What helped you achieve Commandant's List/DHG from your NCOES?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 21:20:45 -0500

I want to continue exceling in my Army career and I am beginning the preparations from SPC to SGT and would love to hear what you have to say that helped you get there!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2016 9:32 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 21:32:20 -0500

I received DHG at WLC/BLC. I think two things helped me achieve it and I list them as follows:

1) I put in more study and preparation time than other soldiers did. While others would be out goofing off in the hallways, on the phone with their girlfriends, or out smoking I would be studying, rehearsing, and ensured I didn't do anything stupid.

2) I fought for my grades. There was more than one occasion that I talked out a grade with a SGL. Sometimes I won, sometimes I didn't.. but those wins helped me achieve my goal. Do not be afraid to ask the grading SGL why he scored you in the manner that you did.

Response by 1SG Cameron M. Wesson made Feb 9 at 2016 9:43 PM

1SG Cameron M. Wesson — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 21:43:09 -0500

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member honestly.... Just doing my best, participating in class, trying to help my team mates, and not trying get the #1 slot over my integrity.

BTW i was Cmdts list in PLDC, HG in 11B BNCOC, DMG IN 88N BNCOC, cmdts list in BSNCOC, DMG 88N ANCOC, HG FSC. With those bonafidas.... Id argue that i know what im talking about.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2016 9:48 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 21:48:16 -0500

On top of doing well academically, make sure you remain a member of the team. All to often NCOs will dime each other out or stab someone in the back to get the top spot. In the end they get the 1059 they wanted but sacrificed a network of peers that could have benefited them throughout their career. You'll understand when you get there. There is always one in each class.

Response by SGT Jacob Yuhas made Feb 9 at 2016 10:21 PM

SGT Jacob Yuhas — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 22:21:57 -0500

I recently just finished WLC at Fort Dix, NJ last year and I can say this, do study! Along with studying, you want to network with as much people as possible. Get to know your platoon and study with them. The SGLs gave our student PLT Sergeants a key to the classroom. We were allowed to stay as late as we wanted to get homework done, study and practice.

If you don't get classroom access after hours then get together with your PLT and go over what was presented that day in the barracks.

One thing I do suggest you get down right away is the NCO Creed.

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Feb 9 at 2016 10:34 PM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 22:34:00 -0500

I was USMC but I attended BNCOC, as well as several USMC schools. I Always did well. One thing to remember is that you should never go into a school with the mindset you are competing against the other students. You are there to learn and better yourself. You want to do better than the guy you were yesterday. Some of the things I always attending schools was to .
1. Go to the course prepared, with all the gear on the gear list
2. Allow no distractions. I went as far as staying overnight in school billeting rather than going home every night.
3 Making study cards and being a part of study groups.
4. Be a team player with other students, help others study and prepare for inspections. By helping them you are also reenforcing your own knowledge.
5. Time Management. Set aside time for studying, uniform prep, Etc. Don't be the guy rushing to get a haircut at the last minute, putting ribbons on a uniform or studying 5 minutes beforte a test.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Feb 9 at 2016 11:29 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 23:29:25 -0500

I achieved Commandant's List in PLDC, BNCOC, and ANCOC. I think that what helped me was being in the right place, at the right time, in the right uniform, and being motivated. I know that sounds cliché, but you may be surprised at how many out there who cannot consistently accomplish all four of those tasks. I also studied when I had time to ensure that I knew the material. Good luck!!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2016 9:36 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 09:36:54 -0500

Do the right thing always. Take care of your soldiers!! College courses and all Army schools you can get.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2016 9:53 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 09:53:50 -0500

I went to phase 2 of ALC for Supply Specialist. Prior to the course I had never worked on PBUSE a day in my life. I was the Distinguished Honor Grad on this course that PBUSE was 90% the covered material.

I recommend paying attention, identify your weaknesses and study more after hours to ensure success. Remember, you are at the school for training and not socializing.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2016 10:14 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 10:14:07 -0500

Well I was at a 95 or 96 average when I graduated WLC and wasn't even in the top part of the group. So I would say don't get below 100 on any of the areas and you might have a chance.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2016 10:22 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 10:22:12 -0500

Be the best NCO you can be. Everyone is a leader or a leader in training. The most important thing about being a GOOD NCO, is the ability to pass your knowledge on to your soldiers. It does the Army no good if you know everything but cant teach it to others.

Response by SSG Kristell Lee made Feb 10 at 2016 10:26 AM

SSG Kristell Lee — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 10:26:08 -0500

I got t distinguish leadership. I thought honor grad was better but I was set straight by my NCOs. They explained to me that distinguish honor grad got the best grades, but distinguish leadership not only had good grades but it's also someone that their peers recognized had leadership skills and that's why it got more recognition and stuff. In BLC in Ft. Bliss your platoon selects an individual and that person had to compete against the other individual selected in the other platoons in a board. The winner becomes student 1SG for the remaining portion of BLC and gets distinguish leadership providing they don't mess up or get any counseling. Try your best to get DL. I suggest you to study for a board, practice, to help around the class room, volunteer, and show your leadership skills. Double and triple check your packing list, ppl got counselings even for PLC. Overall try your best to learn and take as much as you can from it. Is a lot of useful information. Good luck!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2016 10:48 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 10:48:40 -0500

FOCUS.
You are there for one reason, and one reason only. To learn.
There are a lot of distractions at an NCOES course. Stay away.
Eye on the prize.
Study. Practice. Lead by example. Support your fellow students.
Trust me, the SGLs know who is who.

Response by SFC Craig Dalen made Feb 10 at 2016 2:14 PM

SFC Craig Dalen — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 14:14:35 -0500

I ensured that I was prepared before attending these courses. Once you get there show up on time in uniform and participate as a member of the team. Knowing the knowledge before hand makes taking the tests that much easier. I am currently serving as the Senior SGL for ALC myself and these are the things my instructors and I look for. Just food for thought...

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2016 10:24 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 10:24:45 -0500

I see a lot of these answers and they are all solid advice but I'll tell you my secret to attaining honor grad (and the courses may have changed since I went in 2010 or longer) and that was: learn how to navigate adobe reader. I'm not being a smart ass. Most of the study work is in Adobe File format. Knowing how to search for answers and how to find the correct fm or location for what you need is the single most important thing in passing the exams. As with most army courses now, the subjective assessments don't hold as much weight as the objective exams in grading. Now that's not a good thing when developing leaders nor is it the most important thing to learn and develop while there, however the question was how to become the CL, HG, or DHG at the course. The answer plain and simple is to ace the exams.

Having said all that let me say this, while I find it commendable and laudable to want to excel and achieve beyond expected, I never once gained anything of importance or received anything significant from being the HG of any course I attended other than simple bragging rights and an exceeded course standards on a 1059. The above mentioned subjective assessments are what we really should be focusing on. Working within a team. Working as the leader of a team and learning how to build a strong and cohesive team. Learning the difference between being a leader and having troops that respect that and work for you because of that respect versus just being in charge and having troops do what you say because they have to.

I guess what I am saying is don't forget why we really need these leadership courses and more than just focusing on the individual achievement of DHG, take away from it that which is truly important.

I apologize if this isn't a popular opinion. Just my two cents

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 1:42 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 13:42:03 -0500

Be Prepared! Remember this is a Leader's course. Do not use this time to learn leadership. That task should have already been accomplished before arriving to the course. Lead from the front every opportunity you have while attending the course.

Response by SFC Stephen Williams made May 10 at 2016 10:22 AM

SFC Stephen Williams — Tue, 10 May 2016 10:22:19 -0400

The answer is simple...have pride in all you do. I was an Honor Grad of my ANCOC class way back in 1983. Like anything I have done in life, and still do, doing the best you can will always bring you a sense of accomplishment. Some things in life never change for a good reason.

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2017 6:22 PM

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 18:22:29 -0400

I received it while I was at ALC and was too of my class in SLC. The main thing is to pay attention to what has been instructed. Discipline is another key factor that comes into play. There are so many things that can knock you out of the running and it's due to lack of discipline. Focus is the last key that I will give you, if you want to be in the top 5 to 10 percent of your class, then focus and bust your but the entire time.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2018 1:55 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 13:55:07 -0500

I made Commandants list at ALC. Honestly I think it just boiled down to spending a lot of extra time on the required assignments/tasks when I was able. One of the highlights in my DA 1059 was my spy profile research paper that I wrote (I'm a Counterintelligence Special Agent). I also volunteered to help lead the managing CI investigations class since I was the only one in my class who was currently in an active investigative assignment at the time. Of course, what helped all of this was my passion for my job and wanting to learn as much I could. Don't know if that helps you at all in your MOS, but I am sure there are parallels you can draw from.