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Thousands of Soldiers, NCOs Currently Ineligible for Promotion Because of SSD Requirements

NCO Journal staff report

September 27, 2013

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This story is part of a periodic NCO Journal feature that takes a closer look at an Army award in an NCO’s career. This month we focus on the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device for valor.

Starting Jan. 1, tens of thousands of Soldiers and NCOs will either lose promotion eligibility or may become ineligible for promotion board consideration because they have not complied with Structured Self-Development requirements.

Army Directive 2013-15, released by Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh on July 1 — and MILPER message 13-275, released Sept. 26 — states that SSD-1 must be completed by Jan. 1, 2014, for a specialist or corporal to be placed on the recommended list for promotion to sergeant.

Currently, there are 3,366 specialists who will lose promotable status on Jan. 1, and 41,035 specialists who are not eligible to become promotable unless they complete SSD-1 by Jan. 1, according to the Army G-1.

Soldiers who still need to complete their SSD requirements have until Jan. 1, 2014, to do so. To check their enrollment status, Soldiers need to check the Army Learning Management System, or ALMS, on Army Knowledge Online.

The Army Directive also said all staff sergeants must complete SSD-3 to attain eligibility for promotion to sergeant first class. In addition, all sergeants first class must complete SSD-4 before they are eligible for selection to master sergeant.

According to the Army G-1, there are 11,238 staff sergeants who are otherwise eligible to go before the February 2014 sergeant first class board but will not until they complete SSD-3.

In addition, there are 13,498 sergeants first class who are otherwise eligible to go before the October 2014 master sergeant board who will not until they complete SSD-4.

MILPER message 13-275 only addresses SSD, not ALC-Common Core. The point of contact for the MILPER message is Human Resources Command at usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.empd.ncoes-operations@mail.mil

To learn more about SSD click → here.

Click here → ad2013_15 to download Army Directive 2013-15.

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