Do you need WLC to be appointed to Corporal?

i can see your frustration about the sham shield E-4's. I just PCSed to a new unit and the E-4s here sham hardcore. Either they are always on appointments, med board, ACAP the list goes on and on. I took control of the situation and in 1 months time I have been to HET Drivers Training, ACP Guard, and 3 more schools and BLC on the way. In my first month I have been to board and got my (P) status. Just waiting on getting CPL to fill the NCO slot before heading to BLC. Im an 88M

WLC is not required for Corporal, but I went to WLC as a Corporal so I could show initiative to get Sergeant.
If it's still the way it was when I was in you don't technically need WLC to get E5, but to be promotable to E6 it has to be completed.
Cpl. is a tricky rank to attain, you have to be a. E4 already (or at least promotable to one) and you have to fill an E5 slot. Also, most units don't use corporal rank anyways. I've only seen them in 11-series units but I could be wrong there.
Show initiative and show that you're a good leader. Grab a team leader position as a Specialist. Max your promotion points.
If you have good leadership they will notice.

Find out the unit's that you are interested in and put a promotion package in for the duty position. Your current admin sgt can find this out for you also find a unit with a shortage or simply change your duty mos as a SSG you should have a secondary mos so look for unit with a shortage also will you be willing to travel to a unit. When I lived in Colorado I traveled to CA
then transferred to Fla so do not be afraid to travel for a promotion or really you could apply for a active duty position with Airborne Rangers or a S.F. unit

When I was offered E-7, it came with an assignment to a USARF school, where I was an instructor teaching PLDC (what WLC used to be.) That's the way life goes - promotions go to those who will take on jobs no one else wants. And that's the story of my career. I made E-5 by taking on a job only the PSG could do (Fire Direction Computer for a mortar platoon, and that was back in the days when you did it on a plotting board with a pencil - no computers.) I made E-6 by taking on a section with a ton of old, broken hardware, and then spent the next 6 months filling out requisitions (which were never filled) so we could pass inspection.

OK, let's look at your situation, and let's look at it from the perspective of the unit 1SG. And further let's say everything you said is correct - the unit is short on NCOs. Here I am, the 1SG, and you walk in. I don't know you from Adam, but you want a WLC slot an CPL stripes. And if I give you the slot, I won't see you for 8 months while you attend Phase I of WLC. And you won't make Annual Training either, because you'll be taking Phase II. I have a lot of paperwork to do in my 39 days a year of duty, and it all has to be done. Adding the paperwork to justify promoting you to CPL? It would be easier for me to type a DF declaring you an acting E-5 (what we used to call Acting Jack) but you wouldn't get to wear your E-5 stripes to WLC course, and that seems to be what you want. So even if you are a leader worth having, I won't get any benefit for more than a year. Tell me again, why I should agree to this?

Promotion in the National Guard is rough. You MUST have the MOS, and any other qualifications, and you must be in the slot (no double slotting for promotion purposes.) Meanwhile I have other people in the unit, and I don't want to lose them because I give you the slot they are waiting for. I have been in units with SPCs who had 20 years of service.

On the other hand, I also was a 37F, or 96F as it was back then. (Psychological Operations Specialist) My E-6 rank came after taking on the Audio-Visual team, a 3 man team (E-6, E-5, and E-4) with a 5/4 ton truck, and a ton of hardware in it. PSYOP units are rank heavy. I made E-8 there as a Senior PSYOP Sergeant, mostly because the only other candidate said he didn't want to leave the tactical teams, and work at Division HQ. But there are NO CPL slots in a PSYOP unit, and requesting them to do a lot of extra paperwork to attempt to justify it makes you look like someone who's going to be a problem, not a problem-solver.

My main point is, if you have looked at the unit and the slots are there, take a chance on it. SHOW me what you can do before you ask me for rank. One thing I (as the 1SG) did NOT need was an overpaid private wearing SGT stripes. I need problem-solvers, people whose first thought is for the good of the unit. There's a job in the unit which isn't being done well, perhaps an extra-duty assignment like reenlistment NCO. Volunteer for it. WHEN you get noticed, you'll get the rank.

One last piece of advice. You do have it right, that enlistment/reenlistment is the ONE time you have the power to get something you want. Perhaps not everything, or exactly what you want, but you can get SOMETHING. But of the two, reenlistment is the more powerful. I know by then whether you are worth keeping and how much it's worth to the unit to keep you. Obvious advice - sign up for a short term.

Once again we fall back to rules and regulations. There is a time frame and prerequisite list for promotion. Primary Leader Ship Course is a major one of them. I know how you feel. You are doing the job but can't be promoted into it. When I was a Sp4 I acted as a Squad Leader. I wanted to be promoted so bad it hurt but because of time in rank I could not be. When I approached the First Sergeant about it he explained this to me and handed me the regulation dealing with promotion to Sergeant. The First Sergeant and Company Commander, with the approval of the Platoon Leader and Platoon Sergeant, did make me an Acting Sergeant. I therefore was given the authority and recognition that come with that rank. I was also expected to lead. It was a great training experience and morale booster. The only problem I had with it was when a new NCO came to the platoon I lost my stripes. But the experience was very rewarding.

Nope it's a Lateral Promotion and I got it before WLC/PLDC. It sucks. Don't get it! Lol

I believe that is true, SGM Quick. The best thing I can recommend, SPC Mullins, is to work your ass off and make yourself into the leader you want to be. Your unit should recognize this, and your name would be more likely to come up to get your stripes, be it two or three. CPL is usually a spot that has to open up and there has to be a need for it. If there is no slot available, chances are not that good of getting it. I would also recommend start doing everything to get your points up either way. Work towards your SGT...it's worth it.

In answer to your question. The National Guard and Reserves are back logged on schools. This is due mainly because of the limited number of slots given to reserve components. With that said; Here in the Tennessee National Guard is stage 1. WLC, BNCOC, ANCOC all come with a distant learning course first ( stage 1 ) the you go to stage 2 when there is a slot available. Due to the fact that there are very few slots and many reservist (and NG) you can be promoted all the way up to SGT. before having to take stage 2. Your best bet is find a shortage critical MOS, get into it to insure faster promotion times, take stage 1 make CPL and then SGT and then go to stage 2. This is what my son did (he is NG) (I am retired E-7 AD).

no you dont have to go to WLC to get CPL if there is an open slot and if you are needed in that slot its up to your chain of command if you get CPL or not.

if you are wanting to reclass.... reclass infantry ;)