

I'm actually about to graduate BLC in two days and one of the guys in my squad is taking online college classes and did NCOES. It is possible. He just stayed up an extra hour each night and did some reading or took his test/wrote a paper. He said he was getting As/Bs on his assignments, so, to sum up, yes it is possible to both and not fail either one. It is all about how determined you are to get both done.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 11:30 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 11:30:40 -0400

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 12:12 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 12:12:04 -0400

I've had Soldiers attend training during the semester. Most colleges can work with you so that you can complete online assignments during the time away. NCOES is not that difficult so you would have time to complete any school work you may have. You would just have to inform your training command so that if they have specific rules in regards to lights out you can still compete your work.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 12:43 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 12:43:43 -0400

Are you going online or are you going to a brick and mortar school? The reason I ask is that if it's online you'll have enough time at night to get your work done.

Response by SFC Rich Combs made Aug 10 at 2016 12:49 PM

SFC Rich Combs — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 12:49:02 -0400

I would avoid trying to do both. Your first mission is to be a Soldier with the second being a good student. You should expect to be fully engaged during any NCOES, just as in your college courses. My suggestion is to take the semester off and then get back in the books. Good luck!

Response by SGT Larry Michael Bleckler II made Aug 10 at 2016 2:22 PM

SGT Larry Michael Bleckler II — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 14:22:54 -0400

Take a hiatus from school the rewards are worth taking the leadership courses. College is important but so is rank and pay as well as having your continued education after the service will be free. Your military career comes first.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 3:10 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 15:10:04 -0400

It's not worth going during the middle of the semester even thought Proffessors say they will work with you, they never do. Experiences may vary though.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 3:39 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 15:39:59 -0400

I did. It was a nightmare, but doable so long as the school is willing to work with you and you don't have clinicals. I went to BLC- so roughly a month I was away, I was given 2 weeks from the time I came back to complete all of the written assignments, but I was expected to complete the reading discussions on-line, on time. after I came back I was told they "could have recorded the classes for me" but didn't. So my advice is communication is key. Have an email or something of the like in hand with your agreed upon arrangements prior to your departure so that you have something to fall back on.

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 4:19 PM

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 16:19:48 -0400

I did it in between semesters. If that's not an option then you make your priority. If you're just doing one contract and out, don't skip school. Missing 3 weeks will likely lead to you failing. Everything. Most universities have a rule where Missing 10-15% of instruction is an automatic failure. Do the math. In regards to skipping a semester, Missing out on 12-18 credits is a big deal and if blc won't do much for your life in the grand scheme of things it isn't worth it. if you do plan on making a career out of the military or even plan on going for one more go round, then yes blc may be worth skipping a semester. Best thing to do though if possible, go in between semesters. Even if you get a blc class that starts late and rides into your college semester by a week or two, you're still Missing far less class time. Plus first semester is sylly week. Nobody goes haha

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2016 2:51 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 14:51:21 -0400

I tried doing training in the middle of the semester and it ended very poorly. I struggled to catch up and ended up dropping a class and failing another. Now, since I have other schools to go to, I decided to take a year off. It's working out for the better. I can go back in with nothing but school on my mind, and my training already done. Avoid training during the school year like the plague.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2016 3:45 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 15:45:35 -0400

I have done it both ways, got activated in the guard for 2 weeks during college and the college worked with me (kind of similar situation) then I took off a semester to attend Sniper school. The school was a month long though and was 6 years ago so we didn't have easy access to school work and stuff. I would talk to the school first to see if they will work with you, VA Rep is a good person to go through because they speak our lingo.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2016 6:17 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 18:17:00 -0400

Man up troop. I've been full time
Since 2013 AD.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2016 7:41 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 07:41:16 -0400

I just had a student come through who was doing masters level work during commandants time while he was going through the course. It all depends on your level of self discipline and ability to handle multiple tasks at once.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2016 10:53 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 22:53:29 -0400

I wouldn't recommend WLC while you're in college courses but I've had success attending ALC and will continue school at SLC as well. WLC is more warrior tasks though and down time is sparce.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2017 5:16 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 17:16:46 -0500

I just notified my school and they let me either work ahead or catch it all up when I finished the NCOES.