I will be attending WLC soon in Korea and I am in the process of gathering together everything for this crazy packing list. I am also trying to find out more about the school so I can better prepare for it.

One of my concerns is the D&C portion of the school and how you are graded on it. My unit does very little D&C since we do shift work and really don't have formations and what not.

I've been reviewing commands and facing movements but what about cadence calling? I honestly can not remember the last time I marched or ran to a cadence. How much are you graded on cadence calling? I'm trying to brush up on some of the ones I remember. I'm sure I can manage at least saying left, right, left if thats all they are looking for. I do want to try for honor grad or at least near the top of the class and I just don't want this to be the thorn in my side.

I'm hoping for the school to review and teach a lot of D&C over again since basic training was over 7 years ago for me (I had a break in service).

How to properly conduct a PT session is something I have pretty much zero experience in also. I've had 2 PT sessions in the past 2 months where we actually formed up, which consists of about 5 people, then we just go to the gym. I'm hoping they teach and grind that into my head before I am graded on giving it. I know this doesnt sound good but I do a lot of PT on my own because theres not much else to do in Korea if you don't drink.

I guess what I'm really looking for is, how much of the school concentrates on D&C and how to conduct PT? How much of the school is in a classroom? I know there is a lot to cover in the school so I'm trying to gauge how much I need to worry about each portion of the school. Field stuff, land nav, and APFT I am not concerned about since I feel confident in those areas.

Thank you for any advice. Finding out anything about the school will relieve some of this stress I have about going.

D&C is not an individually graded area at WLC anymore. You will have an opportunity to call cadence while marching to and from class if you want. While not graded, this does show motivation.
As far as PT goes, you will be assigned a day to give PT. You will either be told what you are giving for PT that day (grass drills, muscle failure, run, etc..) or they sometimes let the students decide among themselves. If you lead PT on a run day, you will have to call cadence. You're not graded on how great your cadence is, but you will have to do something.

I would practice the commands to get Soldiers into a extended rectangular formation. When you get to WLC the SGL's (small group leaders, aka your instructors) should give you an example what they are looking for and grading you on. You will then be expected to be able to execute.

Don't stress, I am sure you are not going to be the only NCO there who hasn't had a lot of experience in some of the areas you'll be graded. However, you will find that your fellow students will all be willing to help you practice just as I am sure you'll be able to help in some areas your classmates are having trouble.

Good luck ! I am also stationed in Korea. My wife just graduated WLC, so my information is up to date.

Don't worry about it, we had guys in Drill Sergeant School that had next to no D&C experience and hadn't ever led PT...I was one of them! Trust me, you won't be alone. Learn some cadences and brush up on some D&C basics by reviewing the manuals online and you will be way ahead of the game. WLC doesn't focus on D&C that much anymore.

The only graded areas in WLC today are:

APFT
Garrison leadership
Tactical (field) leadership
Written examination
PT session
Train the Force
Land navigation

I believe that's it. Notice that drill and ceremony isn't one of the areas.

When did this train? D&C was a part of my WLC class just shy of 20 months ago.

All you did was call a small group to attention, extend to the left, bring them back to normal interval, right/left face, forward/rear march, half-right/left face, call them to halt. At ease, stand at ease, rest, attention, present arms, order arms, column right/left march.

Has this changed recently?

It all depends on where you are going to WLC at. I lucked out and was given a slot to go to WLC at Camp Ashland, NE. There's no more D&C being graded and no more written exams. All we tested on was Garrison Leadership, APFT, PT Train the Trainer, Field Leadership and an Individual Training class that was conducted. It's really not as hard and stressful as you're making it out to be, just practice your stuff from the FMs and it'll go by quickly. I graduate on Friday and it wasn't as hard as I was making it out to be. Just don't stress yourself out with the nonsense and you'll be alright.

**NOTE** Don't worry if you don't know cadences, the ones that couldn't think of any were told to say their ABC's or make the sound of a helicopter

quote:

Originally posted by KSoler:
When did this train? D&C was a part of my WLC class just shy of 20 months ago.

All you did was call a small group to attention, extend to the left, bring them back to normal interval, right/left face, forward/rear march, half-right/left face, call them to halt. At ease, stand at ease, rest, attention, present arms, order arms, column right/left march.

Has this changed recently?

I too attended WLC about 20 months ago (June 2006) at Fort Campbell. The US Army Sergeant Majors Academy is in charge of planning the course instruction and doctrine for WLC. I thought that the same instruction applied to all WLC locations. Anyway, my course didn't include D&C. It would've taken forever for everyone to rotate through and be graded on that. I don't know, maybe they considered extending the formation for PT as your D&C.