Can a CSM deny orders for a leadership school such as BLC or ALC just because you don't get a 70 in each PT event?

Reading through a lot of the responses here it is OVBIOUS that senior leadership does NOT know the standards for the APFT. There is a lot of cross talk about "minimum" standards here. Let me make this clear. BY REGULATION, 180 on the APFT (60 points in each event) IS THE ARMY STANDARD. Not the minimum standard. 181 is EXCEEDING the ARMY standard. 179 is BELOW the Army standard irregardless of what your opinion is. Just because a Soldier exceeds the standard by scoring 300 on the APFT does not necessarily make them a good leader. I have seen too many so called PT studs fall out of road marches because they could not keep up with Soldiers who scored lower on the APFT. I have seen these so called PT studs who could not for the life of day qualify with their assigned weapon, but lower scoring Soldiets out shoot them all day long. I have seen these so called PT studs who could not lead a horse to water. And I have seen lower scoring Soldiers who are HIGHLY effective leaders.

What we need to do is concentrate on the total Soldier concept when sending a Soldier to school. If the Soldier is meeting the ARMY STANDARDS then you cannot hold them back.

I don't believe a CSM has the authority to deny any orders. They can make recommendations to the commander. As long as you meet all the criteria for the school as stated in the regulation I don't see any reason to try to stop someones orders. The service schools grade on very strict requirements. That sloppy last push up that got you to 60% or fingers slipping loose doing a sit up, or the ten seconds over your run time won't cut it. Your buddies are not your scorers while in a service school. I have been in units that enforce the standards very strictly for the PT test for candidates because they don't want you to go to the school and fail the PT test at the school and get sent home. That would be more of a career-ender than the CSM saying you have to get a 70 in each event so that you have a fudge factor. It cost money to send you to school and if you are not FULLY prepared you are wasting tax payer money and the Army's time. Remember the slogan is "Be All That You Can Be", not "Do What I Can To Get By." The service/leadership schools have a function to keep the Army standardized. If you are just barely getting by in you home unit, you won't make it through the school.

There lies the difference between Active Duty and ARNG. You are a PT failure below 70 in any given event. Yes, SM's have been delayed to professional development schools for not meeting the bare mininum 210 or a standard 240+ for consideration. If I were CSM I would not give up a slot to someone who just meets the standards. There is no room in this Army anymore for those SM's. Read SMA Daileys 2016 priorities.

Well, SGT Parrott, you have one of two choices...
1- Get your injury documented, treated and revisit NCOES after you have recovered. Or
2- Suck it up and score the 70 points
You cannot not have it both ways. Either your injured or not... Your CSM is looking out for you, believe me. In today's Army, a "Marginal" on a 1059 is a death sentence. This has nothing to do with how hard or easy you're being graded. You can have a bad day, and if your good days are 60%, your bad day is a failure. You need to give yourself a buffer. I have said for years that all NCOs should be able to score at least 75% in each event any day of the year... Something to think about.

Technically no. Most PME just require you to pass the APFT and HT/WT. Airborne school is one of the only schools that I know that requires you to pass the APFT on the 17-21 year old scale regardless of your current age and even then it's still only at 60%. I woukd use the open door policy with the CSM to discuss this further, but keep your 1SG involved.

The price for failing an NCOES or Drill Sgt School is a DA Bar which is all but impossible to lift. That means the Soldier's career is over. The CSM is trying to ensure that the Soldier doesn't face that. Me, personally? I believe that the Soldier should be sent regardless of their physical fitness readiness in order to weed out those who want the title of SGT, SSG, SFC, etc but don't want to live up to the expectations of the rank and associated duty positions. BLUF: If you go and fail, will it be his/her (CSM) fault that you were unprepared to meet the minimum Army standards? This argument, unfortunately goes both ways against the unit leadership when they "hold a SM back" or when the SM fails...

I agree that if you are meeting the standards at 60% in each category you should not be denied the school. On the other hand, if the school you desire to attend is Airborne, Air Assault, Ranger, or Selection, you must needs be more capable. Have your leaders address the CSM about this, a soldier is meeting Army standards and should not be punished for not achieving a perfect 300 on an APFT.

I thought the new policy is that you're automatically scheduled for attendance (supposed to be) when you're eligible and have no flags i.e. you pass PT. Leadership isn't supposed to have any input into the matter. Better pass when you're there though or its hell to pay.

No. Nobody can deny someone to not go without the deferment from the first GO in the chain of command, regardless of the compo. If they fail an APFT prior to, you flag them and they are dropped with a 4187. They pass, but barely, they are still going. It's STEP and that is the way of the future. We as leaders need to make sure our subordinates are always ready.

TRADOC has made a push to clear the back log of NCOs without the requisite NCOPDS and the CSM who fails to send promotable SPCs and NCOs to the appropriate school will have to hear from SMA Dailey and CSM Davenport. This is a huge issue. Now, if that SM shows up fat, out of shape, and not prepared, we are actually holding them to the standard. A marginal 1059 is a career killer.... they get what they earn and we are honest brokers. I would much rather clear out the dead weight at NCOPDS for a few grand in taxpayers dollars then keep a Soldier who has been hiding out and not pulling their weight.

From time to time some people get carried away with their importance, and elevate requirement above the Army standards. They seem to forget, their primary job is to help soldiers, not make their lives more difficult.