Warrior Leader Course, September 2007

Welcome to the Warrior Leader Course and Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Fort Lewis Washington. This is a career development service school, designed for those personnel whose performance indicated their potential for advancement and increased responsibility. Your selection to attend this course is tangible evidence of your professional ability and the confidence placed in you by your unit.

The mission of the Noncommissioned Officer Academy is to train future Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs). The course focuses on the duties, responsibilities, and authority of the NCO. This course equips junior NCOs with the self-confidence, knowledge, and the sense of responsibility necessary to train, supervise, and lead subordinates. We provide training in the doctrine, principles, and attributes, which when put into action, will help Soldiers realize their potential as an effective Leader.

This academy has no challenges or obstacles that are not attainable to students. With this in mind, prepare yourself for this challenge with a positive mental attitude and the confidence that you can and will graduate. We will provide you with all the necessary assets to accomplish this task. The cadre is here to coach and mentor you in every way. They will train to standard while setting the example. They will be very critical and they will use common sense and fairness in the evaluations of your performance.

To become effective leaders you must first obtain knowledge and develop the self-confidence in your abilities to accomplish any task or mission. You must wear the uniform with strict attention to detail and reflect a professional image. We will place you in these conditions on a daily basis. It is your responsibility to achieve and maintain these standards.

The Academy focuses on preparing the Army’s NCO Leadership to prepare, train, and deploy units in the Current Operating Environment, which supports the Nation’s fight in the Global War on Terrorism. The Academy has the distinction of being the only NCO Academy to have deployed to Iraq to train the Iraqi Army NCO Leadership. Additionally, we train Soldiers from all three Army Components, which provides an opportunity for you to learn from the unique perspectives of your peers from the Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve. We do not make Leaders at this Academy, we provide the future Army Leaders with the tools they need to become effective NCOs and Role Models. You will be challenged both mentally and physically as the course packs an enormous amount of information and tasks into a short two-week period. It is important that you are prepared to hit the ground ready to train, with the proper equipment, and a Can-Do attitude. Proper preparation will be the key for you to have a successful educational experience.

Again, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Noncommissioned Officer Academy.

Things to Consider:

• Getting up at 3:30 in the morning
• Going to bed after 10:00 (22:00)
• Giving up TV’s, radios, and your cell phone (unless clandestinely in your wall locker)
• Giving a class on Physical Training
• Drill and Ceremony
• Taking a to-standard PT Test
• Giving a Class in front of your peers
• A three-hour land navigation test
• Squad movement and tactics
• Leading that squad into battle, i.e. ambushes and battle drill practice
• In the field for 96 hours, and it rains in Washington (be prepared)
• The written examination has been changed to another research task
• Intense learning on the following subjects: Leadership, Counseling, tactical reports, Troops Leading Procedures, and how to give a proper class
• Being in the classroom for 136 hours, but don’t fret, there is a coffee pot in class Barracks maintenance, personal hygiene, and dress right dress apparel is all part of the fun
• Helpful Information: TASS Unit Pre-Execution Checklist and WLC Course Management Plan - Example
• WLC Packing List for Students - This is for the Active Duty PLDC (although it does provide the best packing list with the items you will need) Class A's are not required
• Active Duty NCO Academy - Henery H Lind Academy (AKO Required)
• Reserve/National Guard/and Active Duty NCO Academy - US Army NCO Academy Website (AKo Required)

I can’t wait to go again!

Oh and don’t forget to clear your weapon before you go into the building!