LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT COURSE 

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

What you should know before arriving at the Leadership Development Assessment Course (no exceptions!)

1. Duties and Responsibilities for each leadership position (Garrison and Field)
2. OPORDS (These should not be the least bit stressful)
3. 8 TLPs (Familiar with using them, don't just recite them)
4. Drill & Ceremony (Company formations, marching platoons and squads)
5. FM 7-8 Tactics (Will need to know this, should design Squad SOPs while in garrison)

• Suspenders for BDU pants (you can buy them there at the PX)
• 550 Cord
• Mechanical Pencils (2-4)
• Padded insoles for your boots
• Thin nylon socks to wear under your issue socks (prevents blisters)
• High quality bug spray and lotion (DEET IS YOUR FRIEND)
• 4 each bungee cords and tent stakes for your shelter half
• Heavily starched uniform for your accessions photos (don't forget about the haircut!)
• Index cards (great way to delegate to SLs, PL/PSGs - write tasks on the cards, hand them out)
• If you bring camo - make sure it is only light green, dark green and black - no browns or reds, etc)
• Baby wipes!

 

Tips for Garrison:

Company level Chain of Command:
      You will know what your position is around 5-7 days before you assume command. For the company level chain of command you will receive 3 briefings: 

1. Warning Order (about 2-3 sentences long, very brief, basic information)
2. Operations Order (Generally handed out in hard copy, basic information is briefed - ask a LOT of questions)
3. Frago: (Last minute changes, chance for you to ask any questions you have before giving your OPORD)

• Look at the timeline for the day you are in command.  Make sure you look at the notes at the bottom of the page of the timeline (this is where they provide some specifics about your day).
• The night you receive your Warning Order track down your PLs and PSGs and meet with them: 

1. Introduce the Chain of Command
2. Ensure they know what is going on that day, based off of timeline and Warning Order
3. Give them your Warning Order, be sure to include the time they need to meet you the following night, and then the time of the OPORD the night following that.

• After you receive your OPORD the following night, finish all of your visual aides, and your OPORD for the following night. 
• Why? Because you have 30-minutes after you receive your FRAGO to start issuing your OPORD to your PL and PSGs!  There's a lot of information to process, and so if you get it done the night before, then you will be much more prepared the night you take command, easier to get a better evaluation. 
• That same night you get your OPORD, if you are 1SGT meet with the PSGs, and if you are CO meet with the PLs, talk about what needs to get done the night you assume command and delegate specific tasks that they will need to accomplish that night (for example: packing rucksacks, inspecting uniforms for accessions, conducting classes on land nav, etc..) This way they will know what needs to be done, and while you are receiving your FRAGO, preparing to issue your OPORD, and issuing your OPORD, the important tasks are getting done, instead of having only 30-minutes or LESS because they had to wait until the SLs issued their OPORD, it’s done before they get the OPORD.
• As the company level chain of command, the three of you should work together.  It should be rare that you are actually together in the same place at the same time. 
• Have a system for communication, whether its’ alternating between platoons for messengers who can deliver messages either between the three of you, or to your PL/PSGs. 
• Before you start changing things, make sure the three of you are the first to know, unless it is absolutely impossible to inform them right away. 
• Your timeline will rarely go as planned, unless you are gone all day to a committee.  Be prepared to have to change your plan, and make sure everyone is informed.  If you don't have a messenger, be prepared to do a lot of running on certain days. 
• As 1SGT, be prepared to call cadence for the entire company. 
• Make a company motto. 
• Rehearse the company formation for the next day, and ensure the PSGs know where they will be going, what buses they will be loading onto, etc. 
• When marching, for the most part, if you've told your PSGs where they are going, it’s best to turn it over to them to march individually while maintaining company integrity. 
• Monitor the Dining facility lines, keep people moving through the dining facility, and one of you should be inspecting the other platoons, either that they are leaving on time, or that they are completing the appropriate tasks. 
• Coordinate with the other company on your time lines, dining facility times, buses, etc. 

 


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• Same as with the Company Level COC, as soon as you know who will be your SLs, meet with them, and give them your WARNO as soon as you receive yours, if you don’t receive a WARNO, give them a briefing on the tasks you expect will need to be done based on the timeline. 
• Don’t try to give them any specifics until you get the information from your Company COC. 
• Don’t forget that you can always approach your company COC, introduce yourselves and ask any questions you may have about the day you will be assuming command. 
• Be familiar with how the Change of Command ceremony for how your platoon runs, you will be expected to perform it flawlessly. 
• You will have very little time to prepare and issue your OPORD, especially if your company COC takes a while to issue theirs (some have been known to not be done until 2100 – leaving you with very little time) If they are really late, ask your platoon TAC if you can issue your OPORD to the whole platoon, sometimes they will let you. (Really try to avoid this) 
• Remember that your squad leaders are getting evaluated too, and they need to issue an OPORD as part of their evaluation, so get it issued as fast as you can, and really try to avoid issuing it to the whole platoon.

 


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• This is the most difficult position to get an 'E' in simply because on certain days there isn't a whole lot you can do that's considered above average.
• Use your team leaders
• Conduct inspections
• Motivate your squad to move in the morning and during barracks maintenance.
• Teach classes on whatever you are doing for training if possible, if not, work on squad SOPs and not just talking about them, go outside and conduct walk-throughs.
• Practice D&C with your squad
• Make sure the members of your squad have the opportunity to the use the phone, or go to the PX, or go to a church service. 
• Know where they are at all times.
• Issue a perfect OPORD, turn in a perfect yellow card

Example timelines from Advanced Camp 1999:

• Day 5 (APFT, photos)
• Day 9 (FLRC)

Field Leader's Reaction Course

• Make sure your pockets are empty
• Review your TLPs the night before
• Be in a tactical mode (will post 360 security, will GOTWAs when needed, will select TLs if they don't select them for you)
• Issue a very brief order: 
• situation - where obstacles, booby traps, and mines are, enemy info
• mission - what your goal is (ie: to get the barrel, all equipment, and all personnel to the other side of a large ditch)
• execution - brief plan on how you plan on accomplishing your task, where each team will be and what they will be doing
• One of the missions is tactical (raid), so be prepared to have to call aid + litter, POW, etc...; issue a GOTWA!
• You are the SL, use ideas from your squad members, however, you make the decisions - don't lose command and control
• Issue orders vocally, unless in enemy territory, you need to act and sound like the leader

Land Navigation

Written Test

• The written test is not very difficult, but some questions are worded in a manner that is tricky - read the questions VERY CAREFULLY, and take your time! Be sure to check your work before you hand it in. 
• Be very comfortable with:
• reading all features of a map 
• road distances
• straight line distances
• magnetic versus grid
• westerly and easterly GM angles
• contour lines and elevation
• intersection and resections (they love these!)
• The questions are set up much like a mathematical word problem. 
• Plot your points as exact as you can, if you're off, you're wrong...
• Practice!!

• The land navigation courses at Advanced Camp are divided, night course and day course, with one long road running through the center. Therefore, when on one of these course, DON'T cross this road! (people did this, so be careful)
• The courses are long, and you will do each a minimum of two times, a LOT of trekking! Take care of your feet! 
• Use powder before and after each course
• Wear a pair of thin nylon socks under your regular socks
• Make sure your boots are well broken in
• If you haven't already, get the cushioned inserts (and not the cheapest ones either) for your boots - it makes a huge difference
• Treat your blisters as soon as you get them, if possible before (even if you are on the course - unless you are already running out of time)
• The course is big with a lot of roads, and many cadet trails - roads are good, cadet trails do not always lead to the right point.  Pay attention to where you are.
• For the course the will be issued a map and plastic baggie to protect it.   But you will be required to turn these in at the end of each course. THEREFORE, when they are briefing you on the roads, intersections, check points etc, use your Fort Lewis map issued at the beginning of camp and write all the information down on this map (in pencil).
• Pay careful attention when they are talking about the course - they will point out any roads that are there, but not on the map (draw them in).   The road names are useless because the roads do not have street signs.
• When you get the chance to, study the large terrain model - carefully.
• You will be sent out to measure your pace count on several different courses, take this part seriously. Your pace count is probable the most important tool you will use on the course. (for example, on the rough terrain course, you will do it twice - the first time walk on the trail, the second time walk about 1-2 feet off to the side of the trail) You won't always use the the cadet trails, and you will need an accurate really rough terrain pace count.
• When you do the running pace count, don't sprint, you will tired on the course. Do it once with a slow jog, and once with a fast jog. 
• When you do the walking pace count, do it once walking normal, and once doing a ranger walk. 
• Create a small grid sheet that looks like this, do all of the math, and break each pace down as follows: (*these numbers are strictly fictional - therefore the ratios will not be accurate)

• Make a smaller one for the night course with your night pace count information.
• This grid is EXTREMELY helpful because it allows you to instantly break your pace count down while you are out on the course instead of figuring out the count while you are walking.
• Use the intersections and check points (these are KNOWN points off of which you can use your pace-count, and then turn 90-degrees, and knowing the azimuth you need to follow and the pace-count to your point, turn off of the road and find your point)
• Once you get near your point, terrain association is important. There are points on a hill for instance, where there are 2 other points on that same hill, and you need to know which one is yours.

Squad STX

• For the most part you will have anywhere from 23 to 35 minutes.
• Remember your 1/3 - 2/3 rule!
• Get your WARNO out in 2-3 minutes - 
• This should include your mission statement, a timeline (time of attack (dependent on mission), LD time, movement from AA time, time and place of OPORD).
• Also need to task subordinates: map/sand table person, POW, Aid and Litter, Assault/Support, Bunker team, etc....
• Provide direction on what to rehearse, ie - A Team is POW, should rehearse POW search. Have them rehearse as a team for 2-3 minutes, let other team rehearse.
• Ask your evaluator if you can bring a recorder to your OPORD briefing - if you can, have this be your map/sand table person so that they can record grid coordinates, and immediately begin plotting.
• Questions to ask your evaluator - 
• Can I call in for verification of the distance/direction?
• If it's an ambush, what direction is the enemy traveling in?
• If it's attack and destroy, verify whether or not you are to return to ORP or secure the OBJ.
• REMEMBER that your time starts as soon as your evaluator is done giving your OPORD, so ask your questions as quickly as you can.
• You should come to squad stx already familiar enough with each type of mission that you do not need to write out your entire OPORD. You should be able to brief it off of your sand table in 5 to 10 minutes.
• Rehearse key movements, ie the actions on the objective!!  Do not leave your ORP early, there is no reason and you can use the time for more rehearsals.  If you think you're done - you forgot something.
• The OPFOR are good, use proper IMT, and keep your eyes open, and alert, they might be in the trees, or in the bunkers, you'll never know until you get there.
• When setting up your ORP: 
• use the terrain (if you said at 200m in your OPORD, look around when you get to 200m)
• stay away from roads and danger areas
• find good cover and concealment
• Don't forget your contingency plan, you'll use it!!
• If your mission clearly states that you are to attack and then defend the OBJ don't break your perimeter! Even if you come under attack, your mission is to defend. If there is a bunker there, occupy it and use it to your advantage!!

Platoon STX

• For two days you will be retaught everything you need to know. Take notes! If your are a PL on one of the missions it is really handy to pull out a notepad with exactly how to do your mission.
• They will announce the new chain of command.
• It is up to you as the PL/PSG to decide who are the people in the your HQ element. (for your RTO, it is really helpful to find someone who is prior service with a lot of experience, as they will be your right hand person.)
• You'll be issued a WARNO, try to issue yours in approximately 2-3 minutes. What should be included: 
• Your mission statement as it will be in your OPORD.
• Your timeline, to include: Time of attack/defend, LD time, movement from AA, rehearsals, time for SQD OPORDs, time/place of your OPORD. 
• Tasks to subordinates: to include: 
• Who come to the OPORD: RTO, PSG, FO/FO RTO, Medic, AGs (M60), Point Man, SLs, TLs with important tasks on mission.
• Which squad is attack, support, reserve; what tasks to rehearse (as squads)
• Specific tasks for your FO, PSG, RTO, etc.
• Any other tasks pertinent to preparation for mission
• Following your issue of your WARNO, you will receive your OPORD. Remember to ask pertinent questions, and don't forget to ask for mortars (prep the OBJ), flares, etc...
• Try to issue your OPORD within the 1/3 rule. Generally you have 1.5 hours before you have to cross the LD. This means you should start your OPORD within at least 30 minutes, if not sooner. This doesn't leave much time for planning. and not a lot of time for issuing your OPORD. Again, come prepared and familiar with issuing PLT OPORDs.
• Leave your SLs plenty of time to issue their OPORDs.
• When you conduct your Platoon rehearsals, don't tell them what they are supposed to do. If your OPORD was good enough, your subordinates should be telling you what they are supposed to do. This is how to conduct a proper rehearsal. Some important things to rehearse: 
• Taking and ORP by force, if that is what you are doing
• Actions on the OBJ
• Consolidation and Reorganization
• Following are some examples of missions: 
• Movement to Contact
• Knock out a bunker or bunker complex
• Reconnaissance
• Deliberate Attack (Day)
• Deliberate Attack (Night)
• Night Ambush
• Defense
• Air Assault

Drill & Ceremony

• Know at least 2 quick time and 2 double time cadences
• Know how to march a platoon/squad
• Be familiar with movements such as right/left flanks (you will use these as a PSG to move into position for a company formation)
• As a 1SGT, turn over to PSGs to move company to location, or load the buses
• Be familiar with the process of holding first call, and company formations, as well as regimental formations
• Change of command ceremonies are important (Platoon level), do these with no mistakes.