After promotion to SSG and completion of SSD3, when would you recommend a soldier submit a 4187 to attend SLC?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 12:59:40 -0400

I am asking for input to get a general idea of how long after promotion to SSG some of you attended SLC. TIA

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 1:09 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 13:09:12 -0400

Read MILPER Message 16-089. That explains STEP NCOPDS Scheduling. I'll help you out by posting the SLC portion:

5. SENIOR LEADER COURSE (SLC) SCHEDULING:

A. SOLDIERS WHO ARE SELECTED BY THE CENTRALIZED PROMOTION BOARD FOR SFC WILL BE SCHEDULED TO ATTEND SLC BASED ON ASSIGNED SEQUENCE NUMBERS BY MOS. SOLDIERS WILL BE SCHEDULED REGARDLESS IF THE UNIT IS ON THE PATCH CHART. IF COMMANDERS DETERMINE A SOLDIER CANNOT ATTEND TRAINING, A DEFERMENT REQUEST MUST BE SUBMITTED TO HRC IN ACCORDANCE WITH AR 350-1 AND THIS MESSAGE.

These are the priorities for how SSGs are scheduled for SLC:

7. SCHEDULING PRIORITIES:

A. PRIORITY 1: BEGINNING 1 JAN 16, PROMOTABLE SOLDIERS WITH THE HIGHEST PROMOTION POINTS TO SSG WILL BE SCHEDULED FIRST FOR ALC AND SOLDIERS SELECTED FOR SERGEANT FIRST CLASS (CY16 LIST) WITH THE HIGHEST SEQUENCE NUMBER WILL BE SCHEDULED FIRST FOR SLC.

B. PRIORITY 2: ALL PROMOTABLE SOLDIERS IDENTIFIED FOR DEPLOYMENT, SHORT TOUR, OR UNIT ROTATION PRIOR TO THE EVENT; PROVIDED THE SOLDIER WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN SCHEDULED DURING SUCH DEPLOYMENT, SHORT TOUR OR UNIT ROTATION. IF UNABLE TO DO SO, THEY WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR TRAINING AT THE END OF THEIR STABILIZATION PERIOD OR UPON REASSIGNMENT BASED ON THEIR PROMOTION POINTS OR SEQUENCE NUMBER AND MOS.

C. PRIORITY 3: SOLDIERS IN THE LEGACY BACKLOG DEEMED AT RISK FOR QUALITATIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (QMP) (37 OR MORE MONTHS TIME IN GRADE).

D. PRIORITY 4: SOLDIERS IN THE LEGACY BACKLOG WITH LESS THAN 37 MONTHS TIME IN GRADE AND SOLDIERS IN REGENERATION UNITS.

E. PRIORITY 5: TRAIN AHEAD SOLDIERS (NOT IN A PROMOTABLE STATUS) THAT CAN BE SCHEDULED FOR CLASS THAT DO NOT MEET PRIORITY 1-4 CRITERIA TO ENSURE CLASSES ARE CONDUCTED AT OPTIMIZED CAPACITY. REQUESTS TO TRAIN AHEAD WILL BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO HRC. ONCE THE CHAIN OF COMMAND PROCESSES THE REQUEST, HRC WILL SCHEDULE THE SOLDIER BASED ON AVAILABILITY OF TRAINING SEATS. HRC WILL SCHEDULE SOLDIERS IN MOS’ WITHOUT PROMOTABLES BY DATE OF RANK (DOR).

That's how people get scheduled for SLC.

I'll tell you this. I had to defer SLC the last two years because of my daughter's severe medical issues. I went to try to reschedule for January 2018 because, although she's still serious, she's stable enough on dialysis to stay with my family. I did what HRC said in getting a memo signed by a GO. They came back and said ""The
Soldier will be scheduled IAW STEP."

That's how people get scheduled these days it seems. So if someone has just made SSG they aren't going to SLC any time soon. Priority goes to a SSG (P) with a sequence number.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 1:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 13:11:03 -0400

I would say 6-12 months (TIG) and submit the 4187 to your BN S3 or the HRC NCOES section to see what they say.

Response by Jordan Gaudard made Aug 25 at 2017 1:15 PM

Jordan Gaudard — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 13:15:43 -0400

SLC Classes have been quite full this last year, and I bet it will be even worse this year with a 44% pickup rate.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 1:23 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 13:23:15 -0400

SSG Fleming,
Thanks for the information 6-12 months (TIG) seems pretty smart.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 1:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 13:51:59 -0400

I thought that HRC was automatically selecting soldiers to attend (schools branch) ?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 4:10 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 16:10:10 -0400

I'm in the guard and all I had to do was complete ALC, then SSD3, and ask for available school slots. Since we Now have the select train educate then promote (STEP)system you want to make yourself eligible for E7 once the board comes around… if you're eligible and you don't have slc you end up taking the promotion and working in an E7 slot until you graduate SLC,then you get pinned. In turn that could be a lot of money you're gonna lose out on. So I would suggest go the leadership school as soon as all prerequisites are met and slots are available.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 6:28 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 18:28:43 -0400

You can submit a 4187 for a "Wait Status Seat." It allows for you to wait for an open seat in the event cancellations occur and a slot needs to be filled, to which at that time, they may pick you. The 4187 is good for 1 year after submission. For a template, go to HRC website email the SLC main email address under NCOES section.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 7:42 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 19:42:33 -0400

You still need time in grade in the E6 rank. What's the rush....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2017 12:49 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 00:49:28 -0400

Like SFC Kelly Fuerhoff stated with the step program you are not supposed be be able to attend ALL until selected for SFC and given a sequence number, with that a 4187 means nothing and there is no time line. I UNDERSTAND that people try to get into schools prior to when they meet the criteria, but most commandant will send them packing week one upon arrival if they do not have a sequence number. They are doing this now to follow the guidelines set forth by the STEP rules

Response by SFC Rick Walton made Aug 28 at 2017 5:29 PM

SFC Rick Walton — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 17:29:55 -0400

Honest answers. I got to know people and did my job well. Schools NCO at BN got me first available seat. Get to know the people in your unit that make things happen behind the scenes.

Response by SSG Lamert Adi made Sep 12 at 2017 11:53 AM

SSG Lamert Adi — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 11:53:55 -0400

ASAP don't wait

Response by SSG Marlon Edwards made Sep 18 at 2017 11:28 AM

SSG Marlon Edwards — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 11:28:53 -0400

SSG, You don't submit the 4187, your chain of command should do that. However you should mention to them your interest so they can get the ball rolling!

Response by SSG Francis Hiebler made Oct 11 at 2017 12:50 PM

SSG Francis Hiebler — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 12:50:14 -0400

Immediately, do not wait for them to tell you to go to school. Put your name into the hat immediately. There is always a mission and Soldiers to take care of, However if you plan to make a career out of the military and continue to advance do not wait for the right time to go... just put your name in and go!

Response by SSG Francis Hiebler made Oct 11 at 2017 1:11 PM

SSG Francis Hiebler — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 13:11:50 -0400

If you are trying to get promoted with your peers wait until they tell you to go. If you want to pass your peers. Prepare the 4187 and submit it. Go immediately. Its a school.
You only have to ask yourself what you want out of the Army, no one elses career path matters when it comes to yours.
Take care of your Soldiers and take care of yourself. If you do that the mission will be successful and so will you!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2017 8:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 20:31:08 -0400

Its great your thinking about this but you can not attendt SLC until yoy have been selected for SFC promotion this all part of the Armys S.T.E.P program this has been around for a while now!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2020 3:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 15:44:33 -0400

Right away! There are no minimum time-in-grade requirements for promotion to E-7, E-8, or E-9, but soldiers must meet the following minimum time-in-service requirements to be eligible for promotion: Sergeant First Class (E-7)—6 years. Master Sergeant/First Sergeant (E-8)—8 years. Sergeant Major (E-9)—9 years.