WLC to ALC

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 23:58:48 -0500

I just graduated WLC, and I am very motivated to go to ALC as soon as possible to learn more, as soon as possible. However, I am on orders to Korea and I will not be bringing my family with me. I am kind of torn between trying to go before I PCS or waiting until after I PCS from Korea to attend. What would be the better decision? I'm not promotable yet, I would just like to attend before it is actually required for me to go.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2014 12:05 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 00:05:14 -0500

Take a knee, breath, take what you learned in WLC first. See if you can employ what you learned, its a lot harder to lead than memorize PowerPoint slides. Once you feel your good to go, then worry about ALC.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2014 1:57 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 01:57:00 -0500

SGT Starnater,

I applaud your enthusiasm - I grow tired of sitting in NCOES graduation ceremonies and seeing NCOs going though the course because they have to go instead of having gotten it knocked out earlier in their career. The problem you will find is that I am sure there is a ton of SSGs on the OML waiting to go to ALC.

With that said ALC and SLC is a simple 4187 request to your S3 schools. Trying to work it into a PCS is a HRC decision and your branch manager can facilitate that. Contact branch and see if they will allow you to go with heading to Korea - again chances are good they will not send you because there is a backlog they have to work through.

If you don't get it going to Korea start talking to your branch manager 5 months into your Kore tour about getting TDY in route to your next duty station.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2014 10:02 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 10:02:01 -0500

Good on you for the enthusiasm. Take a knee, spend more time in the operational Army using the stuff you learned in WLC, and PCS with TDY en Route at the end of your Korea tour.

ALC is a course designed to certify Staff Sergeants in the 30 level tasks for their MOS. The ALC-CC is designed for SMCT 30 level tasks. This means that the curriculum builds on the assumption that you've done some of this stuff already.

I have a few students who attended WLC as waived Specialists and have less than three years TIS by the time they hit ALC. They don't necessarily do poorly but they can't make the connection between the terminal learning objectives of the lesson plans and their day-to-day duty performance.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2014 10:10 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 10:10:06 -0500

You're in the right mindset, I like it. In my experience I could have used WLC a lot earlier in my career. Probably more as an E-4 and below than an E-5. With that, ALC would have benefited me greatly as an E-5 team leader. I was actually angry that I didn't have that training earlier. Nothing in ALC was over my head, or "above my level". Everything is taught from the manuals, and you have good instructors for the most part that want you to succeed. As a Scout we have an extreme range of skills and our ALC Phase 2 is very challenging, but like I said, everything is taught to you. Nothing is a mystery, and you have a good environment to grasp the material.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Feb 8 at 2014 1:07 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 13:07:02 -0500

Don't you have to be promotable to attend ALC?