Are there any recent WOC Grads who would like to offer advice on WOCS?

Keep in mind that experiences for every candidate varies, I am giving you info from my experience and the tips I received from my mentors before attending.

1) Remember: Be prepared physically (By the book PT Test and PT) and for all the daily mental challenges. Prioritize your responsibilities and time management (this will be tested). Key is to stay motivated and never quit, and have fun...

2) Set aside some money for the course, Be prepare to spend on an average of $400-$500 while attending the course (class t-shirt, caffeine rights, staff ride dinner, alterations/dry cleaning, laundry, class coins, gift for TAC, personal hygiene items, and etc.)

3) If asked a question, always be honest. Chances are the repercussions are to do pushups and get up. Some candidates were asked a question and lied which is unnaceptable. For example they were heard cursing and when asked about it they lied, this caused them to get set back or placed on commander’s probation. Simply tell the truth, do your pushups or essay or memo and move on.

4) You will need to turn in your uniform to have it altered as an officer would wear it, I recommend you do that before getting to 1st WOC while you're at HHC. This way it will not be an inspectable item, you will display your receipt instead. Turn in all your ASU items (ASU jacket, both pair of pants, both long and short sleeve shirts, and tie). The Alteration Shop on and off post will deliver your uniform before the inspection date, your laundry officer will be responsible for coordinating this.

5) Bring your "I love me" book and documents supporting your ERB because you will close out your record while there. DO NOT make copies of all your documents (i.e. awards and etc.). They will only require anything NOT covered in your ERB or missing from your iPERMS that you would like added. However, bring all documents required of you on the Pre-Execution Checklist, two copies will suffice for everything except your DA Form 1610.

6) HHC WOCS is where you in process, 1st Warrant Officer Company is where you conduct training and that’s where all the TAC's are located, the school house (Academics) consists of civilian and military instructors.

7) Lumi-color fine tip markers were very helpful during land navigation. The ones with the multicolor. Trust your pace count during land navigation and ensure that you take advantage of the instructors if you do not understand something.

8) Recommend you and your class get started on the Additional Duty Roster as this will help identify people quickly when you arrive instead of folks getting assigned on the spot with no idea what to expect.

9) I recommend not to mark your clothing at home. You will receive the WOCSOP with stenciling standards at HHC. Use the 4-5 days at HHC to stencil. Many people did not use this time properly and were stenciling the day prior to moving to 1st WOC.

10) There is an on post laundry service that you can use, it costs 100$ for the entire time that you are there and in my opinion is very beneficial. There are only 3 washers and dryers at 1st WOCS and getting an open one is not easy. With the laundry you can drop off clothes daily and they have a 24 hour turnaround. (i.e. if you drop off Monday, you get everything back Tuesday. Only exception is if you drop off Friday, you won't get your clothes back until Monday) Disclaimer: Sometimes your clothes will smell weird, probably due to their no scent detergent.

11) Know your drill and ceremony. (Reporting procedures, In Ranks Inspection, and etc.), Take time to briefly review TC 3-21.5.

12) The 1SG wears the same black shirt and hat as the TAC Officers (WOs). Be mindful not to salute the 1SG. All officers wear blue Reflective Belts, enlisted wear green.

13) Rank means everything there. Always call the room to attention when appropriate. CW2's salute CW3's for example.

14) Get your running shoes before going there. The clothing and sales has limited options. Ensure that your laces are left over right.

15) The packing list may say "white socks" but you can bring black socks, just make sure they are IAW AR 670-1.

16) You can bring vitamins and over the counter medicine, you just have to inform your TAC Officer within the first few days of getting to 1st WOC and have a medication card (how to make one is in the WOCSOP).

17) You will get formal blocks of instruction at Rucker on the other topics that you will be tested on for exam 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3. I found these exams to be much easier with the provided training. So don't stress, unless you are trying to make honors.

18) Plan on losing 5-10 pounds while you are there just due to running and walking everywhere.

19) Bring a numbered combination lock, it will save you so much time, every second counts. (See attached photo).

20) Bring Colgate Wisp. You may not have time to brush your teeth on occasion, this will help. (See attached photo).

21) Never use “Gentleman or Ladies" and begin to remove jargon from your vocabulary (i.e. roger, tracking, check, and etc.)

22) Bring something to transport your ribbon rack and other ASU awards to prevent damage.

23) Your morale officer should begin submitting memorandums requesting certain privileges prior to your arrival if possible. The following were some of the things we submitted early for, although they weren't approved right away they were still in the works: 1) Media Rights-which will allow you all to use computers for memos and etc. instead of doing them hand written. 2) Coffee Memo, for caffeine rights during academics. 3) Early Wake up Memo-Which will allow you to have more time to get ready in the AM instead of 7 minutes. Just to name a few.

24. You will be required to do hand written memos and essays for the first few weeks.

25. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK... One of the benefits that I have is that I now know Warrant Officers in 10 different branches across the Army. Take advantage of it, talk to everyone in your class at some point, get to know each other and make every effort to be a team.

26. TEAMWORK, TEAMWORK, TEAMWORK... This will make you all successful, work together, especially with those in your room, or platoon because some tasks will be reliant on teamwork alone. It's ok to be in a group (or click) as we tend to migrate towards those that we relate to (for example, food service folks will probably hang out with food service folks and etc.), but make efforts to speak and get to know others. This will also help your time there be more tolerable.

27. When in charge be in charge. When NOT in charge, Support your student leadership. You may not agree or like with the way that they may be doing something, but supporting your leadership will ensure things run smoothly. Know that everyone will hold a leadership position (Squad Leader, Platoon Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Class Leader, Class Sergeant) at some time during the course. Some will also get an opportunity to be part of C-Staff during the last two weeks of the course.

WOCS Frequently Asked Questions can be found at: https://usacac.army.mil/cac2/WOCC/Repository/2013_WOCS_FAQ.pdf

Good Luck!

Advice on the PT: Just run a lot. Advice on the land NAV event: Pay close attention in class and practice during the group exercise; and, on the SOLO exercise, if you can't find a particular point after a reasonable amount of time, move on to the next--you don't need five out of five to pass it.

Once you get there you will have a few days meeting your classmates and getting checked into the school. Don't worry about running, you will do a lot of it but the pace isn't to bad. There are two blocks of instructions on Land NAV before the test, so don't over think it. Just go with the flow, and do your best. It is a student run course the TAC officers give you all the information you need to succeed.