If I'm hard slotted for BLC, can my leadership cancel it so they can take me to JRTC?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 17:25:53 -0400

I had received an email saying I was hard slotted for BLC a few weeks ago. Today my squad leader told me that my BLC is canceled so they can take me to JRTC. Is this denying career progression or can they do this for a numbers game?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2018 8:44 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 08:44:40 -0400

SSG Manuel makes a good few points. However, she also is not looking at this from the selfish point of view on the unit. I have seen units try to pull Soldiers from NCOES due to "Mission Requirements" when all they really needed was a body to fill a slot. I have served as a Schools NCO and scheduled many schools and such and have seen the requests for such things come through. The good news for NCOES is it considerably more difficult now to pull someone without proper justification in the form of a 4187 and an accompanying memorandum from a unit commander to whoever owns that schoolhouse. Then, the unit must also specify a timeframe when they intend to send the Soldier. This gives the higher echelon as well as the Soldier something to use to hold the unit accountable to the welfare of a Soldier and their career. Another point to consider is whether you are close to losing your stripes because you haven't attended BLC? If so, the unit can't not send you as it's mandatory in accordance with the parameters of the STEP program. Speak to your leaders, determine why they would try to cancel your class date. If you feel they aren't being fair exercise your NCO Support Chain and Chain of Command and give them the opportunity to fix it. However, this is YOUR career. Don't sit on your laurels and let others dictate when you do certain things. Be proactive while still being tactful.