Warrior Leader Course successful in the Czech Republic

By Sgt, Kenneth D. ReedMay 11, 2015

Drill and Ceremony
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Iron Warrior Awardee
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 1st Sgt. Joseph B. Rothgeb presents Czech Army Sgt. Jan Grec with a Certificate of Achievement May 5. in Proslavice Czech during the Warrior Leader Course graduation ceremony. Sgt. Grec scored a 314 during physical fitness competition to earn the Iro... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- For the first time, 44 Czech soldiers participated in the United States Army Warrior Leader Course from April 13 to May 5, 2015 in Praslavice, Czech Republic.

WLC is the Army's first professional leadership course for noncommissioned officers. The month-long course teaches Soldiers the basic skills to lead.

WLC Class 005-15 was hosted by the 7th Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, which sent a Mobile Training Team consisting of 5 instructors. They led students through a curriculum of 3 modules and nearly 170 academic hours. These areas of concentration were leadership, training and war fighting.

Czech soldiers equivalent to the Army ranks of Private First Class to Sergeant First Class got a unique opportunity to learn and use leadership and basic soldier skills.

"This is my first time teaching this course to all foreign soldiers," said Staff Sgt. Bradley Swope, an instructor at the 7th JMTC NCO Academy. "At first, I was worried that the language barrier would make it difficult to communicate and I didn't want to leave a bad impression of what we had to offer them."

The course scope and standards were the same as what is given to U.S. Soldiers. However, the use of a translator was needed to make sure there was a comfortable level of communication and understanding between instructors and students.

The NCOA routinely trains soldiers from other nations. This training also promotes interoperability with our NATO Allies.

"Coming here I had no knowledge of this course or what to expect," said Cpl. Jan Horak, one of the Czech WLC students. "The knowledge of the instructors, along with the tasks we were given to complete, made this a great experience for me."

At the end of the three-week course Cpl. Horak and 43 other soldiers stood tall and recited the Creed of the Non-Commissioned Officer for the first time as Warrior Leader Course graduates.

Related Links:

U.S. Army Europe

7th Army NCO Acaedmy