Are you required to be SPC(P) to attend WLC?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 15:53:19 -0400

I've always been under the impression that upon being promoted to SPC, you are required to attend WLC along with the completion of SSD-1 to be eligible for promotion to E5, after going to the promotion board and becoming promotable. It was presented to myself and a few other E4's that we would have to be promotable before we could attend WLC. Any clarification? And how does this work for star MOS's?

http://www.usarpac.army.mil/NCOA/prereq.htm

I'm not sure if this information is up to date or not.

Response by SGT Curtis Wehrmann made May 18 at 2015 3:57 PM

SGT Curtis Wehrmann — Mon, 18 May 2015 15:57:42 -0400

You just have to be an E-4 as of right now.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2015 4:02 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:02:44 -0400

You don't need WLC to be a Sergeant, E5, you need it for SSG. However, I have seen guys get demoted back to E4 for refusing professional developmental schools. To answer your question, you don't need to be SPC(P).

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made May 18 at 2015 4:06 PM

PFC Tuan Trang — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:06:08 -0400

I don't think is require, is optional. If the spot open you can enroll.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2015 4:06 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:06:14 -0400

You do not have to be promotable for WLC, you fall under priority 4 (non-promotable. Priority numbers are to facilitate the creating of an OML (Order of Merit List) by your BN training NCO, the CSM then looks at it and has a better understanding of who goes first.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2015 4:07 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:07:30 -0400

WLC is not a requirement to promote to SGT. It is a requirement for Staff Sergeant. You only receive points for it as a specialist because you have gone above requirement. As a Sergeant you do not keep those points because you are required before promotion to Staff. Star MOSs fall under the same.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2015 4:08 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:08:14 -0400

Also depends on your installation. Previously fort hood WLC was allowing PFCs to attend if the slots were available.

Response by SSG VNicia Young made May 18 at 2015 4:11 PM

SSG VNicia Young — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:11:07 -0400

No I just graduated WLC Feb 6th, and I am not promotable. WLC is open even to the PFCs if there are extra slots for them. My CSM does not even let us attend the promotion board unless we have already been to WLC and a Soldier of the Month board.

Response by SSG Skylur Britz made May 18 at 2015 4:11 PM

SSG Skylur Britz — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:11:41 -0400

Army regs say you only need to complete SSD1, however your command can make other stipulations that have to be met.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2015 4:14 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:14:12 -0400

First of all most Star MOS's still automatically promote to SGT. But as far as having to be promotable for WLC the answer is no. There is an OML for WLC it is:

1. SGT with out WLC
2. SPC (P)
3 SPC
4 PFC

Now you must have SSD 1 completed to even be on the eligible OML.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2015 4:28 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:28:50 -0400

For a definitive answer, ask your Training NCO for the ATARRS print out of the school prerequisites. Upon receipt, ask if your unit has any additional requirements that you must have in order to enroll.
Keep in mind, different WLC training centers have different stipulations.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2015 4:45 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:45:28 -0400

No, I asked to go and got a slot, I am not promotable yet.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2015 4:52 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:52:38 -0400

I went to WLC last yr at Ft. Indiantown Gap, PA. We had several E4s in my class. My unit sent one with me when I went too. Have your SSD 1 completed and be a high speed Soldier.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2015 4:52 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:52:43 -0400

No but as a leader you want to go to the class to better yourself

Response by SSG James Doherty made May 18 at 2015 5:37 PM

SSG James Doherty — Mon, 18 May 2015 17:37:06 -0400

WLC is required to make SSG. SPC (P or not) and SGT may attend WLC. But the slots for the school are based on an order of merit list within each command. If you have a large number of SGT's needing to go then SPC (no P) don't stand much chance of getting in. MOS does not apply to WLC. And star means you won't need WLC for points to get promoted.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2015 6:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 18:35:52 -0400

You don't need to be promotable to attend or even be promoted but if you are promoted you need to attend it within a certain amount of time or you could face negative ncoer and or lose your rank. This could be unit dependant I'm not 100% but that's what we do in my unit and was told to me by a few members of our division staff.

Response by SPC Daniel Bowen made May 18 at 2015 7:00 PM

SPC Daniel Bowen — Mon, 18 May 2015 19:00:39 -0400

I am not 100% certain if it has changed since I got out, but all you had to be was a SPC. You had the option to go WLC and the NOCs after your board. I believe it was within 6 months after your board too.

Response by SSG Nick Tramontano made May 18 at 2015 7:58 PM

SSG Nick Tramontano — Mon, 18 May 2015 19:58:25 -0400

You should consult your Training NCO. Also if you don't already, go to ARMY KNOWLEDGE ONLINE (AKO) and create an account. There is a wealth of information you can get from that website.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2015 8:03 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 20:03:51 -0400

I would say no to that. I had an E3 go when I went. That could have changed though. They take E5's that need the class first (at least at my unit), then go to the 4's

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2015 8:39 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 20:39:31 -0400

It's up to your unit

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2015 9:08 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 May 2015 21:08:42 -0400

SPC Fischer,

As many have already stated, you do not have to be promotable to attend WLC. PFC's are no longer able to attend. There is an OML of who may attend. The OML goes as such:

SGT w/out WLC
SPC (P)
SPC

I was lucky enough to attend WLC from the waitlist. I had priority amongst the others waitlisted because of my promotable status. There were only two other people in front of me on the waitlist who were both SGT's. I made the cut as the last person. The best way to go for sure is to obtain an ATTRS slot. Best of luck!

Response by SPC Christopher Schatz made May 18 at 2015 10:09 PM

SPC Christopher Schatz — Mon, 18 May 2015 22:09:15 -0400

Promote blessed can only be obtained by going to a promotion board. It is consider to be one of the 4 steps to get promoted. . 1.)promotion board pass 2.)wlc 3.)ssd-1 4.) Enough points to get picked up.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 7:02 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 19:02:55 -0400

The way my unit does it is you have to have WLC under you're belt before going to the board

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2015 5:46 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2015 17:46:26 -0400

I hearded that they stopped letting PFCs go to WLC but you do need have SSD 1 done before attending... I make my privates complete SSD1 as soon as possible. Its common knowledge.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2015 11:13 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2015 23:13:33 -0400

You do not need to be SPC (P) to attend WLC but you do need to have SSD-1 completed.

My training NCO (National guard) said that they aren't sending SPC due to so many E5's needing it. In my unit specifically you have to go to WLC within 2 yrs of being promoted to SGT. So it's a nice backlog for us SPC that want to go to WLC.

Response by SGT Mark Sullivan made May 21 at 2015 10:27 AM

SGT Mark Sullivan — Thu, 21 May 2015 10:27:05 -0400

All I can tell you is this, when I was in, 87 thru 98, P status was given after attending the NCO Boards. This is not an official title, per se, but denotes if you are able to be placed in a leadership slot. It is not a pre-requisite for attendance of PLDC, or in your case WLC. I had been to the board, and was in a promotable status waiting for cutoff points to drop for 6 months. When they dropped, I was jumped to the top of the list for attendance at PLDC (WLC).

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2015 8:23 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 May 2015 20:23:45 -0400

Yes

Response by SGT Neil Chandler made May 27 at 2015 11:29 PM

SGT Neil Chandler — Wed, 27 May 2015 23:29:39 -0400

I jus graduated in Feb. Going for the board on the 29th, you at least need SSD1 and be a SPC. or SGT.

Response by SPC Miguel Rosario Cruz made Jun 17 at 2015 2:52 PM

SPC Miguel Rosario Cruz — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 14:52:32 -0400

The only requirement to be accepted to go to pldc (wlc)is to be E4 you do not have to be E4p

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 1:06 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 13:06:42 -0400

no PFCs may attend, based off of the OML and available slots.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2015 11:05 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 11:05:34 -0400

Promotions and NCOES availability change periodically and is based on needs of the Army and command direction. The best you as a soldier can do is to ensure you are ready for selection by your leadership at a moments notice. Have your SSD courses completed, meet HGHT/WGHT standards and have a APFT score of 70% in each event. Also enroll in continuing education or correspondence courses to set yourself apart from your peers.
Know what your unit NCO allocation is - if there are open positions ask your leadership how to get selected for any open slots. Your first line supervisor/squad leader should be able to guide you in this or ask to take it higher to Plt Sgt or 1SGT. There should be direction or guidance being pushed down from the CSM on what the current NCOES and Promotion policy is for the Unit.