Alright...so my Squad leader told me today that I had WLC Tasking(Warrior Leadership Course) a few weeks from now....But I never said I wanted to go to WLC...I never even mentioned it to anyone.

I don't understand why they would send me if I never said I wanted to go. I told my Battle Buddy & he said "They can't make you go if you don't wanna go."
But I have a feeling they're gonna say.."This is your PLACE-OF-DUTY..so you have to go!"
Can they really do that?

I know what some people reading this is gonna say..."Oh Just GO you pu**y!" or "You should just go ya baby..it's not that bad!"

I mean I thought WLC was for soldiers who WANT to become NCOs. I'm just an E-3 about to jump on E-4 next month....and my NCOs know that I don't want to re-enlist & plan on getting out the Army in a year & 1/2.....and they should know I WON'T change my mind about that...and I highly doubt WLC will change my mind because really I had enough of the Military life due to the fact that it's stressful on me & my family.
YES..I know other military families go through stress as well..but I won't let it continue with my OWN family by changing my mind to re-enlist..ya know.

Anyway...if NCOs really can make you go somewhere you don't wanna go..I really don't like the fact how another person can say what you're gonna do with your Career or time in the Army.

Sorry to get alittle off topic but my question was originally about WLC.

O.K. first calm down..Yes they can make you go to WLC.

Now here are somethings to think about....

When you get out, WLC is a stepping stone and also looks good when you put that in your Resume. You may look at WLC as a useless tool the Army makes you go to, but on the outside, your new boss may look at that as great start towards leadership/responsability (you do want to be in-charge one day correct).

Honestly, looking back on my 20 years in the military, I wish I would have taken EVERY school the Army put in front of me.....

It seems you have had a bad experience in the Army, I cannot do anything about that but take what you can get from the Army and put it to good use on the outside.

Trust me, after looking at what is out there for jobs it will be good to have military experience in your pocket.

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CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey

I totally agree with Chucksnee.

I have a Soldier who didn't have a chance to go to WLC due to the consecutive deployments and bad leadership. As soon as she came to my unit, she was picked to go to WLC and she completed it. She never wanted to stay in the Army longer than her current contract. Now, she is considering reenlistment because she believes she can be a good NCO in the Army. I think WLC provided her confidence and a different point of view toward the Army. Be thankful that you have a NCO who is willing to push you to go to WLC. Trust me, that NCO will not gain anything from your attendence at WLC (unless you graduate from WLC with honor). There's more work for him/her; he/she has to be there for you when you take NCOES APFT, TA-50 layout, and 1SG/CSM briefing.

You don't need to stay in the Army longer because you make E5. There are so many young Soliders who get out of the Army as E5 (or even E6) after intial enlistment. Your future employer will appreciate your leadership experience. Finish as much as education you can using TA while you are in the Army and finish your degree using GI Bill after you get out.

If you had a bad experience in the Army, don't let it happen to another Soldier who joined after you. You can stay and become a good leader who takes care of your Soldiers. That's how we make a difference in the Army little by little.

I did my 4 years and got out because I didn't like the politics of the military. I now am thinking about getting back in.

You need to think about a few things...

1) How old are you? If you're young then you will still be young when you do your 20 and you get all that "free" money for the rest of your life.

2) Do you have your college done yet? It's free in the army.

3) it's hard as hell right now to get a job

You need to do what's best for you and your family. Just something to think about.

It is 2 weeks... you can do anything for 2 weeks...

They must have cleared the entire order of merit list to be sending you, and they must see that you have quite a bit of potential of they are sending you so soon. Even if you don't want to go, at least knowing that they think highly enough of you to send you should make you feel pretty dang good.

It's still 4 weeks over here...I'm not sure why we have not gone to what the rest of the army has been doing.

The way I see it, 8th Army says you WILL send this many people...as soon as they are an E-4 they are going.....

Just like they are giving away E-5 and E-6 with this intergrated promotion crap now.....stay in long enough and we will give you your rank...

__________________
CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey

My husband was telling me that they are having problems with E4 promotables being denied because there isn't enough room in the classes. JBentley may get his wish of not going if they still have that problem when he goes.

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There's No Toilet Paper on the Road Less Traveled.

I am wondering.... he did say this was a "tasking" are we all reading too much into this? Is he really just getting sent up there on a detail perhaps?

Oh snap...yeah....ssnapier got a Point! My Squad leader did tell me it was "WLC Tasking"...I'm not sure what that is..but another soldier who WANTS to go to WLC is going with me for this tasking. So that really got me thinking I'm going to WLC with this other soldier.

But either or...It should be an learning experience for me...and some time to get away from my squad leader(don't like him too much). I mean..everyone's replies & comments calmed me down alittle bit & I just wanna thank everyone for your comment..suggestion..ideas....except you DrWorm...don't know about you.....

I guess we're in a different mind set because..I promised myself I would never leave my family again....ever.
I know I could re-enlist & get a bonus for so many years and go to a non-deployable unit but if I know the Army well enough I know that can change at the stroke of a pen.
My own motto I have for the Army is "Tomorrow is never promised"..because so many things change in the Army at a second's notice(and sometimes without any notice).
Yeah I'm gonna miss somethings about the Army when I get out for a few months or years...but that's nothing compared to missing my family for 12-18 months.
I know they got all these Army programs to help your family while you're away but no program in the world can replace being a father figure for my 3 kids(newborn, 2 & 3 years old). The Army is an easy job..but it's just not a good job for certain people.....

I saw the Army commercials before I joined..and looked at them now..and it's not exactly how it seems on TV....not saying it should be but they should add some reality to those commercials.

But yeah...this Army thing is not going to be the only thing I wanna do during my life while I'm young(28). I don't just wanna go to school FULL-TIME I wanna do a job out there in the civilian-world...and once I get out in 18 months I can get a job since I'm 92F(Fueler)...I got my Hazmat-12..can get other certifications that has to do with hazardous waste or chemicals..get a forklift and a Truck's licenses with a year left on my contract..by the time I get out I will be able to get a job...I don't care where..anywhere that pays good with benefits.

Oh yeah...and WLC is still 4-weeks..I asked one of my battle buddies who just left there...14 days of classes..10 days in the field..and the remaining days is just sitting around till graduation.

P.S: I'm not a trouble-maker...only thing I really got yelled at for was getting a "shape-up" with my haircut in Basic..and writing with a blue pen instead of a black pen repeatedly to fill-out some forms...but nothing other than that...I just wanna get back to the states..do my year(ETS Oct.2009) & get out while throwing up the peace-sign out my car window .

Jbentley: At least you are feeling better about the "Tasking" now!
I remember that they forced me to take Latin in High school. I didn't really like that idea at all. It was, and is a dead language. But I shut up and did it. Much later I discovered it is a root language for English and other languages, and what remains of that learning has helped me become a much better writer, speller and student of languages than I ever thought possible. There is much to be learned from experienced friends at any age. Some good, some bad, some too late. You choose to stay near and support your family, and we all wish you the best! The military is not the best life for everyone, and can be a poor choice for a large family, for sure. I recommend you use any spare time to start that higher education now. a few hours a week will get you started, and begin a habit that will be easier to continue when you do get out. Not all civilian jobs are as flexible in allowing time for college, so start now taking advantage of the free learning!