When can you go to the Warrior Leader Course?

SPC Dominque Lee — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 05:36:42 -0400

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2015 9:03 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 09:03:27 -0400

Most do it as an E4 or E5. On a rare occasion an E6 has been know to be in the class.
Do the right thing, be at the right place/right time, do your SSD, and make your name well know for doing good things and I'm sure your Platoon SGT/1SG/Commander will have no problem enrolling you.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jun 6 at 2015 9:23 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 09:23:48 -0400

Well said and eloquently expressed.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2015 9:25 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 09:25:05 -0400

I know I went a couple of months after I made E4, but you can go when the slot comes available! It's up to you to push your command to send you! Or if you just have that high speed unit to go ahead and enroll you in the course! Piece of cake though!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2015 9:25 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 09:25:52 -0400

Also, we had an E3 too

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2015 9:28 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 09:28:04 -0400

You are elegible to go once you completed SSD 1 and reached the rank of SPC, some units used to send PFCs, but that has gone away. And like the CPT said, stand out from your peers, volunteer, go to the soldier of the month board, excel on your APFT, don't get in trouble, and your CO and 1SG will gladly send you as hey see potential in you to become an NCO.

Response by SGT Rodger Armstrong made Jun 6 at 2015 9:33 AM

SGT Rodger Armstrong — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 09:33:08 -0400

When I did WLC in 2010 or 11. I can't remember lol. If you where a high speed PFC. You could go but you where on a waiting list incase there was that SSG or SGT that needed it. Then it went to SPC then PFC. I've been out for almost two years. It also depends on your unit SOP for sending WLC candidate. Your best bet would be talk to your squad leader team leader and ask them what are the requirements are.

Response by SGT Neil Chandler made Jun 6 at 2015 9:40 AM

SGT Neil Chandler — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 09:40:30 -0400

Do SSD, have no red flags. I just got done in February.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2015 10:21 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 10:21:20 -0400

If you meet the rank and school requirements as SGT Hansel has stated you are eligible to attend. If you are a PFC, always keep the mind set of always ready. E5s are a priority still and then E4Ps and then E4s.

Response by MSG David Johnson made Jun 6 at 2015 10:25 AM

MSG David Johnson — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 10:25:43 -0400

WLC Question on Rally Point

I would think this is a question you should be asking your team leader or squad leader. This is not a decision made by the 1SG without input from the Team Leader, Squad Leader, and the PSG. They are the very first part of your chain of command, and in the case of the First Sergeant, the NCO support chain.
If you had to ask this question in this type of forum I'm guessing you have been given an answer you didn't like, or didn't ask at all. There are plenty of Soldiers in your squad or platoon you could have asked first if you didn't feel you could talk to your platoon leadership, but you shouldn’t be listening to the s!@t house lawyers either. AND, if you couldn't ask your platoon leadership, I personally don't think you are ready for WLC.

If your team leader or squad leader is doing his/her job, you should be getting counseling at least once a month, if you are getting good counseling from your squad leader you should be able to ask this question. If your counselor is not asking if you have questions during a counseling session then they are not doing their job.
Counseling sessions are not just about what you are doing wrong, they should also be balanced by what you are doing right. Do you take that extra half hour in the evening to make sure your uniform is squared away? Do you take time out of your off duty hours to improve yourself? Are you taking college classes in the evenings, or online? are you the SME (subject matter expert) in your squad? Are you on your team leader asking questions about your MOS, ask how you are doing and what can I do to be better. Ask yourself the toughest question; am I ready to do my squad leaders job?

When I was preparing for my first promotion board back in the stone age, my 1SG told me how to answer 1 specific question he knew would be asked of me during my board appearance, "Why do you want to be an NCO?" My 1SG said to look the CSM in the eye and say "I'm after your job, and this is the first step in getting there".
Let me add this first, when I was in Basic training I made myself a long term goal; my goal was to retire from the Army as an E-8.
Well, when the CSM asked me that question, I thought back to my goal and told the CSM, "I want my 1SG's job and this is the first step to getting there." My 1SG was trying to hide his smile, but the other four 1SG's and the CSM were taken aback at my reply, they definitely were not expecting that reply; I passed the board.

So take that extra time in your off duty hours to help yourself, plus the college credits are good toward promotion points, and anything showing you are trying to improve yourself is very helpful when it comes to the board.
But I’m getting ahead of myself here, WLC is a leadership school, as is BNCOC (or whatever they are calling it today) and you need to show your initiative in the class, so show the some in your job everyday.

Ok, so now that you have received a counseling on what you should do, and what I feel you shouldn’t have done (asking the question on RP), I hope you will take these matters to hand. NEVER, NEVER, EVER, jump the chain of command, it just causes problems back on you. A caveat here, there are times when you may need to jump the COC, but this was not one of them.

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member , no offense Ma'am, but this SHOULD be NCO business. Although it was a good reply on what this Soldier should be doing to get the knowledge he may need one day when he will be an assistant team leader/team leader/squad leader

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2015 10:29 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 10:29:20 -0400

as soon as you make specialist

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2015 10:31 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 10:31:27 -0400

It has been standard practice for Henry Carrot NCOA (Fort Benning) to only accept SPC(p) and SGTs as students. Can't speak of any other NCOAs that I have never been to.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2015 10:32 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 10:32:34 -0400

I've seen a PFC go through. That doesn't happen anymore of course but it was possible at one point. Usually you will go as a seasoned SPC.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2015 11:57 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 11:57:57 -0400

Since others have already posted solid advice, I'll tell you how I got sent. I completed ssd1 as soon as I got back from osut. My squad leader pulled us aside and lectured us about getting ssd done and preparing for wlc. I told him I was ready. I was told they couldn't send PFCs. A couple weeks later I got a phone call asking if I still wanted to go to WLC. They told me I was going, the next month the commander advanced me to SPC, and o was by far the most junior soldier in my class. It did make WLC a little more difficult for me, but it is a course designed to make you succeed.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2015 1:35 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 13:35:39 -0400

SSD must be completed. The priority is on E-5 and E-4 who have not completed WLC. I would say that you must be patient, increased responsibility on a Solider who is in a hurry to move up the chain is a disaster. As you move up in rank. Your responsibility grows, you are responsible for more peoples lives. A bad decision by an inexperienced NCO can result in DEATH. I don't want you to think I am putting you down but look at it from this angle.
You go into a Doctors office for a visit. You notice that he has only been licensed as a doctor for less than two years....he did not identify the correct diagnosis for you and costed you a lot of money. You change Doctors and locate one with about seven years experience. He is better and has a vast knowledge of different situations.
This is merely an example but you see the difference in knowledge. Knowlede comes from different sources. I want you to learn as much as you can at your level so when you are moved to the rank of NCO, your Soliders will follow because you have the earned their trust and respect.
The last thing a boss is someone who sits behind a desk and yells orders, a leader is one who is out with his Soliders teaching, mentoring and counseling them for good and bad.

Response by SPC Nathan Freeman made Jun 6 at 2015 3:24 PM

SPC Nathan Freeman — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 15:24:37 -0400

Do your SSD and make SPC. A word of advice. Review the SSD right before you go. You will need everything in there. Also practice leading PT and D&C.

Response by SGT(P) Kenneth Jones made Jun 6 at 2015 8:24 PM

SGT(P) Kenneth Jones — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 20:24:27 -0400

It depends on openings and unit when I went they were letting PFC go. Its all about timing. You would just have to stay high speed keep nose clean and prove your worth and keep asking.

Response by SGT(P) Kenneth Jones made Jun 6 at 2015 8:50 PM

SGT(P) Kenneth Jones — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 20:50:28 -0400

Word of advice do not wait for anyone to tell you what you should have been doing research or ask. Never except road blocks push through them. You can achieve what ever you set your mind to. Don't let anyone tell you other wise. Take it from me I had ssd1 done before specialist and registered for ssd3 got my spc and went to wlc the following month. Got back finished ssd3 and ssd4. Now you won't be able to get ssd3 and 4 but its just an example to stay motivated and put what out of your career into it. You can always use your COC for answers but if none is given or you get flack for asking about things above your rank then ask others. There will always be soldiers NCOs and officers that will be willing to help a soldier that is willing to go the distance and knows that knowledge is power. Use your resources I can never say that enough. I found it the hard way on my own. So take it from me use every available resource you have around you. And that my friend is a large resource. Don't be afraid to approach and ask about something. Yes as far as getting WLC that's between you and your COC but to get you ahead of the game ask, look, and research the hell out of stuff. In the long run you will see the just rewards trust me. Just never be afraid and always use your resources that's the entire army at your disposal.ad read read dig in and find your answers. That's the best advice on RP can ever give you if they want to truly help mentor you and get you where you want to be. Live the creeds Soldiers creed and NCO creed no matter what you see around you going on always know those and live by those. Good luck and you can find me and ask anything. If I can't find the answer I , like my NCOs did, will point you in the right direction.

Response by MSG David Johnson made Jun 7 at 2015 12:39 PM

MSG David Johnson — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 12:39:26 -0400

This may sound like a dumb question, but what is SSD? I've been retired since 2008, I went through PLDC as an E4 in 1987, and finished ANCOC in 2006 and I'll be darned if I can ever remember hearing about SSD. Is it a correspondence course? I did hear about NCO'S having to do some CC'S before BNCOC.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jun 7 at 2015 1:17 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 13:17:03 -0400

I agree with much of the advice thus far. I'd like to add that it is critical for your CoC to support you going to WLC. This means your team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant especially.