Ghana soldiers get a taste of the Army's Warrior Leader Course

By Sgt. Kenneth D. ReedAugust 6, 2015

Counseling
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Andrew Payne, and instructor at the 7th Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, gives instructions to Sgt. Benjamin O. Aboagye during the counseling portion of the Warrior Leader Course, July 21, 2015 at the 7th Army Non-Commissioned Office... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Land Navigation
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Believer K. Adzalo, from the Jungle Warfare School in Ghana, checks his compass during the land navigation portion of the Warrior Leader Course, August 4, 2015. WLC is the Army's first professional leadership course for Non-Commissioned Officers... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Road March
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Mohammed Taibu, a soldier from the Ghanaian Army and a student with Bravo Company, 7th Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, conducts a road march during the Field Training Exercise portion of the Warrior Leader Course, Aug. 3, 2015 on Grafenwo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Awardee
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey R. Dillingham, the command sergeant major of the United States Army Garrison, Bavaria, presents Sgt. Believer K. Adzalo, from the Ghana Army Jungle Warfare School, with the Distinguished Leadership Award, August 6, 2015 duri... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Grafenwoehr, GERMANY -- Four soldiers from the Ghana Armed Forces got the opportunity to participate in the United States Army's Warrior Leader Course held at the 7th Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, July 13-Aug. 6, 2015 here.

This is the first time servicemembers from Ghana have participated in this course.

WLC is the Army's first professional leadership course for Non-Commissioned Officers. The month-long course teaches Soldiers the basic skills to lead. The NCOA routinely trains soldiers from other nations.

"By allowing our international partners to attend our academy it enhances our partnership and helps shape not only our NCO corps but theirs as well for current and future operations," said 1st Sgt. Joseph B. Rothgeb, the deputy commandant of the 7th Army NCOA.

Cpl. Clottey Moses, Sgt. Believer K. Adzalo, both from the Ghana Army; Sgt. Mohammed Taibu, Ghana Air Force, and Sgt. Benjamin O. Aboagye, Ghana Navy, were visited by representatives from the 7th Army NCOA to explain to the soldiers what they can expect and what the course work will consist of.

"So far the course is going great, I want to finish as one of the best in the class to make my country proud for sending me here," said Taibu.

The WLC course curriculum consists of three training modules and nearly 170 academic hours. These areas of concentration are leadership, training and warfighting. After instructions on each area, Soldiers are given graded tests and they must pass.

"There was a lot to learn here and I see there is a lot that I can improve on and possibly use back home," said Adzalo. "The U.S. Soldiers have been very helpful and I have learned a lot from them as well as share some of my own experiences."

The Army's Soldiers pride themselves on staying in top shape and ready to fight. As NCOs, it is their job to make sure their Soldiers maintain a certain level of fitness.

"The PT was not difficult for me because the standards are very similar back home, but I did have to concentrate to get the score that I wanted," said Aboagye.

Toward the end of the course, Soldiers must complete a land navigation course and situational training exercise.

"I am very confident in my land navigation skill and I knew that I would not fail," said Moses. "The first day I wanted to get a good idea of how the terrain was so I could see how it would go."

"During the STX, I was a squad leader and I was able to lead my team so that we could accomplish the mission," said Moses. "This training is good because we get a chance to see how other armies operate doing similar missions."

After passing all graded assignments, all four Ghanaian soldiers participated in the Commandant's run and then the graduation ceremony where class 007-15 recited the Creed of the Non-Commissioned Officer and received their diplomas.

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