Should leaders encourage PFC or new SPC to attend WLC as early as possible?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:10:05 -0400

WLC is primarily a course that teaches and mentors young potential leaders to develop effective leadership. WLC is a course that can ready Soldiers to hold the Team Leader position or even the Squad Leader position effectively.

If PFC or new SPC are able to finish the WLC course early, I think they can hold the position of leadership effectively and take the initiative in the absence of order rather than giving the excuse, "I didn't know any better because I'm a private."

I believe that Soldiers can be given a early stage of leadership experience through WLC and use the early experience in future when they are officially given the leadership position.

What do you guys think about this?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2014 4:12 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:12:18 -0400

Did a msg just come down about PFCs not being able to attend anymore?

Besides that, yes!!!! As soon as possible.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Apr 20 at 2014 6:52 AM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 06:52:06 -0400

While I have always supported sending those who are ready, this is new regulatory guidance:

SUBJ: ALARACT 104/2014 - WARRIOR LEADER COURSE (WLC) AND ADVANCE LEADERS COURSE (ALC) COMMON CORE (ALC-CC) ATTENDANCE

UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED BY USAITA ON BEHALF OF//DAMO-TRL//

...

SUBJECT: WARRIOR LEADER COURSE (WLC) AND ADVANCE LEADERS COURSE (ALC) COMMON CORE (ALC-CC) ATTENDANCE

1. REFERENCES:

A. AR 350-1 ARMY TRAINING AND LEADER DEVELOPMENT, DATED 18 DEC 09.

B. AR 600-100, ARMY LEADERSHIP, 8 MAR 07.

C. AR 600-8-19, ENLISTED PROMOTIONS AND REDUCTIONS, 30 APR 10 (RAR 001, 27 DEC 11).

D. DA PAM 600-25, U.S. ARMY NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GUIDE, 28 JUL 08.

2. PURPOSE: YOUR IMMEDIATE SUPPORT IS NEEDED ON THIS MATTER. THE ARMY IS COMMITTING VALUABLE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE OUR ENLISTED SOLDIERS AND NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS (NCO) WITH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (PME) SO THEY ARE PREPARED TO SUPPORT FORCE REQUIREMENTS.

3. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: PFC'S WILL NO LONGER BE SCHEDULED TO ATTEND THE WLC. IN ORDER TO BE CONSISTENT WITH ESTABLISHED ARMY TRAINING PRIORITIES COMMANDS WILL ENSURE THAT ALL SOLDIERS IN A HIGHER OML CATEGORY ATTEND WLC.

4. EFFECTIVE 1 OCTOBER 2014:

A. NO SGT (E-5) WILL BE ENROLLED IN ALC RESIDENCE PHASE UNTIL COMPLETION OF ALC-CC OR SSD 2.

B. SGTS (E-5) SCHEDULED OR HAVE A RESERVATION IN ALC RESIDENCE PHASE, BUT NOT IN ATTENDANCE, WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CLASS AND RESCHEDULED FOR A LATER CLASS TO ALIGN WITH COMPLETION OF SSD 2, PRIOR TO ATTENDING THEIR RESPECTIVE ALC RESIDENCE PHASE.

5. AS WE TRANSITION FROM AN ARMY OF EXECUTION TO AN ARMY OF PREPARATION, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT COMMANDERS AT ALL LEVELS ENSURE OUR NCOS ATTEND PME IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED DEVELOPMENTAL TIMELINES.

THE PME ATTENDANCE IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR LEADER DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR NCO'S EFFECTIVENESS AT ALL LEVELS OF ASSIGNMENT. FAILURE TO ATTEND PME ON TIME CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT A NCO'S CAREER.

Response by SPC Matthew Birkinbine made Apr 20 at 2014 11:28 AM

SPC Matthew Birkinbine — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 11:28:09 -0400

I think if the first-line recognizes the soldier's potential for leadership excellence, yes, the soldier should be groomed and prepared for WLC attendance. I do not, however believe that all soldiers, necessarily have that leadership potential.

Response by CSM David Hopkins made Apr 20 at 2014 12:41 PM

CSM David Hopkins — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 12:41:58 -0400

I can understand and agree with why a PFC or newly promoted SPC should attend WLC earlier vs later. I did attend PLDC when I had only 2 1/2 months TIG because no one else wanted to attend. The difference between now and 23 years ago is that back then we did not have a major backlog of NCOs and promotable SPCs that were required to attend because of their rank.
Due to the deployments everyone has been on and the fact that personnel have been deferred in order to allow them to train for the upcoming deployment vs attend WLC, we now have too many SGTs and SPCs that need to attend. Until that number decreases dramatically, the Army wants to reserve the available training seats for them. So now it is on the units to get those Soldiers into the course or move them out of the service for failure to complete a mandatory school, whatever that reason might be, such as refusal to attend, overweight, or APFT failure.

Response by SPC Kevin Sickles made Apr 20 at 2014 12:57 PM

SPC Kevin Sickles — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 12:57:38 -0400

The only problem I see with sending some PFCs and SPCs to WLC is that
not all of them have the proper frame of reference to understand what
the instructors are putting out. Even when I went through as a SPC it took me some time fully understand what was being presented, and I know a couple people (E3, E4) from my company that were dropped due to this.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2014 12:52 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 12:52:00 -0400

How will this effect the Soldiers with Phase 2 already and not CC?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2014 12:54 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 12:54:29 -0400

How will this effect Soldiers with Phase 2 already and not CC?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2014 11:03 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 23:03:40 -0400

I was just told last week that I can not send PFCs to WLC now and that there is a new upcoming SSD II that all SGTs must complete before they go to ALC. I do not know why the change, but I do feel that if a PFC or SPC stands out and meets all the requirements and there is a slot that a more senior Soldier cannot take then send them. I have recently sent a few SPCs to WLC and they have all graduated. I am a fan of train then promote. But there must be vetting by all levels of leadership to not just send someone because it is the next step. If they show promise then send them, if they show signs that they will fail or are too immature then hold off.

Response by SFC Gary (Bigsarge) Portier USARMY RET. made Jun 20 at 2014 3:36 PM

SFC Gary (Bigsarge) Portier USARMY RET. — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 15:36:04 -0400

Yes, I say go as a PFC if possible. The sooner you get the NCOES's behind you the better.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2016 8:19 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 20:19:09 -0500

If a Leader is putting forth the effort to train Soldiers the many aspects of Soldering, WLC should be little more than a review by the time he or she attends. For me WLC was more of a rough practice of leading Soldiers of other MOS's. That became very important sooner than anticipated.