What do you do as a Squad Leader/SR NCO to prepare your Jr Soldiers for NCOES?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 18:45:01 -0500

I've been seeing more and more questions being asked by our Jr Soldiers (SPC/SGT's) on how to best prepare themselves for NCOES. That has gotten me to thinking. What are units doing to prepare their Soldiers? I'll only speak from what we do in my unit.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2016 6:48 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 18:48:40 -0500

For my unit.
A. 30 days out from school date we give them a APFT to ensure they can pass to standards.
B. Welcome packet, ATRRS print offs are given to all Soldiers. Double checking the packing list.
C. Soldiers have directions/contact information for the school house.
D. Some refresher training on map reading and D&C.
E. We stay in contact with them all thru out the entire course seeing how they are doing.

Response by SSG Drew Cook made Feb 26 at 2016 7:01 PM

SSG Drew Cook — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 19:01:05 -0500

I spent a LOT of time with my soldiers who were preparing to go. We did "sergeant's time" every day when schedule allowed, we did lanes, we did boards, we did weekly APFTs...basically everything possible to set them up for a good experience at schools. A soldier's success or failure reflects upon leadership.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2016 10:52 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:52:16 -0500

SFC Private RallyPoint Member, this is a great question to ask. I would like to think that the NCO Corps has improved their training and preparedness techniques for any NCO planning on attending any NCOES since 2005 when I was last a PLDC instructor. Every cycle, I had at least 5-10% of the NCO hopefuls show up vastly unprepared and most of the time, there sponsor was chewed up too.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 made Feb 27 at 2016 12:33 AM

CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 00:33:19 -0500

SFC Private RallyPoint Member Tell them it is a hard life, if they don't prepare, it is their own fault. You warned them! CSM

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2016 10:11 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 10:11:01 -0500

I have them sit with Soldiers that have recently attended and have has success. I can't utilize my own experience because it was quite a bit ago that I graduated from PLDC. I make sure that they understand the basic fundamentals of the new PRT program and how to research AR's and FM's digitally. You'd be surprised how many Soldiers don't know how to search through regulations without going through every page. Also I make sure that their APFT scores are squared away. If you are barely passing your APFT I will not recommend you for any NCOES. Better to wait until you improve your scores that to go to school and end up failing.