What are the best DL courses for promotion points?
I was speaking more of the future Army because during wars people traditionally get promoted just to fill vacancies and the things normally considered desirable in leaders are put to the side. An we transition from an Army at War to an Army of Preparation people will have to make themselves stand out more. I've been through this transition period before.
My personal words of wisdom... put yourself in a position for success. Don't worry about where you go (PCS location) worry about what you will be doing. Create diversity in your NCOER through personally chosen projects. This is part of taking appropriate action. College will most certainly place you in a separate category at the board. College will also bolster your NCOER but not in just one bullet talking about credits earned. Education can help create focused thinking and assist in project management; both skills that are highly sought after for senior leadership rolls. If a Platoon Sergeant cannot manage a project site / HR team / training site...ets... they most likely will not have a very good rating period if their rater is worth anything. As for correspondence check this out - RESIDENT MILITARY TRAINING PROMOTION POINT YES/NO STATUS, UPDATED 19 OCT 15. HRC Enlisted Promotions updated the attached course list and information to inform Soldiers of those courses which are valid for points at 4 points per week (40 hours), and those which are not. Information is also provided to reinforce new/existing policy for awarding points for resident training courses, Soldier training courses listed in AR 350-1, computer based training, and PME academic achievements. https://www.milsuite.mil/book/docs/DOC-52677
Also think outside of the box for a moment and show your Soldiers… correspondence courses are not just for promotion points for your soldiers. Most Soldiers do not realize that these course can also add retirement points which could add to a more comfortable pension later on whether it's active or reserve.
There needs to be more objectivity and much less "soldier has great PT score and had a rater that used a thesaurus, therefore is Audie Murphy".
MOS qualification tests should be brought back, so we can show who actually is competent, and who is best friends with 1SG.
http://www.atsc.army.mil/tadlp/accp/courses.asp
This list of Correspondence courses are all legit classes, that you sign up for through ATTRS, and complete on ALMS, All the material is provided and the classes are structured like the SSD courses. You can accomplish two goals, you can actually learn something, and Add to your Points. Now don't forget that you can no longer Max out your Military Education with Correspondence Courses, You need to combine that with resident courses. Get with your Leaders and try to get some 40 hrs or more schools. Maybe your unit needs a UPL, or a HAZMAT NCO. Of course as SFC Grudzinski Said College courses, Depending on your MOS when you have your AARTS transcript evaluated by your school you could be setting pretty, I had 16 hours just in my AARTS.