I got a slot to go to BLC, what advice can you give me?

Brush up on TLPs
Study
CONTROL F is your friend
Delegate when in a leadership position
D&C
When in charge, ensure barracks are clean and everything is dress right dress
OPORDs.....know them and how to read them
Practice briefings
Dont be "THAT GUY"

Make sure you can lead a PT session. It messed up a bunch of us. Know your TLPs. Bring a notebook with notes on anything that you would need in battle. Make sure it is organized, so that you can get to in 5 seconds or less. Things like Call for Fire, 9Line, UXO. The usual stuff. Make sure you have your Land Nav down. Be ready to instruct on basic task.

If you cuss like I do, check it at the door. They will gig you any time they hear it. Last but not least, when they ask if anybody knows how to fire a 240 don't raise your hand, unless you want to pack that thing for the next 3 days.

All good advice for the most part. Having been a Senior Instructor at WLC, you'll be given the opportunity to give them feedback on the End of Course Critique.

The EOCC is read by the senior leaders there believe it or not and is given a lot of attention to ensure they are doing everything possible to make the course better. However, be very clear and professional when you give your input.

Clear means, if you feel one of the instructors is unprofessional/toxic, you need to write his/her name so the senior leaders there will know who they need to retrain/possibly remove from the position. The NCOs selected to instruct are sometimes improperly vetted for the position. It is what it is, but the seniors there won't know it until they receive honest feedback on them. Clear part two, if there is something wrong/outdated/inconsistent with any of the doctrine they're using, write it down and be specific so they can update it or remove it. This is one of the easiest changes that can be made almost on the spot.

Professional means, if you write poorly and use immature language, they won't feel your input is very trustworthy. Reread your comments before you submit them to ensure clarity and professionalism. Never, disrespect your SGL. Utilize your Chain of Command and if you're right you're right, but ensure you have your ducks in a row before you challenge one of the instructors. For the most part they're very proficient at what they do. If you don't understand something, raise your hand and ask for clarity. They will provide it on the spot or they will do everything they can to get it to you ASAP.

Most popular reasons for drops when I was there were for APFT, body fat, and land nav. Be receptive, motivated, professional, and above all display the utmost maturity and you'll be fine. I say maturity because you will see some students from day one who shouldn't be there. Their units sent them "to fill a slot". Don't let them rope you into their negativity/immaturity. Try to take them under your wing and help them until you see they just don't care. Some do and turn out to be really good leaders and they didn't even know they could be.

Last and maybe the most important, ensure you have a sponsor that is dedicated to you while you're there. I've seen countless times a student left hanging out to dry by their sponsors. If this happens to you, let your SGL know immediately and they will report it to their senior leaders which will get the situation fixed. As a Senior Instructor it was my top priority at the beginning of each cycle to ensure all of my students had dedicated sponsors and if someone didn't I went straight to my 1SG and we got it fixed on the spot. It takes one phone call to the unit responsible for their Soldier to get them the attention they need.

SSG(P) (Join to see)
Do your PT now. Go there with a good attitude and with the mindset that you are going to learn everything you can. Last, it is Ft McCoy and even in April is can be REALLY cold.

I've spent a lot of time at McCoy and the place is boring but you shouldn't have much free time anyway. As for the course itself, most people got dropped for Land Nav and failing their PT test. If you can do both those things you should be good. Everything else should be cake if you've spent any time paying attention to your NCO's the last few years.

The weather is real sketchy in April. Be prepared for snow, rain, mud, or maybe even heat.
Pack more than you think you'll need.

April at FT MCCOY is like being stuffed in a dryer with spring and hell (winter) and set to tumble for 3 weeks. Have everything, and that means all of your documents. You have to have the APFT completed within 30 days prior, plus be ready to pass the APFT with Basic Training or AIT quality push-ups and sit-ups. You screw up and you're off any commandant's list. Pass height and weight, or at least tape. Be prepared to exercise directly after lunch. Yes, they have you march back from the DFAC and do PT. So if you like running on a full stomach you'll learn to be lean. Remember your hospital corners an room cleanliness. These dorm rooms are comfortable and really a wonderful thing to have, but they will inspect. AIT intensity room rules apply, so a squeegee is useful in the shower and for the mirrors. Mind your laundry. Mine was stolen, and thoughtfully returned after a lock down. Remember how to do a pace count and be good with your compass. The magnetic variation there is only about 1 degree (considering it is dynamically shifting). The compass course will have you upwards of 1500 meters. At a mile between points you'll be walking a long way. Be mindful of awakening pissy animals, a badger chased me and I dropped my found-points list on the compass course. Also, when you're out in the field you'll be staying at some barracks that are considered the FOB. You will have to shave there. Bring yourself a little butane single burner and use your canteen cup to heat water in unless you want a frozen face and razor burn. If you pack some witch hazel and a washcloth you can heat some water with it and do a sponge bath rather than a frozen wet wipe bath (bring wipes anyway). Pack your IFAK with extra bandages and athletic tape. You will not only be invaluable to yourself but team members. Everyone gets a cut or a hot-spot out there. Bring a sewing kit. My 2nd BN ranger comrade bitched about "ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain" until he came to me with a need for my sewing kit and bug repellent after ripping open his pants. Be prepared to deliver a speech on a noteworthy service member. If you are not good at public speaking, get good. Learn how to write an ARCOM and other awards. Learn how to do the sworn statement correctly. Practice the skills in your warrior handbook. You may end up teaching the fireman carry or how to do something else in there. Get good at cadences. Marching sucks if you only know captain Jack and unlike basic training you want to shine in this place. Learn the new version of the Army song, and know the NCO creed by heart. You will be doing the creed at least 3 times a day and the song once a day.

Finally, remember that being an NCO is about your Joe's and not you. You have to work hard to pull everybody through. That means taking a vested interest in the success of your classmates. This isn't a competition, and if you don't build the others up you are in the wrong place for you. Diplomacy and politics truly begin here. In the end be one of the ones that pushes through and graduates. Not everybody does. Have fun. Yes this school permits laughter and enjoyment while maintaining military bearing. Good luck.

Double, triple check your packing list. And practice leading PRT sessions and the proper execution of each exercise..

Went through WLC there in 2008. It was July and hotter than hell plus humidity. 24hr a day mosquitos and ticks galore. Back then it was a 2 week course so the days were ridiculously long. Going to the field was honestly some of the best training I've had in the Army. It was hard, and fun. Just make sure you do your push ups and sit ups as described in FM 7-22, if you don't they won't count. Know PRT. When I went through it was the old school PT. Have fun and learn as much as you can.

Know how to do new PT standards,know the NC creed and the Army song. Stay focused and good luck!!