What should I expect at Warrant Officer Candidate School?

I believe I'm too far removed to provide accurate feedback on the current course. I would say expect to be treated like a private. Understand that there is a finite amount of time that you will be there and there is a goal at the end. From every experience you go through there is good and bad everywhere, so learn and take away from the course what you want and discard the rest. I've seen some people quit, as they are thinking in the moment and not the future of their Army career. Go to the school, lead and be led, and then be welcomed to the best groups of brothers and sisters the Army has. Best military decision I ever made.

Expect to lose 6 weeks that you can never get back. Half way through, I realized that these classes were all the same classes I'd gotten in PLDC. Essentially, it was a 6-week hazing session, made tolerable only because I knew I'd be going to Flight School when it was over.

Take your time on the DL portion. If you fail, it counts as a failure when you get to Fort Rucker.

Watch this to help: https://www.facebook.com/USAWOCC/videos/ [login to see] 48512

Then go to CandidateNet to find out what you need to do:

https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/apf/usawocc/warrant_officer_career_college

Phil,

If you just got off the trail, I don't think you will have a problem. Know what you are good at, admit your weaknesses, and find someone in your class to help you. If you are terrible at writing memos, first, sucks to be you, second, find some 420A in your class or the next best thing who is awesome at it and get all the info you can from them. Being a WO is all about helping your fellow WO's get their job done. Tech, AV, doesn't matter. We just don't let other WO's fail, period.

Maximize your own time for your own improvement, but always make sure you are doing your part so the group meets the standard first.

For me, I latched on to the Intel and Signal folks. They were some of the smartest people I had come across in a military school. I was, and am still proud to know them.

I am chiming in late, but seriously as a SSG it is merely being able to swallow the pill. The pill is being at the bottom of the totem pole and having to get past the gatekeepers yet once again (usually the first one is your drill sergeant at basic). It is Army, everyone has said the courses and academics are in line with what one knows as a NCO before getting there. It was the best physical fitness of my 28 years to date, being ready for that is essential for survival. Being able to read, comprehend and follow written directions also (some actually lack at application). Just enjoy the time, you will be glad its over when done and share what you experienced after graduation here so everyone can benefit from your turn at WOCS.

Just show up ready to run everywhere and do repetitive exercises of patience and futility for no reason in particular. Bring extra PTs, and don't sweat the little things. If you don't know land nav by now, no amount of studying is going to make you any better at it. I found the course particularly easy, but we lost 15% of our class to it (2/3 of them ended up passing second time around)

For the Land Nav portion, it is a breeze. If a reservist like me can beat a Ranger and a Sapper, I think it should be easy!
But, soldiers do fail. You are not allowed to talk to anyone, you must stay off the paths, and you must find the correct points. There will be some confusion out there, but that is normal. The time limit is also key. You must hit around 1800-2000m in less that 2 hours. Sounds easy, but the school makes it difficult.
Best advice I can give you is to brush up on how to plot points, get a really good pace count, and work on your "range walk".
Good luck Candidate!!

Hey everyone,

Just letting you know I was selected for the Warrant Officer board! Thanks for all the input!

CW2(P) (Join to see) ...So how about an update. How did WOCS compare with your expectations?

Expect they will make you feel uncomfortable, really tired, and challenge your decision to become a WO. Other than that have fun. Not knowing is half the fun. Oh and it is not a self correcting course; just listen to the instructors and do as they say.