Warrior Leader Course from the Guard: What's your advice for me?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:07:41 -0400

So I've made it through the ranks relatively quickly years and about 8 months in. I graduated AIT April 18, 2013 was promoted to E-2 June 2 2013. I was then deployed to GTMO September 9th, while deployed I was promoted to E-3 mid November 2013 and then promoted to E-4 June 1 at 2014 returned from deployed August 1st 2014 and went to college right away. Just a little background information about me.

What is your advice for WLC?

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jun 22 at 2015 12:10 PM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:10:00 -0400

Ok so what is the advice/question you have?

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2015 12:19 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:19:04 -0400

Go to WLC being the best you can be, DA form 1059s and NCOERs follow you your whole military career. Be very active in class, which helped me stay awake. Be assertive, If you have questions ask them. It is going to be an abundance of combat experienced E-5s and E-4s that you can learn from. I suggest you sign up to be student leadership, either student 1SG or platoon SGT. Go big man, the biggest thing about WLC is to learn how to lead, take the knowledge you gain from WLC and share it with your fellow Junior enlisted. Don't half step and you'll be fine.

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Jun 22 at 2015 12:35 PM

SSG Steven Borders — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:35:40 -0400

Pay attention in class. Learn your PRT and Drill and Ceremony. Have fun, because it really isn't that bad. Most of it is all Power Point so don't fall asleep.

Strive for the Commandants list.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2015 1:06 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 13:06:20 -0400

Make sure you know how to do land nav!!! My class had one guy fail out with 3 days left before graduation because he failed his retest. No joke.

Response by CPL Richard Flagg made Jun 22 at 2015 5:21 PM

CPL Richard Flagg — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 17:21:46 -0400

As a Combat Arms MOS that course was a cake walk for me being Infantry in a course that teaches non-Infantry skills to REMF's. Make sure you're able to hump the Radio or the Heavy Weapon; because as PL I assigned this one big guy from MEDDAC to carry the radio. Well that lasted about 5 minutes until he threw it off his back for being "Too Heavy." Man I laid into his worthless ass, giving the Instructors a laugh.

I liked the Land Nav comment and just pay attention in class and in instructions it should be an easy time and another ribbon for your fruit salad in the end.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2015 11:03 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 23:03:34 -0400

My advice would be, Make a decision and own the results. And if you are using computers now, ctrl+f will be your best friend.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2015 12:48 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 00:48:24 -0400

You doing wlc in anchorage? And are you guard or active?

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Jun 23 at 2015 4:43 AM

SFC Kenneth Hunnell — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 04:43:48 -0400

Enroll in the class, you never pass up on free education

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2015 7:39 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 07:39:25 -0400

Don't let everything stress you, just pay attention to the instructor's and classroom material, and you will be just fine.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2015 2:54 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 14:54:01 -0400

PLDC as it was when I went will prepare for more than just E5. In truth because you have all MOS in a class setting you will learn a little from them all. It will prepare you in my opinion for all the follow on NCOES schools. Go in with an open mind and do not listen to the horror stories from other because when you do you will limit your potential maximize learning. This is a great opportunity to network and begin to start formulating your leadership style Sergeant Gilchrest! Get used to hearing that also you hear it, you believe it, you achieve it good luck and take notes.

Response by SGT S Sharpless made Jun 24 at 2015 3:34 PM

SGT S Sharpless — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 15:34:16 -0400

If you are a combat arms mos don't act like you know it all.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2015 5:59 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 17:59:49 -0400

Sign up for it asap!! Your part of your promotion points depend on successful graduation from school. Also knock out those MOS correspondence Courses!!

Response by SSG Eric Trace made Jun 25 at 2015 6:56 PM

SSG Eric Trace — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 18:56:43 -0400

When I went through it was PLDC. Different name same course. Be willing to listen to and open to all types of advice. Just because you SGL IS NOT your MOS does not me you go in with closed ears. Remember., this is your first of many courses on the road to being the best NCO you can be. An New E5 12B accepts the same responsibilities as a New E5 11B accepts. The specialized training for you MOS will come in ALC and SLC and the new course for MSG. Best advice keep an open Mind!!!!

Response by SFC Terrilyn Jones made Jun 26 at 2015 12:57 AM

SFC Terrilyn Jones — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 00:57:12 -0400

Stay focused, vigilant and always continue you pay attention to detail

Response by SSG Sean Garcia made Jun 27 at 2015 9:07 AM

SSG Sean Garcia — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 09:07:35 -0400

Control-f, WLC is quite easy if you know how to search the manuals. I do feel this takes away from molding leaders, but learned that Senior Leaders should do this. My greatest advice is don't drink, Soldiers will get dismissed for the littlest of things that just aren't worth it. Also, beware of your surroundings, do not say vulgar remarks about a person of the opposite sex. I saw a guy in my WLC class get dismissed for speaking of breasts of a woman on TV and a female believed he was talking about her. So he was gone by next duty day. Study the NCO Creed!! Many Soldiers now do not learn this and it is a shame.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2015 5:19 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 05:19:12 -0400

I will tell you what I tell my soldiers when they go. You will out of it as much as you put into it. I am sure there are soldiers in your unit that claim that it is pointless. Usually they aren't your highest performing NCOs. Some of the the stuff is dry but you still need to know it. Take pride in attaining the knowledge that you gain their. It is a development school. It isn't a NCO day care. When you see soldiers there that treat it like that avoid them like the black plague. When I went to BNCOC in the National Guard there were a few that didn't care for the school. The instructor wasn't that good but I wasn't going to let him cheat me out what I needed to know. If you go with that attitude you will do great.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2015 2:43 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 14:43:49 -0400

Study, D & C learn to speak for 10 mins in front of your class and do not sign your witness statement until you are in front of your instructor. Learn to carry out PT start to finish. And as the name emplies Warrior LEADER Course. Be a LEADER when needed. OH yea have fun.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2015 7:19 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 07:19:24 -0400

Thanks for all of the advice! I graduated and received the leadership award and was the only soldier to make the commandants list.