How does ALC work in the reserves?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 11:48:26 -0400

I am considering a transition to the reserves, and am wondering how ALC works. Currently I am attending the promotion board this month, but due to the new STEP system I feel it is highly unlikely I'll be able to get an ALC slot before my ETS in December. Can anyone provide information about ALC for the reserves, or specifically 74D ALC, and if my state has any effect (Illinois)? Thank you.

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Apr 8 at 2016 1:51 PM

SSG Byron Hewett — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 13:51:11 -0400

It works the same way, tell your training NCO that you need to be slotted for a seat and give them about the time frame you would be available and they will try to get you as close as possible to that time frame.
Seat reserve availability is usually based on so many seats for active duty, so many for the guard, and so many for the reserves.
since your getting close to ETS you may have to do a re-enlistment extension and then transfer to the reserves after ALC.
the best recommendation I can give you is to see your training NCO and your career counselor either from your current unit or from the reserve unit your looking at transferring too.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2016 2:05 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:05:13 -0400

The training requirements for ALC are the same for Active duty and Reserves. Unlike active duty, most reserve units do not use a Schools NCO to request schools for you once you come up on the Order of Merit List. You must be proactive and ensure you fill out the Schools Request Form for ALC. The reserve ALC is at Fort Leonard Wood, MO just like the Active Duty ALC. You will still have 3 phases as well. Go to https://www.atrrs.army.mil/atrrscc/search.aspx?newsearch=true and choose Enlisted MOS: 74D3 and School Code: L031 to find a list of ALC courses. You will then have to speak to your unit's Schools NCO or Training NCO to look up which class dates have Quotas for your unit. I suggest picking dates for all 3 phases one after another that your unit has a quota for. If not you will be placed on a wait list, or your unit will refuse to put you on orders if you are too far down on the wait list.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2016 4:35 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 16:35:42 -0400

Same but you do know that if you get a slot for ALC and make points, you owe the Army 1 year from the time you get pinned.

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Apr 8 at 2016 5:17 PM

SFC Kenneth Hunnell — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 17:17:32 -0400

You are going reserve, the state has nothing to do with it

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2018 5:03 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 05:03:32 -0400

First and foremost once you ETS off of AD you loose that promotable status. That happened to me. However you can get promoable rather quickly in the reserves. It is a packed that you put together with a letter the president of the board and it gets sent to S1 then to the board. There is nothing else for you to do with the promotion.

As for ALC there are different phases of it and some are most specific. There is also some distance learning too. Phase 1 is all comment core stuff. Everything that you should know for your next rank. As for me I wwnt through as a 68W so I had phase 2 most specific and phase 3 ftx. NCO schools in the reserves are shorter more compact and do not transfer to active duty equivalent. Example my ALC at ft Sam is 4months when I did it the reserves it was 2 weeks for phase 1 and I did phase 2 and 3 together that was 29 days. So you do miss out on a lot. I would recommend if you can do your ALC on AD then transition to Reserves if you want. Good luck