Posted on May 11, 2021
SGT(P) Culinary Specialist (Cs)
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So, I actually got a SGT to see that I'm promotable and is willing to help me get a spot into BLC. So my questions are:
1. Has anybody recently done it virtual? I'm just wondering what to expect since I'm currently taking college classes too.
2. How does the process work? Like I know a packet has to be submitted for me but how long does that actually take? Just really wondering since my leadership lacks when it comes to speed and efficiency.
3. How were the parts that are usually done in person conducted?

Thanks in advance for the advice.
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Responses: 7
SFC Retention Operations Nco
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Are you in the Regular Army? Because if you're active duty your SGT has nothing to do with your class date and AD personnel are doing BLC in person now.

BLC class dates are assigned based on local policy and your promotion points. You'll be assigned a class date when you have enough promotion points. Your NCOs have nothing to do with it an cannot request a class date for you.

Ance you have an ATRRS class seat you will need to see your school's NCO for the packet for your class.

As opposed to saying how much your leadership sucks, you should actually find out what you need to do to get promoted. It's not your leaders job to manage your career. The fact that you believe your BLC class date has anything to do with your NCO tells me that you are misinformed about the process. Go sit down with your Schools NCO and find out what it takes to get to BLC at your location
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SSG Benjamin C.
SSG Benjamin C.
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SFC (Join to see) His chain of command is responsible for recommending him to the board which is the first step of attempting to become an NCO so I wouldn’t at all day that his chain of command has nothing to do with it. They also sign all his paperwork to go to BLC
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
SFC (Join to see)
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SSG Benjamin C. you will want to review the regulation. The chain of command is only responsible for recommending him if he's in the secondary zone. He is required to appear before the board as soon as he's eligible when in the primary zone - regardless of the chain of command recommendation. If you read his comments below, you'll see he's MLI which means he does not have to go to the board at all and is promotable already. In fact, the only thing his chain of command can do to prevent him from being promotable right now is bar him.

The process for filling BLC seats has changed at almost every base. It is no longer by commander or Soldier request, the NCOA or the Division will pull its list of promotables and establish its own OML now. Branches also place Soldiers into class seats in NG and USAR BLC class seats as well.
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SSG Benjamin C.
SSG Benjamin C.
3 y
SFC (Join to see) I did not see the MLI comment, and on Fort Hood it’s the NCOA that does the OML. He does have paperwork for BLC that does need to get signed by his chain of command for BLC though once he is actually going
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
SFC (Join to see)
3 y
SSG Benjamin C. you are trying really hard to be right here that you've veered the conversation away from the original comment. The chain of command has not effect on what date the Soldier gets or whether or not the Soldier goes to the board and becomes promotable.

It's OK to just say thanks I learned something as opposed to insisting on being correct
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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To answer your questions:

1) If you did vBLC, you would literally be on Microsoft Teams all day every day for the length of the course. If you are taking college courses, this is going to be very difficult for you. You're going to need to flip a coin.
2) The process works in the manner in which your unit Training NCO/ATRRS Operator submits a Seat Request in ATRRS for you for vBLC (even resident BLC). How ever long the process takes...that's up in the air and depends on where you fall in the Priority Levels.
3) One of my former Soldiers, for the stuff like D&C and PRT, his Cadre did not have them do that. They went unassessed. However, I've known other Soldiers that stated their Cadre had them do the movements via Microsoft Teams. So, that will depend on the Cadre.

Now, being that you are at Hood, looking in ATRRS, there are no vBLC courses offered at Hood for this FY. Only Resident. While ATRRS does not list the vBLC right away when you search the course catalog for Basic Leader Course, you can find it (if offered) at locations once you click on the Course Number hyperlink.

So, you have some choices to make along with speaking with your Leadership. Resident or vBLC offered from another post. BLC or college. I'm not saying both college and BLC can't be done at the same time, only that it is extremely difficult and taxing.
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SGT(P) Culinary Specialist (Cs)
SGT(P) (Join to see)
3 y
Thank you for the response. I'll talk to the Sgt who's helping me about this as well.
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1SG Operations Sergeant Major
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The vBLC was due to covid and a lot of places are going back to in person learning, check with your schools NCO. You need to be ready to be graded on leading squad PRT and D&C.
It probably isnt your leadership holding up a BLC packet. The OML for BLC is based off your points, the more points the sooner you are slotted (pending a few exceptions).
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SGT(P) Culinary Specialist (Cs)
SGT(P) (Join to see)
3 y
Thank you for replying. I’m not sure how to go about contacting my school’s NCO since every time I ask my E5 or E6, they have no clue. I don’t like skipping through the COC but even then many of the E7s-E9s can’t get me an answer either, which is why I ask here. Once again, thank you.
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1SG Operations Sergeant Major
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SGT(P) (Join to see) go to your bn s3 shop and ask for schools and someone will point them out. Ill bet you could also find some info about what your BLC is doing on their website.
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