How do you request for schools if your command doesnt offer any? For instance anything that would go toward mil ed or badge schools.

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 11:15:12 -0500

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 30 at 2013 11:22 AM

SFC James Baber — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 11:22:18 -0500

Submit a DA 4187 with the school information that you can obtain either from your S1 or S3/Training NCO and send it through the chain, even if they deny it, still required to go through to DA for final processing.

Good luck.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2013 11:25 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 11:25:20 -0500

From a training stand point, simply request a course via DA Form 4187 and submit it through your chain of command. The funding for training events comes from higher but has no bearing on availability of the course. Also, your Unit may not approve your request to attend a course for several reasons from merit to non applicability to MOS but that doesnt stop you from requesting.

For military education, take a look at Skillport course or other distance learning. Good Luck!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2013 12:13 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 12:13:23 -0500

I would say it depends on your unit. We all know about the 4187 but alot of times it doesn't leave the company area. Its very hard especially at your rank. You need to find a NCO with some pull in your S-3 shop or go hang around the schools guy. I have found in my career when you deal with folks at Battalion it always pays to know people. Its sad that the Army is that way, but its true. Trust me I have been there as a young Soldier and as a Team Leader and Squad Leader trying to get my guys to courses like CLS and Field Sanitation, anything I could do for them to get points, or further there military education. It sucks but thats just the way it is sometimes. Good luck to you, I would say to re-enlist for a school. I know 1st Cavalry Division at one time was offering an Airborne or Air Assault School incentive if you chose to re-enlist for 4 years and stay at Fort Hood. Well this guy here did that, and was told that I could not go to Airborne School because we were getting ready to deploy again, and there wasn't enough time. It sucks man, alot of times schools are just the luck of the draw. Good luck to you though!

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2013 1:00 PM

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 13:00:39 -0500

Don't jockey for any courses so you can get a badge. It's not about badges. It's about training you completed. Some of the Army's most impressive courses don't award a badge.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 12 at 2014 3:10 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:10:10 -0400

DA 4187. Reenlistment options is a better bet if you keep getting denied. These career counselors can move mountains sometimes. I had many a troop hold out for Airborne & Air Assault. Timing is another consideration. No harm in contacting the school directly and finding out what their "lighter" months are.