WLC conundrum and opinions

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 20:01:04 -0500

Here is a situation -  I want to see what others have to say about it.<div><br></div><div>Newly promoted NCO (November 2013) who has not attended WLC yet. No issues with the NCO and no reason to not send them to WLC except horrible timing.</div><div><br></div><div>Your unit has been tasked to support another BCT in JRTC from 1-30 March. You are short handed and need to take the NCO to JRTC. You don't have any replacements and in order to support the units above you this NCO has to go with. He is part of a 4 man team and if 1 Soldier in the team drops out that team cannot be used. 6 full teams have been requested for the rotation.</div><div><br></div><div>NCO comes down on orders for Korea with a 10 June report date. NCO wants to take 30 days of PCS leave and needs about 15-20 days to clear. Approximate clearing date is 20 April.</div><div><br></div><div>WLC dates are 26 March to 25 April and 7 May to 7 June. The NCO will not be able to attend the March class due to JRTC or the May class due to clearing and PCS leave.</div><div><br></div><div>What are the options?</div><div><br></div><div>Contact branch manager and have the report date deferred to give the NCO a chance to attend WLC?</div><div><br></div><div>Work with the gaining unit in Korea to schedule a WLC class?</div><div><br></div><div>Send him to WLC instead of JRTC and possibly fail the mission due to one team being down?</div><div><br></div><div>Different ways to approach this issue but I am looking for thoughts from others. Professional education is important but so is the mission you were tasked with.</div>

Response by 1SG Shane Hansen made Feb 13 at 2014 8:12 PM

1SG Shane Hansen — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 20:12:10 -0500

I would send the NCO to WLC instead of JRTC. I ran into a similar problem and we ended up getting personnel (crewchiefs especially) from another company to back fill us so we could operate at NTC. Then when it was their turn to go to JRTC, we backfilled them because they had personnel to send to schools as well. More of a team effort.

I just couldn't bring myself to put a Soldier's career on hold to support a training event. Only my opinion and I am very interested to see ways others would handle it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2014 8:29 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 20:29:57 -0500

Send the Trooper to WLC, loan a SGT from a brother/sister 1SG. We have to take a priority in the education of our Soldiers. When allow Soldiers to PCS before they are PME complete, we do an injustice to the Soldier and their follow on unit.

Response by SFC Jeremy Boyd made Feb 13 at 2014 8:30 PM

SFC Jeremy Boyd — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 20:30:02 -0500

1SG, my question would be if there is knowledge of which unit the newly promoted SGT is going to, and if so I would contact his gaining company/troop/battery 1SG and make your recommendation for him to be sent to WLC ASAP upon his reporting to Korea. That is if the Branch Manager cannot adjust his orders and if you have no other recourse but to take him to JRTC.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2014 8:33 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 20:33:34 -0500

1SG, I would at best, speak with the NCO about the situation at hand and ask him how he feels about the mission and his attendance at WLC. Personally, I would send the NCO to WLC. Reason being is that if that NCO is the single point of failure, then the team was destined to fail in the first place. No single person should ever be the "if all else fails", and I would say it is wrong to hold back the NCO for the sake of the units failure to properly train the Soldier. But, I have definitely been in the situations that you speak of. I've always placed the mission first before myself, but it has cost me valuable time, and tons of hassle in the future! No disrespect intended 1SG! Just my opinion! Great topic!

Response by SFC Jeremy Boyd made Feb 13 at 2014 8:35 PM

SFC Jeremy Boyd — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 20:35:22 -0500

1SG, I would also suggest counseling the SGT and asking him if he truly feels he needs to take 30 days of leave, or that he might be willing to take half of that and give himself enough time to complete WLC prior to PCS.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2014 8:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 20:36:02 -0500

1SG - Have you asked your sister BNs for assistance in supporting the CTC rotation with an NCO. Perhaps that could open some doors and network some options to accomplish your missions, by meeting the intent to support and allowing that SGT to attend WLC. I am not sure if they still have an NCOA in Korea, but as long as this SGTs counseling packet is complete, their new leadership should ensure they attend NCOES as required. As a SGT, no matter his duty station, they should be a priority to attend WLC if nothing else works out for you. I would also say the success of that CTC rotation isn't on the shoulders of that recently promoted SGT.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2014 12:01 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 00:01:46 -0500

Ahhh NCOs that pride themselves in taking care of soldiers and helping them better their careers other than saying there is always a mission and it ALWAYS comes first and never giving things a second look. One day one of my soldiers will smirk and feel all warm inside because he knows that I as his NCO was helping him to further his career and he can come to me for future assistance in all confidence.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2014 2:11 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 02:11:21 -0500

1SG, this is a good question, and thank you for the timelines. There are some very good responses. I believe "mission first, Soldier's always". This is what I would do, and they would work in parallel.

1) Send the Request for Personnel to the other battalions for support in the mission to JRTC.

2) Start working with the gaining unit in Korea to get the Soldier into the first possible class there (that's where I did my PLDC, and it was a fantastic experience). Most likely the Soldier will not meet the person he/she is replacing and the unit in Korea should be able to cover down for the class rotation.

3) Have all of the documents ready for the last minute submission to the S1.

4) Discuss this predicament with the Soldier, sometimes the Soldier will shock you and go with what's best for the unit and put their own wants/desires to the side.

5) Keep daily tabs on the RFI from Brigade about the substitute for the mission

6) Keep tabs as scheduled and agreed with the gaining unit in Korea.

7) Keep the Soldier informed of any progress.

8) Each area must have a deadline for response.

The most important thing, I believe, would be to make the Soldier part of the process, not just a bystander. Get the Soldier involved as much as possible, keep the Soldier informed as much as you can (and you feel comfortable) and do as much as you can to not give the Soldier a negative impression of the situation or the solution, but also as much of a positive experience in being able to continue to have a career without reservations.

I would ask the commander to work through the S1/G1 to get push back on the orders report date to Korea by a couple of weeks. It seems that, with the timing being off, if that push back could happen for just the amount of time needed, the pieces could fall into place nicely.

I don't envy your position. I hope it works out well for the unit, the Soldier and the mission on all aspects.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2014 4:33 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 04:33:02 -0500

1SG,

A lot of options, I will tell you I am in Korea and my companies training room NCO. They have seats available for WLC. They are trying to make us push through all of our SPC. We have Soldiers that came from AIT as a SPC and they want us to send them to WLC. If you would like let me know after the holiday weekend I can get you the school house info.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Feb 14 at 2014 9:42 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 09:42:56 -0500

Send the Soldier to WLC. I always use this scenario; if the Soldier got put in the hospital what would you do?

The mission will still go on. If one Soldier stops a mission, that is not the Soldier's fault, it's the leaderships. He can be replaced and he will be if he has to be. If he's not replaced then he didn't have to be in the first place.

That's just the truth....and it shall set you free.

Response by CSM David Hopkins made Jun 1 at 2014 3:21 PM

CSM David Hopkins — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 15:21:28 -0400

1SG, I know this situation has already transpired so this response is more for professional development and information than to help solve the situation. A commander can do a local deferment for up to 30 days which could have been a solution for you. It would have at least given more time in this end in order for the young NCO to get the schooling he needs for his career.