Ghana military tackles Warrior Leader Course challenges
Ghana military tackles Warrior Leader Course challenges
Four soldiers from the Ghana Armed Forces had the opportunity to participate in the United States Army’s Warrior Leader Course (WLC) held at the 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA), Grafenwoehr, Germany.This is the first time service members from Ghana have participated in this course.WLC is the Army’s first professional leadership course for noncommissioned officers. The month-long course teaches soldiers the basic skills to lead. The course also 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 NCO Academy.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 guided by the 7th Army NCOA to explain what they can expect and what the course work will be."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.Adding, "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 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."He added, "During the STX, I was a squad leader and I was able to lead my team so that we could accomplish the mission. This training is good because we get a chance to see how other armies operate doing similar missions."After passing all graded assignments, the four Ghanaian soldiers participated in the Commandant’s Run and then the graduation ceremony where the class recited the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer and received their diplomas.