My unit refuses to release me for WOCS. What are my options?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 08:40:29 -0400

I have been selected to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS). However my XO has told me that the unit will not release me until they find a replacement. Can they legally do this? And what are my options?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2018 9:32 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 09:32:25 -0400

To answer your legal question, I would say yes they can do this. I, as a Commander, can bar any Soldier from attending schools. I’m not going i make any friends this way, but mission effectiveness and readiness are my drivers, not popularity.

THAT SAID, Commanders and other leaders SHOULD be looking out for the best interests of their Soldiers, and WOCS is one of those once-in-a-lifetime things that you don’t want to interfere with.

If the goal is to balance the mission with your own career, maybe you can help move things along. Provide a focused training plan for your takeout that can show the CO and XO that they won’t be left high and dry when you leave. Do a bit of recruiting to see if you can find someone who wants to slide into that vacant slot from another unit. Take all of your subject matter expertise and build a continuity book, SOP, or other artifacts to support the next person in that job.

The old campsite rule applies here: leave it better than you found it. As a WOC, you’re expected to go above and beyond - begin thinking with both the tactical and strategic minds to solve this problem and you’ll have your first lesson in how a Warrant creates soltuons for Commanders.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2018 9:37 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 09:37:22 -0400

Yes and no. They can’t arbitrarily prevent you from attending WOCS since you were DA selected. But they can defer your release on a case by case basis if there is a good reason (for example a deployment, major training exercise, etc.) I would appeal to the higher HQ and get them involved if you think it’s unjustified.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2018 10:40 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 10:40:36 -0400

That's kind of messed up, you're trying to progress so why would they try to stop you ? Idk for sure if its legal or not but do some digging.

Response by CW3 Jeff Held made Mar 23 at 2018 9:34 PM

CW3 Jeff Held — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 21:34:20 -0400

I don’t know about them holding you. Pick up the phone and make some calls.

You are a programmed loss and there should be a req in to backfill.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 24 at 2018 5:44 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 05:44:36 -0400

NO, the WOC orders will come from DA/branch, the unit has very little say in the matter, except Yes Sir and 3 bags full!

Response by CW2 Christopher Esparza made Mar 24 at 2018 9:18 AM

CW2 Christopher Esparza — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 09:18:02 -0400

Your unit will not even see you as a know loss until you have completed WOBC. This is because you are conditionally appointed until graduation. So the idea of getting a replacement before you leave in a mute point. (It’s not going to happen) Here’s an idea why don’t you run this by your units WO bet you see the XO’ mind suddenly change.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Mar 24 at 2018 6:05 PM

Capt Tom Brown — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 18:05:14 -0400

Unless you are so important the unit would collapse without you, your leadership is acting like a bunch of ArseHoles.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2018 4:59 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 May 2018 16:59:01 -0400

I highly suggest you get with your command chief about this

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made May 8 at 2018 7:53 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Tue, 08 May 2018 19:53:24 -0400

I am not sure I would agree with others, you have been federally recognized correct? You have been pinned as a WOC? If so you are no longer an enlisted soldier, no longer qualified in you career field, what commander, with any degree of common sense, would want to carry a non qualified officer on his/her books...Hello Houston we have a problem.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Aug 30 at 2018 8:14 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 20:14:58 -0400

Sounds like a jackwad command that is only worried about how they look. Typically you don't get a replacement till the person leaves.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2018 3:26 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 03:26:12 -0400

I realize this is old by now, but if you're active duty, no. Once HRC announces that you're accepted, you will go and be curtailed if you're OCONUS. Units don't have a hold on people and can't release them, that's the Branch Manager's job.
A unit cannot tell the Army that you will not move onto a DA Directed school. Battalion LTCs don't give orders to the HRC CG.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2018 7:17 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 07:17:45 -0400

CW2 Christopher Esparza I know i am late to this party, but my god I'm glad someone has some knowledge on this subject. So first I'm going to assume this question is being asked by a person that is on active duty, if not, then disregard as I wouldn't feel comfortable putting my name on what I'm about to say. Ok so, 1LT James Forwood, you seem to mean well and respond with genuine intentions, but you are most certainly misinformed. As a Personnel Officer with enough experience to help this E6 out i can say without a doubt that there had better be a DAMN good reason to hold back an individual from going to a DA Select school PME. Sure, it's possible for a deferment, but only in rare cases such as a deployment and if the Soldier isn't on board with said deferment it’s even less likely. Further, the command has ZERO say in that approval. The request is submitted through the individual’s branch or projected branch for approval. Here’s the deal, some of the responses are encouraging the idea that this is something normal etc…however, please hear me when I say that this is only normal because Soldiers are not informed nor educated on subjects such as these and it’s so very important that the Army HR community always have the individual in mind when managing their careers and future goals. Here is the BLUF, to get selected for WOCS is very similar to getting selected for OCS. Your packet was ALREADY approved and submitted for consideration which means the command you fell under was well aware of your goals. If and when you get selected (which congrats is in order here for getting selected) course dates are backed by a timeline that is befitting to the overall quota for attendance at school and the projected timeline for the MER cycle those WOCS graduates will fall under. These projections aren’t in real-time and are used as a tool to project overall manning percentages and fill requirements. If just one request for a change in that schedule is granted it’s not just an easy check rog. So again, sure, it’s possible, but HIGHLY unlikely to get something like this approved and it is absolutely unfathomable how some of these responders think that an XO (a freaking MAJ) or a BN CDR for that matter have enough juice to just say “na man you ain’t leaving until we get a replacement or I feel all warm and fuzzy inside”. SSG Wraph, I know it’s been a few months, but if you still need help on this just send me a message. Good Luck!

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 31 at 2018 2:25 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 14:25:17 -0400

Your unit had to have supported your pacjet or you would not have been selected in the first place. As for mandated release, it is not a DA select as in promotion. The commander can defer you for operational reasons, to say that you stop the show is a bit disconcerting to me. I wonder what your CSM thinks, ask! Thank you for your service.