Any advice for the Sapper Leaders Course?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 19:00:07 -0400

I am attending Sapper Leaders Course, in a few months, and was wondering if anyone had any advice or information that would be helpful? Thanks.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2014 7:15 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 19:15:08 -0400

I am a bit jealous, as I have been begging for this course for a while now.

The only objective advice I can have is to be very on top of the packing list. I had a buddy who was dropped for missing too many items off of the packing list and having too many unauthorized items.

The hills on the course you will ruck for your 12 miler are not horrible, but be ready for them. 8 mile hill is no joke if your legs are already hurting.

Response by 1SG Robert C. made Mar 14 at 2015 9:29 AM

1SG Robert C. — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 09:29:23 -0400

Stay focus and tough and keep an open mind!

Response by MSG David Johnson made Sep 2 at 2016 2:18 PM

MSG David Johnson — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 14:18:13 -0400

I'm not sure how this would apply now, but this is what I was told and what I did prior to SLC in the early days of the course.
I spent 30 days in PLDC 1 month before SLC. We had very little activity other than the 2 day FTX.
When I got back to my unit, my platoon sergeant told me if he saw me in anything other than PT gear and a ruck sack I would be pulled from the list.
So my mornings would be spent in PT with the company I was going with, then I would wander around FT Lewis with an 80+ pound ruck. I would also run the map course we had designed (PLDC adopted our compass course a couple months later).
I was in the best shape of my life, and mentally prepared. I think the biggest thing you're going to run into is the mental side of things.

Just remember that nothing they do to you in this course will be close to what the bad guys can do. You will do without sleep, walk further than you think you could. The course was designed to give leaders more tools to help you lead.
Pay attention, if you are ADD, make sure you concentrate.

The class I went through started with 33 NCO's and Officers, 16 of us graduated. The map course alone accounted for 6 Soldiers failing the course.
I didn't get my tab for 17 years after graduating the course. In 2004 my orders for SLC were posted to my file.
I hope somewhere in these ramblings you will take something out of it.

Response by SGT Charlie Slabinski made Oct 4 at 2016 11:14 PM

SGT Charlie Slabinski — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 23:14:35 -0400

Work Out twice a day both endurance and weights. Refresh on your demo calc. That test is huge and also your knots also in SLC, and then prep for patrolling. Everyone gets two shots in a leadership position, and you have to get a go on one of them. Other then that, keep an open mind and have fun with it. Not everyone gets a chance to go!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2017 9:11 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 09:11:13 -0400

As a graduate of this GREAT course, my recommendation is to focus on physical fitness and land navigation. The SLC cadre will provide excellent instruction in critical combat engineer skills, techniques, tactics, and procedures and in patrolling. But, if you're not fit and can't land navigate, you won't be able to keep up and you will have a difficult time leading your patrols.

Response by SSG Dean Johnson made Jun 7 at 2019 4:47 PM

SSG Dean Johnson — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 16:47:51 -0400

Don’t over eat, lol