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Should they change standards making WLC a requirement to become an NCO? I saw quite a few NCOs in WLC and was a little surprised by how they got put in a leadership position but not excelling in the class. Personally I think WLC should be a requirement because it's a professional development school and you need this course under your belt before your ready to take on subordinates. Your thoughts?
Posted in these groups: 
NCOs
Soldiers
Leadership Development
Basic Leaders Course (BLC formerly WLC PLDC)
NCOs Soldiers Leadership Development Basic Leaders Course (BLC formerly WLC PLDC)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 24
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I don't believe so. I went to WLC as a SPC, and I found I knew more than the SGL. When it came to ALC and SLC I found that I already knew and had performed all the stuff they were there to teach me. From what I gathered from my peers in the classes I was not even close to the exception.
What's worse is, having had good and bad leaders in the military has also shown me what leadership looks like, and NO NCOES has ever taught it. What NCOES teaches is management, poor management at that. True leadership is not something that can be taught, though it CAN be learned through good leadership and mentoring, this depends more on the individual learning than the leader.
From what I gather after 11 years and counting, there is only one course that anyone can call a leadership course, I have not been through it, but it's Ranger School.
So no, again, as WLC stands right now, do not require it.
But if you FIX NCOES and make it more about decisions and experiences and subordinates and less about paperwork and covering your own behind, then sure, make it useful and required.
of course, I went to Ft. Lee for SLC in the "Ain't no FREE CHICKEN!" era, so maybe I have a sour taste still...
What's worse is, having had good and bad leaders in the military has also shown me what leadership looks like, and NO NCOES has ever taught it. What NCOES teaches is management, poor management at that. True leadership is not something that can be taught, though it CAN be learned through good leadership and mentoring, this depends more on the individual learning than the leader.
From what I gather after 11 years and counting, there is only one course that anyone can call a leadership course, I have not been through it, but it's Ranger School.
So no, again, as WLC stands right now, do not require it.
But if you FIX NCOES and make it more about decisions and experiences and subordinates and less about paperwork and covering your own behind, then sure, make it useful and required.
of course, I went to Ft. Lee for SLC in the "Ain't no FREE CHICKEN!" era, so maybe I have a sour taste still...
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SGT (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see), what's "Ain't no free chicken?" The Google doesn't seem to know.
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SPC Thomas Smith
It seems one would effect the other. The soldiers get a good foundation and the school so their leadership can build them up. My WLC experience was that there is not a magic potion you drink upon graduation that makes you know the material. WLC is about about getting an understanding of why things are done a certain way. The soldier is still going to lean on their NCO leadership to learn the how to and how not to.
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It is going back to this, slowly but surely (that is WLC being a requirement for promotions). You will see a lot of E-5s and even some E-6s who where promoted without the completion of WLC. This requirement went away to help fulfill slots throughout the various Army components to support both OIF and OEF. With the draw down in Afghanistan, more and more standards that have been laxed or that went away will be returning.
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