Hey ya'll! Alright, so i finally found this discussion board after a few months and i decided to share my experience from my time in WTC.

I'm a recent graduate of the 506-09 class in A Btry 1/79 Ft Sill OK, and if anyone at anytime has ANY questions whatsoever about what training or life is like out there, please feel free to contact me at my email: lauren.tarr@us.army.mil

okay, so the three main things i think should be a huge topic of conversation, are the three things that i can warn you all right now, will keep you from graduating WTC if you aren't careful...

1. APFT- if you are not in shape, i suggest to everyone to PREPARE YOURSELF NOW!!! WTC is only five weeks tops, and out of that time you only get about 3 shots to pass your APFT standard at 50% if u are going to AIT afterward, 60% if you are going back to a unit. I, myself am prior Air Force and have only been out 7 months, and i was shocked at how out of shape i really was when i came back to find that it took me til the LAST PT test to finally make my standard. so fair warning, if you are out of shape, PREPARE YOUR BODIES!!! You will do PT 6 days a wk, 3 days muscle failure, 3 days running(and u will run at a minimum of 2 miles in ur respective run group A B C or D). also, if you come from a low elevation, OK is in the midwest, the elevation is higher, and the air is thinner, and it CAN and WILL make a HUGE difference on your run time, so dont think that just because you can pass at home, that you can pass there, keep running, keep working, dont cheat your body!!

2. BRM(Basic Rifle Marksmanship)- what can i say? I'm an ex-security forces aka MP from the Air Force and even i had a problem hitting 24/40 targets with my M16A2.. you will have a week to qualify with your weapon, you shoot down range at pop up targets that range from 50 meters to 300 meters, the largest problem that my platoon had when trying to qual was the OK winds!!! Oklahoma is known to be flat, and unfortionately that keeps the wind from having anything to block it, so they dont care if the wind is 35-50mph, you will still shoot a weapon, if you dont hit at least 24 targets, you will be a No Go and have to qualify again. so, the best thing to do is just take your time, LISTEN. TO. YOUR. INSTRUCTORS!! and be patient, if you aren't used to handling a weapon, they will show you step by step basics, including how to zero your weapon and get consecutive shots hitting at center mass before you qual...you will be learning how to handle your M16 in 3 different positions WITH full battle rattle gear on and you WILL succeed.. many who thought they couldn't make it, shot expert, but you will not be awarded any ribbons for that here, maybe just honor grad. its really too easy.

and 3. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!! I cant tell you how many times I saw it, but left and right, people would not hydrate, people would not go to sick call when desperately needed and people were dropping like flies because they got injured. Many people who come to WTC are at least in their 30's and up, at a maximum, we had a male in my platoon age 52! and our second week during combatives we had one 35 yr old woman in my PLT break her leg in two places because she had not told anyone about her shin splints during the 3k and they snapped in combatives. Be careful, take care of yourself and remember that only YOU know your own bodies, they wont judge you if you go to sick call if your REALLY sick, dont try and put off an ache or pain if you think it may affect your training, you could get not only yourself, but your battle buddy killed down range later when that comes into effect.

thats about all i have off the top of my head, as i said, feel free to contact me if you have any further questions about WTC, if you wanna know how the instructors are, if you want to know what training consists of or good ways of preparing yourselves.. no question is a dumb question... and for prior Navy and Air Force, Army seniors appreciate being called BY THEIR RANK, i was dropped many a time for calling my cadre "Sir" and he was a SSG. make sure you call by RANK.

a small PS to everyone, if you have questions about what to bring, PLEASE VISIT THE DISCUSSION BOARD TOPICS by the moderator Rakksan Dragon, everything he has posted on the forums about what to bring is true, along with items of what NOT to bring! remember its only 4 1/2 weeks, you wont need your entire bathroom, and WTC wont cry if your laptop gets broken or theft while there, the less you have with you, the better.

take care, and good luck to all of you!!
PV1 Tarr Lauren J.
C Co TSB
Ft Jackson SC

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ljtarr06,

Thanks for the advice. I am PS AF also, also got out last year, just seven months after I got out, I wanted to go back in, so I signed with the Army. What MOS did you get? active? I am 11X, E-5.

hey there infantry,

wow, 11X eh? not bad! i actually got a nice deal with 42A which is Human Resources, i wanted a more lax job this time around i was a MP aka SF in the AF.

and your welcome for the advice take care and godspeed down range!

Thanks and Welcome to the Army!

There you have it folks, in black and white!

This recent graduate has given you the information straight and stresses the importance of coming to WTC prepared for Physical Fitness, and course information concerning meds, extra junk. You're here for 4-5 weeks. You won't need the kitchen sink

Please review the WTC Main Page's Packing List, and Example Schedule of Course Tasks. This will assist you in having the edge when arriving. It's a process and essential you learn these skills regardless of your opinions.

The first time you're in ground combat... you'll know you've got what it takes, know the skills to defend yourself and our country!

And an extra note at that alongside Rakksan, FEMALES!!! WTC is NOT a beauty salon, you will NOT be wearing makeup, you will NOT be wearing civilian clothes (NCO's this does not apply you will be able to wear ur civvies during the extra NCO wk long course AFTER wtc) and you will NOT be primping your hair every morning

leave. it. at. home!!! the less junk you bring the happier you will be, it isnt basic training but you have nobody to impress, worry about the essentials, worry about your other stuff when you get back to your unit.

Best wishes to EVERYONE!!!

well that's some good information thanks a lot. I thought there wasn't really any PT while at WTC but am glad to hear that there is.

The elevation in FT. Sill is 1000ft which will make a difference for people that are at sea level. My city is at 333ft so it'll make some difference but not an extreme.

again thanks for the info

Your body will adjust to the elevation... of flat plains. There are a few mountains off in the distance, but you're not running on them.

The APFT standard is 2 miles in your appropriate age catagory, pushups and situps. How easy is that?

Boise is 2700 ft so this is great news to me! =)

quote:

Originally posted by Mr_T:
Boise is 2700 ft so this is great news to me! =)

wow that's like sitting next to the lord himself. well as long as you have your lungs now you should have no problem and actually shouldn't get as winded.

I guess it will really suck for me as the long island sound is a mile away...maybe less. Of course none of that will matter if i don't get my act together in time.

running in fort collins, CO compaired to running at 1k ft....

imdoing 18 min 2 miles here at 36 and PRAYING 4k lower speeds me up

Ft. Collins, nice. I wouldn't mind getting stationed there.

quote:

Originally posted by sawdustnsteel:
running in fort collins, CO compaired to running at 1k ft....

imdoing 18 min 2 miles here at 36 and PRAYING 4k lower speeds me up

sawdustnsteel- you should have more wind an maybe increase you speed by about a minute or so.

Fort collins is a town north of denver. Fort CARSON is in colorado springs south of denver. Its a wonderful post. If you go definitly do the drive ( hike if your inclined) up pikes peak. Ive hiked it twice and drove up it four times. amazing view.

its not so much the elevation as it is elevation + winds.. the oklahoma winds will get ya as well, but who knows, some of ya'll may not be bothered at all, this info is strictly a mild warning so you're prepared...

here's a new question. Is there a Bn for WTC or just a company? I'm just curious

There is a bn, if you go to the Fort Sill website that I posted in one of my posts you will see it.

Ft Sill is home of the Field Artillery... everything there is Brigade, Batallion's and Batteries, there are no companies, at least not any that i saw

quote:

Originally posted by MirandasPits:
here's a new question. Is there a Bn for WTC or just a company? I'm just curious

Here's Ninja's post website.
http://sill-www.army.mil/434/95/wtc1.html

Info is posted in the main WTC Forum page under "Packing List, and Schedule".

awesome thanks