Can a soldier be flagged for not completing SSD1/DLC1?

2019-04-11T19:49:42-04:00

My unit leadership has recently put out that junior enlisted soldiers will now be flagged if they do not complete their appropriate SSD/DLC’s. I have researched numerous regulation’s, MILPER’s, ALARACT’s, policy letters, etc to see just where the Army states this ability on paper. I could not find a correlating reason for a flag in AR 600-8-2 for not completing SSD/DLC. However, I have came across an Army Directive that states a soldier may possibly be barred from reenlistment if they do not complete SSD/DLC by the time they reach their primary zone. With that being said, it said nothing about initiating a flag on those soldiers. Is anyone able to point me in the right direction to see what regulation/policy states that soldiers who don’t complete the appropriate SSD’s/DLC’s can be flagged?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2019 8:19 PM

2019-04-11T20:19:01-04:00

When you are Barred, you are Flagged. If Soldiers just get their DLC/SSD done, then there is no issue to be concerned about.

Response by SFC George Smith made Apr 11 at 2019 8:55 PM

2019-04-11T20:55:10-04:00

Ask For A Copy, in Writing, Of The Policy And Consult Leangle Affairs…

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2019 9:30 PM

2019-04-11T21:30:30-04:00

When you were enrolled in SSD1/DLC1, that was a directive to complete the training.
If your commander directed that all soldiers enrolled will complete it, that is a direct order.
If an NCO told you to complete it, or addressed that expectation in a written counseling, that is a lawful order.
Failure to comply with a directive, direct order or lawful order can be construed as inefficiency or misconduct, either one can warrant a flag and even reduction in grade.
So, yes, a Commander can do what you are describing.
And I suspect that several warnings and deadlines have already passed before he put this out.
It is a 40 hour course, (less than that really). If you put in just 1 hour a day you would be done next month.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2019 9:33 PM

2019-04-11T21:33:26-04:00

I believe the only way you could be flagged is for failure to follow a lawful order. That said, I’m not a barracks lawyer, so I will just advise you to take the easy path, that is the path of least resistance.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Apr 12 at 2019 12:40 AM

2019-04-12T00:40:31-04:00

Why are you even arguing this? It's a course mandated by the Army. Period. Further it is an order... a direct order from your leadership. If you fail to follow the direct order UCMJ action can and likely will follow and you will be flagged.

It's not hard. TAKE THE COURSE. They are only mandating DLC1 at this time. The amount of time you have spent researching regs and formulating a request for information on RP you could have been halfway through the course already.

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2019 3:13 AM

2019-04-12T03:13:00-04:00

Atrrs will flag you if it’s not completed in time. Happened to a few guys in my last unit. Usually when your at 2 1/2 years of service

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Apr 12 at 2019 4:55 AM

2019-04-12T04:55:29-04:00

I have never seen a Bar without a Flag. They go hand in hand. If you are unworthy of future service, you are unworthy of favorable actions (I am not classifying you as not worthy, but your decisions will). If you wish to leave the service with dignity and honor you must upfield the standards of the Army. Attending these programs brings value to your worth as a civilian as well. So wether you stay or go, it will only enhance you as a person. You have been worthy thus far why leave on a negative. Thank you for your service.

Response by SSG Thomas Trutt made Apr 12 at 2019 5:32 PM

2019-04-12T17:32:30-04:00

Ask yourself carefully if you want to go down this path. While on a technicality a flag is only supposed to be initiated for "adverse action" when UCMJ proceedings begin, and the ability to impose a flag based on a bar to re-enlistment might be questionable in this case, and can be appealed, do you really want to fight this with your command? All they have to do is say "fine then" and in 10 minutes they can have an article 15 written up for failure to obey a lawful order. So what next? Do you take it to court martial and risk a dishonorable and jail time?

If this is an issue that has gotten to this point in your unit, then it tells me that there are deeper issues going on here. Instead of looking up the regs and arguing verbage, it would probably be a better use of your time to first, finish your course, and second - to assist your fellow Soldiers in completing their courses.

You can always come back to the regulation issue after the mission is complete and your chain of command isn't feeling hostile or defensive about the issue.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Apr 13 at 2019 1:23 AM

2019-04-13T01:23:08-04:00

My question is, why would you not want to do SSD? I get that they aren't the most exciting things to do with your time. But, if you aren't developing yourself, when the time comes that you would need that information and don't have it, aren't you really letting your buddies and unit down? The way I see it, is if you were instructed to do any task, that was lawful, and you failed to do it then the leadership has every right to punish you. A lot of the problems I have with new soldiers, and even when I assume control of new sections when I transfer into a new unit, is the mentality of having to explain why. for everything. it gets a bit old. There are times to explain why, but generally, if your leadership tells you to do something that is legal, just do it and trust the process. I once smoked a private because they would persistently ask why, seemingly to get out of doing what they were told, so I smoked the sh** out of them, and then while they were in the front leaning rest I knelt down and whispered, "this is why." Just simply follow orders and quit complaining. Your career will thank you for it.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2019 3:48 AM

2019-04-13T03:48:24-04:00

If you don’t want to put in the work to be promoted and advance your career, why should the Army invest anything more in you. You just want schools, or badges and TA??? You have to want to be there dude!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2019 6:47 AM

2019-04-13T06:47:04-04:00

Yes, I seen in first happen in 2018 when I was at Fort Campbell. One of my soldiers got flagged for not completing SSD1 by HRC.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2019 1:16 PM

2019-04-13T13:16:41-04:00

You can't be flagged for not completing SSD. There is no flag for failing to complete SSD. It would be a stretch to flag someone for adverse action for refusing to follow a direct order to complete SSD, but that's the closest you could get.
HRC will automatically place a code against you barring you from reenlistment though.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2019 2:36 PM

2019-04-15T14:36:57-04:00

Quit making things complicated. Complete SSD1/DLC1 and soldier’s on.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2019 4:44 AM

2019-04-16T04:44:10-04:00

Typical MP senior leadership.

Like SFC Jason Boyd said, there’s no AR, MILPER or ALARACT that says you will be flagged for failing to complete your current level of SSD. However, you will receive a DA imposed bar with an IMREPR code of 8k.

If your unit is giving “junior enlisted” Soldiers (hopefully all enlisted is getting the same guidance in your unit...I’m getting tired of seeing ”do as I say not as I do” leaders) a direct order to finish their appropriate level of SSD in a certain timeline. That would all need to be put into a 4856 or some kind of policy memo for them to try an ultimately flag a Soldier (which they have to have a specific reason to flag you since it’s not just a switch you flip.) Sounds like a bunch of scare tactics.

Don’t be afraid to tactfully go back to your leadership with the information you’ve found in the refs and MILPER messages. Knowledge is power. I’ve been in your shoes. As soon as I provided them with the correct info (written or verbal) they backed down a little.

Whether it’s you or other soldiers, just continue to make progress. Regardless if it’s a module in a week or part of a module, it’s still progress and you can’t be JUSTIFIABLY reprimanded for that.

Response by SFC Jeremy Boyd made Apr 26 at 2020 12:32 AM

2020-04-26T00:32:20-04:00

Situations like these are the reason I am so happy that I had graduated M-SLC two months prior to SSD coming out in 2009. I was automatically grandfathered through SSD 3 and automatically enrolled into SSD 4.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2020 2:27 PM

2020-06-26T14:27:06-04:00

I'm just saying I have yet to complete either, and I have already extended. I feel like it's not a big deal, unless you want to progress your career. If im being honest its not the old army anymore. Whats the worst that will happen you stay a SPC then ETS when your time hits? Unnecessary work!

Response by SGT Malcolm Kitchen made Nov 19 at 2020 7:39 PM

2020-11-19T19:39:50-05:00

They could just Article 134 "catch all" you if they
seemed fit, at least that was the big one back in
my glory days, sure much has changed now but
the Article still exists. Why push it? Do what you
were told to do and get it over with and stop
playing Lawyer. The Lawyer game is a loosing
game on your side of the table...always. All that time spent doing that research could have been used to complete the SSD1/DLC1 and this discussion wouldn't be.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2021 12:20 PM

2021-10-20T12:20:31-04:00

I finished dlc1 in two days