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**UPDATE**
I sent an email to the NCO of operations over at the school and he is willing to work with me regarding getting my packet processed. Yes, my chain of command is aware and is working with me getting this done. The problem was with my documents being completely missing from my packet not my unit not having money to pay for a slot or me not wanting my chain of command involved. Thanks for the info and for telling me S3 handles school packets I did not know that.
Here is the backstory. I want to go to Air Assault school so I put together my packet and got some feedback from my NCO to make sure I was doing everything correctly. I gave all my documents to the orderly room at my unit because I was told they would take everything from there. When I gave the CPL in the orderly room the documents for my packet she said that she already had all of the documents already completed and didn't need the ones I prepared (I know this is where I should have asked to see them myself). I gave her the packet back in November 2020 and the class I intended to join was in March of this year. I just came back from Leave and BLC and since I haven't been in the motor pool I asked her what the status on it was. She said my packet was kicked back and since she's in BLC now and can't remember why my packet was kicked she said I could get it back myself. When I get my packet I see that none of the documents that needed to be there were in the packet except for my PT card and the FC Form 4137. Now I am going to be rebuilding my packet for a different class date but my question is do I have to go through the orderly room to submit my packet to schools? Can I turn my packet in to S1 on my own and bypass them? I am not asking if I can bypass my chain of command, I know I have to have them sign off on my schooling and they have but can I physically turn in my own packet? Any help is appreciated.
I sent an email to the NCO of operations over at the school and he is willing to work with me regarding getting my packet processed. Yes, my chain of command is aware and is working with me getting this done. The problem was with my documents being completely missing from my packet not my unit not having money to pay for a slot or me not wanting my chain of command involved. Thanks for the info and for telling me S3 handles school packets I did not know that.
Here is the backstory. I want to go to Air Assault school so I put together my packet and got some feedback from my NCO to make sure I was doing everything correctly. I gave all my documents to the orderly room at my unit because I was told they would take everything from there. When I gave the CPL in the orderly room the documents for my packet she said that she already had all of the documents already completed and didn't need the ones I prepared (I know this is where I should have asked to see them myself). I gave her the packet back in November 2020 and the class I intended to join was in March of this year. I just came back from Leave and BLC and since I haven't been in the motor pool I asked her what the status on it was. She said my packet was kicked back and since she's in BLC now and can't remember why my packet was kicked she said I could get it back myself. When I get my packet I see that none of the documents that needed to be there were in the packet except for my PT card and the FC Form 4137. Now I am going to be rebuilding my packet for a different class date but my question is do I have to go through the orderly room to submit my packet to schools? Can I turn my packet in to S1 on my own and bypass them? I am not asking if I can bypass my chain of command, I know I have to have them sign off on my schooling and they have but can I physically turn in my own packet? Any help is appreciated.
Posted in these groups: 
Air Assault School
Army Schools
Air Assault School Army Schools
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 4
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Ok- 1. Very unwise, there should be a published policy on the route to go for schools and paperwork. 2. S3 has a schools NCO and that's their job- they will handle getting signatures and tracking it- S1 could care less- ain't their job. 3. Here is the big one- the slot must be paid for- it isn't free. Does your unit have any slots or needs for this? If it isn't the MTOE, then you will have to show the command why its's worth the money to send you, or anyone. Keep in mind, tho not the hardesrt school in the service, it does demand a lot, physical and mental. Luck!
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DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, submit to S1 on your own.
First, S3 handles schools, not S1. SO sending to S1 is a waste of everyone's time.
Second, most BN Staffs have established routing and accountability procedures which you are not keyed in to. Many times, they won't even accept straight from a Soldier, and REQUIRE it to come from Orderly/Training Room or from 1SG/CDR.
Finally, doing so burns bridges. Never, ever burn a bridge that you don't have to. That person that you think is worthless and disrespect today may be in a position of power or authority over you three years later at a different unit.
First, S3 handles schools, not S1. SO sending to S1 is a waste of everyone's time.
Second, most BN Staffs have established routing and accountability procedures which you are not keyed in to. Many times, they won't even accept straight from a Soldier, and REQUIRE it to come from Orderly/Training Room or from 1SG/CDR.
Finally, doing so burns bridges. Never, ever burn a bridge that you don't have to. That person that you think is worthless and disrespect today may be in a position of power or authority over you three years later at a different unit.
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SPC(P) Pugh,
I would put all your documents/packet into a single email & send it to your Orderly room (if that's what's mandated by unit SOP), but ALSO CC the S1 personnel, that way there's a digital paper trail & nothing gets lost in translation. In my opinion, this is not bypassing CoC, but instead CYA (covering your @$$). This allows more eyes on your situation & fewer possible points of failure. CC'ing chain of command in email traffic is a way to mitigate the notion of "bypassing chain of command". Instead, it simply increases awareness & is a way of giving the "heads up" as well. This is something I've done for at least a decade & it's how I've gotten shit done. By the way, ALWAYS be polite in your email traffic, no matter how frustrated you may be with the personnel or the process....this will go A LONG WAY.
I hope this helps.
- SFC Stace
I would put all your documents/packet into a single email & send it to your Orderly room (if that's what's mandated by unit SOP), but ALSO CC the S1 personnel, that way there's a digital paper trail & nothing gets lost in translation. In my opinion, this is not bypassing CoC, but instead CYA (covering your @$$). This allows more eyes on your situation & fewer possible points of failure. CC'ing chain of command in email traffic is a way to mitigate the notion of "bypassing chain of command". Instead, it simply increases awareness & is a way of giving the "heads up" as well. This is something I've done for at least a decade & it's how I've gotten shit done. By the way, ALWAYS be polite in your email traffic, no matter how frustrated you may be with the personnel or the process....this will go A LONG WAY.
I hope this helps.
- SFC Stace
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SFC, thanks for the advice. I'm not sure if my SOP mandated that my packet be received by the orderly room but my chain of command, 1SG, and Commander have all signed off on my participation so I will send the documents as well so that they are in the loop. I will also provide physical copies just in case an email is overlooked but once again thank you for the advice I'll take it into account when submitting my new packet.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
SGT(P) (Join to see) - I would recommend against this, unless Commander and 1SG have already blessed off (signed) paperwork. Giving BN a heads up is not necessarily a bad idea, but giving them a heads up of things that are not approved at the lower echelon unit bogs them down. They will be reading an e-mail that, in essence, says nothing more than "this e-mail is just to let you know that you should be getting another e-mail later. I have attached paperwork for you to look at, but really you should ignore the attachments, because you will be getting different ones later." Once you have paperwork all squared away and everything at the Company level is done, THEN CCing them would be appropriate.
In SOME instances this methodology (CCing while still circulating at Company level) may be warranted, however those instances are rare. Most of the time, those instances involve either very short suspenses (i.e. needs to be done TODAY) or very sensitive subject matter; and when those instances occur, it will most likely be being handled at PSG/PL level.
Just my $0.02.
In SOME instances this methodology (CCing while still circulating at Company level) may be warranted, however those instances are rare. Most of the time, those instances involve either very short suspenses (i.e. needs to be done TODAY) or very sensitive subject matter; and when those instances occur, it will most likely be being handled at PSG/PL level.
Just my $0.02.
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