Posted on Oct 27, 2023
How should I address the lack of assistance from leadership regarding promotion points and submission of a WHCA packet?
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As of May 15th I have three technical certifications (Six Sigma Green Belt, Six Sigma Black Belt and Certified Logistics Associate). On IPPS-A the certs are there. On my Soldier Talent Profile under the Weapons Qualifications section it shows that I am a Sharpshooter with my M-4. The issue here is neither of my certifications or weapons score has populated on my PPW. I've notified my first-line supervisor, PSG and my PL aware of these issues. I've opened cases for the technical certifications and a PAR for the weapons score issue. I've missed cutoff scores due to these issues. Nothing has changed.
Aside from these issues I've been trying to submit a packet for the White House Communications Agency. I have all the documents needed except for a LOR (my PSG is willing to give me one) and the last monthly counseling from my first-line supervisor (my first-line has been dragging his feet with the previous monthly counselings by giving them to me 2-3 months later than he should). I'm trying to submit the WHCA packet before becoming a E-5 because a E-5 requires NCOers for WHCA which may take longer to get versus getting monthly counselings as a E-4. How should I go about handling these issues? Thank you in advance for the constructive criticism.
Aside from these issues I've been trying to submit a packet for the White House Communications Agency. I have all the documents needed except for a LOR (my PSG is willing to give me one) and the last monthly counseling from my first-line supervisor (my first-line has been dragging his feet with the previous monthly counselings by giving them to me 2-3 months later than he should). I'm trying to submit the WHCA packet before becoming a E-5 because a E-5 requires NCOers for WHCA which may take longer to get versus getting monthly counselings as a E-4. How should I go about handling these issues? Thank you in advance for the constructive criticism.
82nd ABN
S1 Personnel NCO
QM: Quartermaster
Fort Liberty
CSM
Posted 6 mo ago
Responses: 2
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That’s a lot but I experienced missing the cutoff score for SSG by 10 points as the S1 section did not get my promotion points added in time. I have no idea how they handle the semi-centralized promotion system as the rules and regulations are always changing.
I would request to use the NCO Support Channel for this AFTER making an appointment with the Battalion S1 to find out why your promotion points did not get added. In my case the SSG S1 NCOIC still had my promotion points packet in the bottom of his in-box and I grabbed it.
If you are not satisfied with the answer you get from the S1 you inform your PSG you would like to see the 1SG as you are exercising your right to use the noncommissioned officer support channel. If your 1SG doesn’t answer your questions, inform the 1SG you would like to see the CSM. Still not content, BRIGADE CSM.
Stay away from using E-Grades as well as “Supervisor”. Use tanks SGT, SSG, SFC etc and those in Leadership positions are “Leaders”, so my First Line Leader etc. this will help you in the future.
Good Luck with your getting your promotion points added in the future
I would request to use the NCO Support Channel for this AFTER making an appointment with the Battalion S1 to find out why your promotion points did not get added. In my case the SSG S1 NCOIC still had my promotion points packet in the bottom of his in-box and I grabbed it.
If you are not satisfied with the answer you get from the S1 you inform your PSG you would like to see the 1SG as you are exercising your right to use the noncommissioned officer support channel. If your 1SG doesn’t answer your questions, inform the 1SG you would like to see the CSM. Still not content, BRIGADE CSM.
Stay away from using E-Grades as well as “Supervisor”. Use tanks SGT, SSG, SFC etc and those in Leadership positions are “Leaders”, so my First Line Leader etc. this will help you in the future.
Good Luck with your getting your promotion points added in the future
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Regarding your weapons qualification and certifications not making it to your PPW, it could be due to the source databases not being properly updated. For example, if your weapon isn't assigned as a primary weapon in ATMS, then the qualification points won't be reflected on your PPW.
For your technical certifications, I believe only your CLA will earn you promotion points as a 92A (but you should still get 10 points for it). There's been a lot of back and forth about the Lean Six Sigma earning promotion points. For a while they did, then they didn't, then they did .. According to the latest information on the COOL website*, the CLA is worth points for a 92A, but the Lean Six Sigma certifications are not*. HOWEVER, if you were assigned the 1X or 1Y ASI (GBLSS or BBLSS), then the respective certification (not both) WOULD get you a 10 point bump.
... or at least that's how it's supposed to work according to HRC. It's supposed to be transparent and applied with IPPS-A, but as of about six months ago it wasn't doing that (don't know if it is or not now).
HRC released a MILPER message (23-022*) earlier this year which addresses the data discrepancies and provides guidance on how to ensure a Soldier’s promotion is backdated if the data discrepancies affected their selection for promotion. If you missed a promotion because the certifications should have put you over, follow the directions (or more accurately, make sure your unit is aware).
Regarding your counseling, did you explain to your first-line leader about your applying to WHCA and they understand your need for the counseling statements?
Specific to your application. It's been a number of years since I was rubbing elbows with the "Whamo" folks, but I don't know if they require NCOERs if you're a newly promoted E5 and they will take the last three counseling statements if you don't have one when the packet is submitted.
Looking at the WHCA website it says to apply to them directly, but I remember going through the Soldier Support Branch at HRC - both say that you should contact each one direction (WHCA or SSB), so I would double check*, especially since HRC's SSB has a few more requirements not mentioned at the WHCA.
Regardless, I would ask them* regarding the counseling statements and the NCOER (if you get promoted before submitting the packet).
------------------------------------------------
* MILPER 23-022 - https://www.hrc.army.mil/milper/23-022
* COOL Website - https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/index.html
* Technical Certification and Promotion Point factsheet - https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/pubs/promoPointsFactSheet.pdf
* Certifications worth promotion points for a 92A - https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/moc/index.html?moc=92a&tab=cred
* CLA for 92A - https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/credential/index.html?cert=cla5563&moc=92a
* HRC Soldier Support Branch - https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Soldier%20Support%20Branch%20Special%20Duty%20Assignments
* WHCA - https://www.whitehousecommsagency.mil/How-to-Apply/Army/
For your technical certifications, I believe only your CLA will earn you promotion points as a 92A (but you should still get 10 points for it). There's been a lot of back and forth about the Lean Six Sigma earning promotion points. For a while they did, then they didn't, then they did .. According to the latest information on the COOL website*, the CLA is worth points for a 92A, but the Lean Six Sigma certifications are not*. HOWEVER, if you were assigned the 1X or 1Y ASI (GBLSS or BBLSS), then the respective certification (not both) WOULD get you a 10 point bump.
... or at least that's how it's supposed to work according to HRC. It's supposed to be transparent and applied with IPPS-A, but as of about six months ago it wasn't doing that (don't know if it is or not now).
HRC released a MILPER message (23-022*) earlier this year which addresses the data discrepancies and provides guidance on how to ensure a Soldier’s promotion is backdated if the data discrepancies affected their selection for promotion. If you missed a promotion because the certifications should have put you over, follow the directions (or more accurately, make sure your unit is aware).
Regarding your counseling, did you explain to your first-line leader about your applying to WHCA and they understand your need for the counseling statements?
Specific to your application. It's been a number of years since I was rubbing elbows with the "Whamo" folks, but I don't know if they require NCOERs if you're a newly promoted E5 and they will take the last three counseling statements if you don't have one when the packet is submitted.
Looking at the WHCA website it says to apply to them directly, but I remember going through the Soldier Support Branch at HRC - both say that you should contact each one direction (WHCA or SSB), so I would double check*, especially since HRC's SSB has a few more requirements not mentioned at the WHCA.
Regardless, I would ask them* regarding the counseling statements and the NCOER (if you get promoted before submitting the packet).
------------------------------------------------
* MILPER 23-022 - https://www.hrc.army.mil/milper/23-022
* COOL Website - https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/index.html
* Technical Certification and Promotion Point factsheet - https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/pubs/promoPointsFactSheet.pdf
* Certifications worth promotion points for a 92A - https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/moc/index.html?moc=92a&tab=cred
* CLA for 92A - https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/credential/index.html?cert=cla5563&moc=92a
* HRC Soldier Support Branch - https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Soldier%20Support%20Branch%20Special%20Duty%20Assignments
* WHCA - https://www.whitehousecommsagency.mil/How-to-Apply/Army/
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SGT Kerry Sommers
I hear what you saying but this process is really screwed up. That is big reason we lose great soldiers. Paper work!
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