Okay world, I know that it has been a while since you heard from me, but here I am. Yes, I did survive Warriors Leaders Course. For those who think that WLC is fun, I am here to tell you that it is not, but I am no GI Jane either.

I did not know that to expect going into the course. I knew that I was going to be in class the majority of the time and that the course was very structured as far as the time scheduling. At times I did think that I was in basic training again. I guess that is a necessary evil.

Before I attended the course, I viewed leadership as one of those things that just happen, but after going through the course, I know that leadership is something that has to be developed over time, and for some people it could take years the be an effective leader. I think that will be the case for me.

I do not think that I am a bad Soldier, the way that the Army has operated with the help of society; it takes a little longer for the average female leader to come into their own. Yes I think that a lot of men have issues taking direction and instruction from females and that is one of the things that I experienced first-hand in the course.

I ran into a lot of male NCO’s who did not have experience working with females at all. Throughout the Army, there is that population of male Soldier who still thinks that female does not belong in the Army and unfortunately some of these Soldiers with this type of thinking are in senior leadership positions. It surprises me that no one really talks about it or admits that there is a problems and it saddens me that people do not want to have integrity to admit that they have a problem with female leadership.

Enough of the soap box stuff, back to my WLC experience. To graduate with success you had to meet the requirements on a number of predetermined tasks. Garrison Leadership, Tactical Leadership, Land Navigation, Classroom Instruction and PT Instruction were the areas in which you were evaluated.

I received a 1^st Time Go on all subject matter areas. Some of the areas I thought I should have received a better grade in but I will not even go there.

Out of all the subject matter areas that we were evaluated on, I felt like Land Navigation and tactical leadership were the most challenging.

Let’s talk a little bit about this land navigation course. I have never seen anything like it at all. Hills mountains, marshes. fanged deer, native to the Korean wilderness. The terrain is very unforgiving.

I honestly did not think that I was going to be able to do it. I can honestly say that I do not have that much experience with land navigation. It is one thing to plot points on a map, but to actually transfer the points that you plotted onto the actual terrain and shoot an azimuth with a compass is another story.

The cadre also made my WLC experience very interesting. SSG Melendez was my instructor or in the NCO Academy lingo, Small Group Leader. He is a 31B and I had all types of MP cracks. Oh I got cracked on too. Our call sign on our STX lane was Strong Arm1. We had other names in mind but he refused to go for it. Our senior SGL SFC Gonzalez got crunked by drinking a continuous supply of “Monster Energy Drink.”

I will not say that my WLC experience was a great one and in a heartbeat I would volunteer to go again. Probably not. When you are in a place where the highlight of your day is going to the PX, then that is a place where you would not want to be longer than necessary.

I can say that I meet some interesting people, others, I would not care to see again, but that’s the Army. Well World until next time OUT.