PLDC or WLC, which was better?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 15:59:52 -0500

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2015 4:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 16:24:34 -0500

Neither I don't know why we keep on changing the name. The army keeps on updating the course to make it better and take the right amount of time. I don't think that they are there and a lot of it has to do what are your priorities. I would like them to teach more leadership skills and not so much on leader tasks.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2015 4:26 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 16:26:42 -0500

Like any course, POIs change. The name has changed but the course is essentially the same.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2015 4:52 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 16:52:51 -0500

Has anyone E5 or below actually been to PLDC who is still in?

Response by CSM Carl Cunningham made Dec 25 at 2015 5:14 PM

CSM Carl Cunningham — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 17:14:55 -0500

I would say PLDC should be better with the simple fact that it was a four week course, opposed to the WLC course that was down to two weeks during the war. The focus in PLDC was way different than WLC so that makes it harder to even compare them. Overall though, I think PLDC taught leadership better because leaving there you knew you were a leader 24/7 once you left that place. I get the impression now that junior leaders and Soldiers forget how to act when the uniform is off.

Response by MSG Gerry Poe made Dec 25 at 2015 6:17 PM

MSG Gerry Poe — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 18:17:21 -0500

I'm still in and went to PLDC.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Dec 25 at 2015 8:37 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 20:37:35 -0500

I never attended either one, I went to a course called BLC, Basic Leadership Course. I have no knowledge of WLC, I sent lots of young soldiers to PLDC and it was a good start, but we all know it's just the basics of leadership taught. The real leadership is and should be taught/learned from your first line leader.

Response by 1LT A. Uribe made Dec 25 at 2015 9:25 PM

1LT A. Uribe — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 21:25:58 -0500

PLDC thought you to be a straight up leader, these new courses in today's Army are only taking away the warrior part of away. We are in the business of killing people, or supporting those who kill people for us logistics folks. Softening up standards only makes us weak as a force, it's unfortunate to say, but you don't hear the Marines changing things, why? Because at the end of the they FUCKING KILL PEOPLE!!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2015 11:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 23:24:22 -0500

I went to WLC when it first changed over. Now I have soldiers in my squad that are going to BLC just wonder what they will call it next time it changes.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2015 11:27 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 23:27:27 -0500

I went to CLT which was basically WLC and ALC Phase I combined. It was 100% road marching and running every other day.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2015 11:32 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 23:32:00 -0500

Wouldn't know about PLDC but I do know WLC ; I'm guessing it's new school vs old school

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2015 3:22 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 03:22:40 -0500

Not really a question that can be answered. Not likely that someone has been to both, and that's the only way to give a fair comparison.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Dec 26 at 2015 2:27 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 14:27:36 -0500

Not really sure they are all not helpful, no matter the name used. When I was in, it a was block to be checked off. To be fair I did learn quite a bit in B.N.C.O.C.

Response by SSG Clarence Blackburn made Dec 26 at 2015 6:50 PM

SSG Clarence Blackburn — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 18:50:43 -0500

PLDC

Response by SPC James Seigars made Dec 27 at 2015 3:35 AM

SPC James Seigars — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 03:35:57 -0500

SGT T.J.S that is a good question. I went to the oldest NCO academy in the Army in Germany for the last PLDC and me & my class actually set up the land nav course there to the WLC school. I am curious as too how hard the WLC candidates thought the land nav course was.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2015 4:40 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 16:40:01 -0500

I think they are both equally useless, a block to be checked and nothing more.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Dec 28 at 2015 9:05 AM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 09:05:07 -0500

I didn't get to attend my PLDC because of a deployment. I read the material. I went to WLC. I thought that it was NOT up to par. There was no land nav. mostly books and reports and how to fill them out. No actual LEADERSHIP in my opinion.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 9:37 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 09:37:34 -0500

Well I did WLC in 2008 at Fort McCoy, the field part was hands down the best training I've ever had in the Army. It was challenging and physically demanding. There were things missing though, as in every Army course or school. Too much info stuffed into a 2 week period.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 3:53 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 15:53:24 -0500

I recall sending my Soldiers to WLC and land navigation was no longer a requirement. The course was shorter than PLDC. So, I would say PLDC was better.