Posted: 3/12/2004 11:23:39 PM EDT
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Ok, I just got an email saying I have been approved for PLDC 15 May-29 May. I am in a National Guard infantry unit, and have a position as an E4 (SPC) team leader. I have to be an actual team leader, attend NCODP, etc., so if I have an E5 job I might as well be getting paid as one and have the rank! Anyhow, I don't really know much about what goes on in PLDC, so can anyone enlighten me on what I can start doing now to make things easier when I get there? I think it will be in Ashland, NE. |
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I went to PLDC in Germany, 1st AD, 1987. Back then it was 30 days long. I received a list of things I needed to bring, and they required that you have an NCO from your unit sponsor you. What stands out the most that I remember was buying 4 new sets of BDU's and a new set of boots, also going through all of my TA50 and getting it ready, i.e. painting your entrenching tool, armourall on the cover, ect, ect. There were ALOT of room inspections, gear layed out on bunks, so all your equipment had to look new, alot of attention to detail such as coloring in any exsposed metal in your web gear. Some guys spent alot of money actually buying new TA50. Practice up on your D&C and calling cadence, we marched every where. Also brush up on your map and compass skills. It is basically a combination of Basic Training and classes dealing with leadership. The field problem was the most fun, ending with a killer compass course/road march! Good luck! If you need any more help let us know! |
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I went through PLDC at Camp Ashland in November of 1987. I was the Honor Graduate of our class(yeah!). It was a really good course. If you are going through a guard course, it's 2 weeks long. Unless they have changed it. What to expect? Lot's of class room work and lectures. And some field exercises. Not a lot of detailed inspections. You can only do so many inspections in 2 weeks. In the guard PLDC courses, they are looking to make sure you know your job, how to "be" an NCO and how to handle the extra responsibility. The best advice I can give you - Make sure all of your gear is in excellent condition. Make sure your uniforms are free from strings/clean/pressed/fit well. Make sure you have all of your TO&E. Make sure you have a military compass that works. AND when you get there, step up. Don't be afraid to tell people what to do to get the ball rolling. Example - when we got to the airport, the Duece pulled up and every body just looked at it, I started organizing people to get our stuff on the Duece after the driver said to get all of our stuff in there. I just started there and went through the course as if it was my platoon and took charge when someone really needed too. I even lead extra PT when we were done with regular PT. Last one that nailed the Honor Graduate for me was the end interview. I knew my stuff and when they asked me a question about the M2 machine gun, I knew the answer. Most soldiers that were there were admin people and I was a 19 Delta. After all of the regular NCO skill questions, they thought they would trip up everyone with extra questions about infantry MOS skills. So if it's the same way, you are good to go. As I remember, the food was pretty good and the weather in November wasn't too bad. Good luck! |
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If your squared away its a breeze. Drink alot of coffee to stay awake though, some blocks of instruction were terribly boring. The Combat arms series usually never have a problem, its usually support MOS's (Usually Female I might add) that have problems with Land Nav. |
| Am I the only one that thinks that PLDC is the most worthless school in the military? I went to the 18th abn corps NCO academy here at bragg. Spent most of the time napping through worthless classes on stuff that I had already been doing for a year and teaching the SGLs small unit tactics. If you were an infantryman, you were pretty much in charge of everything, especially in the field. I also got to hear women in soft skill MOS's tell me how they could do MY job then break down crying when they couldn't hump their ruck one mile or when we ran them into the ground. (only took a mile or two at a 7 min/mile pace) It's also cool to hear grown men bitching about having to pull security in the patrol base and seeing them fall asleep on guard. People getting lost on a 500m movement through the woods(even my privates can read a compass), potential NCOs showing up not knowing how to call cadence or march a formation, soldiers not knowing how to reassemble their M4, one girl even tried to take a bath in the water buffalo during the field problem... Good times.[rolleyes] The best thing about PLDC was that I appreciated my unit a whole lot more after attending that circus. That and the Chinook jump anyway. |
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Went through PLDC at Fort Sherman, Panama in 89. Graduated on the Commandants List , not bad for a REMF. I can remember that it was a month long inspection, pt, field problem. It was at the same time the biggest bitch and the most fun I had during my time in. Work hard and make the most of it. the promo points you earn can get your stripes. |
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Quoted: Am I the only one that thinks that PLDC is the most worthless school in the military? I went to the 18th abn corps NCO academy here at bragg. Spent most of the time napping through worthless classes on stuff that I had already been doing for a year and teaching the SGLs small unit tactics. If you were an infantryman, you were pretty much in charge of everything, especially in the field. I also got to hear women in soft skill MOS's tell me how they could do MY job then break down crying when they couldn't hump their ruck one mile or when we ran them into the ground. (only took a mile or two at a 7 min/mile pace) It's also cool to hear grown men bitching about having to pull security in the patrol base and seeing them fall asleep on guard. People getting lost on a 500m movement through the woods(even my privates can read a compass), potential NCOs showing up not knowing how to call cadence or march a formation, soldiers not knowing how to reassemble their M4, one girl even tried to take a bath in the water buffalo during the field problem... Good times.[rolleyes] The best thing about PLDC was that I appreciated my unit a whole lot more after attending that circus. That and the Chinook jump anyway. AMEN, I thought it was complete waste too! Everything in PLDC, I already had learned back in my old Engineer unit (before I reclassed) and still remembered from Basic. I did find it amusing to see people get lost on the Land Nav course (Ft. Lewis), all you had to do was orient yourself with the map and the terrain, piece of cake. I don't think I even used the compass. The Army would be better off scrapping the sorry excuse called PLDC and replaceing it with a school (especially for support) stressing Combat skills like patrolling, weapons cleaning, marksmanship, weapons training covering all crew served weapons, etc. Make the student regardless of rank for example run a patrol as a Platoon Leader/Squad Leader or a checkpoint. I am sure you can think of some things that would come in handy, Cadre who have been to Iraq and Afganistan will know what works and is needed. |
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