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I am slotted to go to WLC next summer and I hear some horror stories of people getting booted before graduation for failing the Land Navigation. I didn't do so good during basic many moons ago and I want to get a head start so that I can be prepared.
Posted in these groups: 
Basic Leaders Course (BLC formerly WLC PLDC)
Basic Leaders Course (BLC formerly WLC PLDC)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 65
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Ask someone in your unit to help you out, try taking a little extra time to get in that extra training you'll need.
Remember WLC operates on the "crawl, walk, run" method. Give your SGLs the opportunity to train you while you're there. Pay attention especially in areas you know you're weak in. Don't be afraid to ask for the help. That's what they're there for! Good luck!
Remember WLC operates on the "crawl, walk, run" method. Give your SGLs the opportunity to train you while you're there. Pay attention especially in areas you know you're weak in. Don't be afraid to ask for the help. That's what they're there for! Good luck!
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CSM Michael Salfai
This is good advice. My daughter, an MP, went through the WLC about a year ago. She was quite worried about the Land Nav requirement but she aced it. Review the basics and work with your SGLs. Ask for extra help if you need it and offer help to your fellow Soldiers who are having problems. You should have no problem. Take the word of an old CSM on this.
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LTC (Join to see)
Training in the areas you are weak in. Find other Soldiers that are proficient in Land Nav, learn from them. Test your abilities as you get better. Reading maps, terrain features, etc.. WLC has been by far the best basic leadership course I have ever experienced.
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SPC Mitchell Keatley
You have to Do It To Learn It Fully...Back in my day....B Co 2/505 PIR....it was mandatory at times that we met up on our days off to go do a Saturday jump with equipment... and hit the DZ and then Land Nav..... Back with many waypoints to Hit on the mission Home... we made everyone ...UNDERSTAND IT AND PERFORMNIT... NOT GUESS...SOMETIMES WE WOULD BE OUT FOR 20...30 HRS.... before some Understood fully.. and on Your Time...it seemed the we...as individuals learned more at a squad level. .. learn the Factors first... true North.... map North
... reading and understanding... the next thing to do...in Order... then compas and map time for each... with their mind on being in charge of the mission... I found so many times that troops not only had a bad attitude about learning... but also just "didnt care"..... so with that in mind... motivation and controlled squad patrols work best to motivate that ONE GUY OR GUYS TO CHANGE THEM... PUT THEM IN CHARGE AND SHOW THE WAY TO THE REST...AND THEN LET THEM DO IT UNTILL THEY GET IT RIGHT...
... reading and understanding... the next thing to do...in Order... then compas and map time for each... with their mind on being in charge of the mission... I found so many times that troops not only had a bad attitude about learning... but also just "didnt care"..... so with that in mind... motivation and controlled squad patrols work best to motivate that ONE GUY OR GUYS TO CHANGE THEM... PUT THEM IN CHARGE AND SHOW THE WAY TO THE REST...AND THEN LET THEM DO IT UNTILL THEY GET IT RIGHT...
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The best advice I can give for Land Nav at WLC is to learn to land navigate in a heavily wooded area. I learned to Land Nav down in the jungles of Panama; where I shot azimuths from tree to tree; sure it may sound tedious, but as long as you know your pace count and keep track of distance with a cord of 550 cord like I did things should work out for you.
Best of luck and practice if you need to before attending the course is the best advice I can give you.
Best of luck and practice if you need to before attending the course is the best advice I can give you.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
Good advice also use terrain association (land marks like roads and streams) to help keep you on track. That's what I did and it helped a lot.
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WLC is a "made to succeed" type course. I went through as a brand new SPC, so I was unfamiliar with much of the content other than completion of SSD1. I still did fine. As your SGLs will remind you, WLC teaches the same material you learn in SSD1.
You will get plenty of time to learn and refresh tasks at WLC, however the more prepared you are the easier of course, it will be.
Download a copy of FM 3-25.26 which is the FM on land nav. There will be a couple chapters in there that will be useful to you. Pay attention to your instructors, and don't be afraid to ask them, and ask your classmates for help.
As I mentioned before, despite the bad rap, WLC is made to set you up for success. I went through WLC with a soldier who was a dentists assistant by MOS. I know she hadn't done land nav since basic. I helped her study the material, and explained a few questions that she had, when we went out on the course, she found all her points, and beat half students or more back. Land Nav is terrifying to many people, and takes a lot of practice to get really good at; however, you don't need to be an expert to pass WLC. You simply need to know how it works, and find your points on a course. It will boost your confidence when you succeed!
If you set your sights on excelling at WLC rather than just passing, I would recommend that you get a copy of the Ranger handbook, and familiarize yourself with the TLPs, opords, and principles of patrol. Practice the preparation drills for PRT from FM 7-22, performing the exercises exactly as they are in the book, and brush up on D and C. I believe that if I had done that before I went, I could have made commandants list, instead of just graduating.
Of course, don't forget to be good on PT, and body weight. The SGLs aren't unfair, they simply grade to standard. Units fail to set their soldiers up for success by fudging the standard.
You will get plenty of time to learn and refresh tasks at WLC, however the more prepared you are the easier of course, it will be.
Download a copy of FM 3-25.26 which is the FM on land nav. There will be a couple chapters in there that will be useful to you. Pay attention to your instructors, and don't be afraid to ask them, and ask your classmates for help.
As I mentioned before, despite the bad rap, WLC is made to set you up for success. I went through WLC with a soldier who was a dentists assistant by MOS. I know she hadn't done land nav since basic. I helped her study the material, and explained a few questions that she had, when we went out on the course, she found all her points, and beat half students or more back. Land Nav is terrifying to many people, and takes a lot of practice to get really good at; however, you don't need to be an expert to pass WLC. You simply need to know how it works, and find your points on a course. It will boost your confidence when you succeed!
If you set your sights on excelling at WLC rather than just passing, I would recommend that you get a copy of the Ranger handbook, and familiarize yourself with the TLPs, opords, and principles of patrol. Practice the preparation drills for PRT from FM 7-22, performing the exercises exactly as they are in the book, and brush up on D and C. I believe that if I had done that before I went, I could have made commandants list, instead of just graduating.
Of course, don't forget to be good on PT, and body weight. The SGLs aren't unfair, they simply grade to standard. Units fail to set their soldiers up for success by fudging the standard.
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SGT William Howell
SSgt (Join to see) You said everything I could have. Soldiers that seem to struggle had issues with TLPs, how to make op orders, and basic combat skills. I would encourage anybody that is going to memorize these things and have them in in your notebook. Be ready to teach classes and conduct PT formations. Best thing I can say is have a great attitude, it will get your far with the instructors.
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