You can get a memorandum from your BN CDR so you don't have to pay back the tuition if that is what it comes down to. With everything you have stated it sounds like you are very goal oriented with a solid path. The only advice I can give you is plead your case all the way up. Don't compromise your standards to get out of it though. Where is your team/squad leader in all this? They should be able to simply say "no, don't send SPC so and so". Of course that all depends on your company leadership.

Thanks for the support. I work directly for a SSG who is on his way out to retirement and a 1SG and a MAJ (BTRY CMDR). We are what the battery consists of. I will definately argue my case up as far as it will go.

I totally agree with lineslinger. It seems like you have a good head on your shoulders. Keep your eyes on the prize and you will be ok. The main things that I would suggest you happen to already know. Consult JAG, have good COC support, and dont give up on that situation. I know that officers and a lot of senior NCO's always want soldiers to always go to college and get an education so that they can come back into the army and become officers. Make sure that you let them know of your potential plans to come back and do that. If I were your leader there is no way in the world that I would have you go to WLC. It just doesnt seem like the right thing to do. But if you are in the army any longer than a couple of weeks you tend to realize that it doesnt always work out that way. Keep your head up and dont mind what some of these people on this site are saying. In one year from now your COC wont even remember you and you'll be in grad school bettering yourself.

Line6slinger,

First of all, for any reading this, I was disturbed by some of the postings in response to your question.

I have full faith and confidence that you will go far in life. You have a series of life goals, and you are working hard to accomplish them. You are much farther ahead than most people are in this world, and when you get out of the Army, your experience in the Army will bring you ahead of your peers. No matter for how long your obligation, you joined voluntarily, which is more than what your civilian counterparts have done. I agree with many of your points that you have mentioned in your posts. There is a certain level of arrogance in the Army that many people are turned off by, and choose to get out. In many cases, the Army fails to maintain lines of communication and this is often mistaken for feelings of insensitivity to your situation. What is probably happening is that they are attempting to fill the ranks with SGT's and promotable SPC's and if they are dipping into the non-promotable pool, then chances are they don't have enough to fill up their WLC class they are trying to put you into.

I also agree that you shouldn't go to WLC. It didn't help some of my friends learn how to be NCO's, and under your conditions it surely won't help you progress in your life goals. I, too, joined for college opportunities. I am three days before going to the E5 board and have over 700 promotion points going in. However, unlike you, I have an MOS that is truly rewarding, and I plan on staying in the same branch as a warrant officer. I also know someone that was in the band field for 3 years prior to his ETS, and he got out because he was sick of all the cutthroat, backstabbing, non-musical personalities in his field. There is no possible way I would have stayed in the Army under circumstances like those. I know it exists.

Right now, I am making efforts to get into WLC. I don't want to go, because it means that I have to take an entire semester off of my own collegiate studies (I do the Fall/Spring plan, not the eArmyU plan), but in order to progress in my career, move away from the enlisted ranks and go into warrant officer school, it's a necessary evil. My branch requires that I be an E5 or E6 before I am considered for appointment. It's an annual selection in my branch. If I don't get picked up this year, there's always next year. I'm giving the Army two chances before I move out. There's no point in me staying in on the enlisted side because it is not what I want in life. Others may be perfectly happy as enlisted Soldiers and I would never cut them down for choosing to do what makes them happy.

BLUF: Different strokes for different folks. Don't be a hater because Line6slinger has a plan in life that doesn't parallel the same one you do, or one that you approve of. Furthermore, if you are an NCO saying some of those things I've read, and I was your company commander, I would assemble a board for your administrative reduction because you obviously don't know a darn thing about what being a leader is all about.

If anyone cares to comment to my post on a non-open forum, you may reach me on ac79@i-mnet.com. Even the haters are invited.

quote:

Originally posted by ArmyReenlistment:Why would one sign a Declination of Continued Service Statement (DCSS) for not wanting to attend WLC?

I was in a similar situation at Line6slinger where they were going to force me to go to WLC even though I had school commitments and such. I was also told to sign a DCSS. I ended up not having to, though, because I injured my back and have been on profile for it since.

Line6slinger, I know how you feel. I had the same opinion of why waste the Army's money sending me to WLC when I have no intention of staying in. Especially when I spent $3,000 a semester to go to school full time (I spend all of my TA and then some out of pocket every year). Talk to your chain of command. They can't force you to go and with as little time as you have left, they may be willing to just let it go.

I am a prior service Marine NCO. I completed an NCO School while in the Corps. I am Now in the Army and an SPC(P). Do I need to attend WLC if I received formal NCO Training in the Marine Corps? If someone knows the regs please pass it on to me. Thanks.

No the Corporal course counts as the first tier of NCO leadership school so you are good to go on that. Now the rest of the schools I don't know.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KingofMinot,

quote:

Originally posted by sjelliott:
If someone knows the regs please pass it on to me. Thanks.

Peronal Note: When I came in the Army from the Marine Corps in 1998, they did not accept the Marine Corps Corporal's Course I attended in Camp LeJeune, NC (4-week course).

AR 600-8-19, Enlisted Promotions and Reductions, Chapter 7:

7–24. Courses creditable for the Noncommissioned Officers Education System Personnel officers will determine credit for NCOES courses from the following list or credited in paragraph 7–33.
Completion by subcourse is not acceptable for credit unless the course is a TRADOC approved, multiphase requirement such as the Army Band NCOES and the USASMC, or the Soldier completed the course through this means while in the Active Army and was credited with completion while on active duty. The four NCOES levels and the courses and methods for completing or gaining credit for them are—
a. Primary level equivalency:
(1) AC– or RC–WLC or TATS–C WLC.
(2) AC– or RC–Primary Leadership Course.
(3) RC–Primary NCO Course/Basic NCO Course (prior to 1985).
(4) USMC NCO Course.
(5) USMC NCO Basic Course.
(6) USMC Leadership Course or USMC NCO Leadership.
(7) USMC Staff NCO Advance Course (taught at Quantico, VA only).
(8) USMC Resident Staff NCO Career Course (taught at Quantico, VA only).
(9) USMC Infantry Squad Leader Courses (taught at Camp Pendleton only). The Squad Leader Courses taught at Marine Corp Divisions do not meet WLC POI equivalency requirements.
(10) USMC Sergeants Course.
(11) RC BNCOC (must have completed all phases) or RC ANCOC (Phase 1, Common Core).
(12) OCS (AC/RC any service).
(13) Officer Basic Course (from any service).
(14) Officer Advanced Course (any service).
(15) CAS3 (or equivalent course from any service).
(16) Command and General Staff Officer’s Course (or equivalent course from any service).
(17) ROTC Advanced Camp (any service).