MEMORANDUM FOR ALL WARRANT OFFICER CANDIDATES 

SUBJECT: Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS) Orientation

1. This memorandum supercedes all previous editions.

2. Congratulations on your selection to attend the Warrant Officer Candidate School! I believe you will find this school to be one of the most challenging in the United States Army. The purpose of the school is to evaluate your leadership potential and determine if you have the qualities, traits, and attributes to be a quality warrant officer in the United States Army. This is accomplished by creating a stressful environment and evaluating your attitude and ability to perform. Three primary qualities (Self-discipline, Attention to Detail, and Time Management) are evaluated because they are considered essential to successful warrant officer service. Self-discipline is evaluated because it is the root of all desirable officer qualities. Attention to detail is essential because of the technical nature of warrant officer duties. Time management is essential because in combat time may be our most precious resource. Other evaluated qualities include planning and organizing, attitude, decisiveness and judgement.

3. Be prepared to start training! This is a very challenging course. To be an effective leader you must be prepared to work under high physical and mental stress. You must prepare yourself both mentally and physically and be fully motivated to meet the challenge. Take care of personal matters before you report in. Bring your medical records (non-aviation personnel do not need dental records), complete 201 file and all other items required in this pamphlet. Do not buy new uniforms if your old ones are serviceable. Too often soldiers buy an entire new issue when the expense is not warranted. 

4. Meet the challenge! Prepare yourself for the weeks ahead. Carefully study the material in this orientation pamphlet and any other material you may receive. Do not listen to rumors! While waiting to start training in an active class, you are considered to be in a "Snowbird" status. Use this time wisely. Learn the "Greeting of the day" required in the Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS), study the Warrant Officer Candidate Guide that you will be issued at the HHC, and do not be afraid to ask a TAC Officer, or any other member of the Warrant Officer Career Center, about information you do not understand. 

5. Adhere to the hallmark of officer conduct! It is the outgrowth of character. It means a person has the knowledge to determine right from wrong, and the courage to adhere unswervingly to the right. It requires self-discipline; you will live by it and we will enforce it. "A candidate will not lie, cheat, or steal; nor tolerate those who do." 

6. Physical Fitness: Get yourself into top-notch physical condition prior to attending this course. The course itself is physically demanding. Merely meeting the basic APFT standards for your age group will not be sufficient preparation for the physical challenges you are about to encounter. You will participate in physical training at least once per day, sometimes more often. If you attend WOCS during the summer months, you will need to do even more preparation due to the high temperatures and extremely high humidity in southern Alabama. This may be the most physically demanding course you will encounter during your military career. The better your physical condition upon your arrival, the better you will do in the course. It is your responsibility and your career, so come prepared! 

7. Exceed requirements! Do not just meet the requirements of the course. Push yourself. Demonstrate your full capabilities during your evaluation here, and you can be fully confident that you will successfully complete your training. Once again, welcome aboard and good luck! 

CHARLES T. WIGGLESWORTH
CW4, USA
Commanding

1. PURPOSE: The purpose of this orientation booklet is to provide general information on the Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS) as required by TRADOC Regulation 351-10. 

2.COURSE OVERVIEW. 

    a. Upon arriving at Fort Rucker report to the Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC), building 5910, to in-process and receive your TA 50 issue, a Warrant Officer Candidate (WOC) guide and your billeting assignment. HHC is where your class is formed and your WOCS orientation begins. Study the WOC guide, pay close attention to the information you receive (listen effectively), take care of all administrative requirements and you will be off to a good start. Briefings and orientation periods will be conducted the day prior to training day one. You must be completely inprocessed prior to that. You will move as a class to 1st Warrant Officer Company the day prior to training day one. 

    b. WOCS trains Warrant Officer Candidates in the fundamentals of leadership and basic military skills. WOCS instills professional ethics, evaluates and develops candidates' leadership potential, and prepares those who qualify for appointment as WO1 in the Active Army, the Army National Guard or the U.S. Army Reserve. 

    c. WOCS is the first level of the WOES five-level training process that is implemented at various stages of a warrant officer's career. This first level, the warrant officer entry level, is divided into three major phases. The centralized selection board that selected you to attend WOCS is the first phase. WOCS is the second phase. It is a MOS-immaterial course taught in a high stress environment. Course instruction consists of basic skills, standardized evaluation and training, leadership and ethics, communicative arts, military history, structure of the Army, support functions and other common military subjects. Training, Advising, and Counseling (TAC) Officers conduct both objective and subjective evaluations to determine each candidate's potential to become a successful warrant officer. Candidates are academically evaluated through performance and written examinations. TAC Officers perform the same basic mission: they train, advise, council, develop, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning the progress of each candidate. They demand the maximum performance you are capable of, and strive to set an example for you to follow. Candidates must meet the course prerequisites and graduation requirements to move to phase three. Phase three is the Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC) conducted by your proponent school.

3. ENROLLMENT/COURSE PREREQUISITES. Applicants must: 

    a. Meet all application and selection prerequisites outlined by the Warrant Officer Procurement Program, the Centralized Selection Board, and DA Circular 601-94-1. 

    b. Be medically qualified IAW chapter 2, of AR 40-501. Candidates cannot possess a profile that limits Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) or full participation in vigorous physical training. 

    c. Upon arrival at Fort Rucker, take and pass an initial standard three-event APFT (pushup, sit-up and 2-mile run). To pass, candidates must achieve a minimum score of 180 points, with 60 points in each of the three events. No alternate events are allowed. Those who fail are denied enrollment.

    d. Meet the height and weight screening criteria of the Army Weight Control Program. Soldiers who exceed weight standards will be measured for percentage of body fat. Soldiers exceeding body fat standards are eliminated and processed IAW AR 600-9. 

    e. Possess an initial issue of serviceable clothing as outlined in AR 670-1, and AR 700-84. Military clothing is discussed in depth later in this pamphlet. 

4. CONDUCT. Upon arrival, ensure you present a neat, professional appearance. Report with a fresh haircut and a sharp uniform. The WOCS standard is 1/4 inch on top and 1/8 inch on the sides. You are a warrant officer candidate. Act and look like the officer that you are striving to become. 

5. DINING FACILITY. You will use the Aviation Center Consolidated Dining Facility. You will always march as a unit to the dining facility.

6. FINANCES. Make sure that your debts are in order before beginning the course. Make arrangements for payments of bills while you are in training. Take extra precautions to ensure that finance has your records in order and that you are paid when and where you specify. Any reports of indebtedness or bad checks may result in your removal from training until the problem is resolved. Recurring problems of this nature may result in elimination. Do not spend excessive amounts of money on items that you think you will need for the course. Wait until you are given your initial orientation during your stay at HHC; you will have time to purchase the items that you need. The average candidate spends $300.00 - $500.00 during a six week course on laundry, personal, and class expenses. If you arrive by air, one-way taxi free from Dothan airport is $20.00 - $30.00. Once training begins you are limited to a total of $250.00 cash on hand. Additional funds are authorized as needed via personal or travelers checks, or ATM cards. 

7. MILITARY CLOTHING. Verify that you have the military clothing required for the course. Appendices 1 and 2 list all military clothing requirements for males and females. If you are reporting here from Basic Training and have uniforms that do not fit you (too large, too small, etc.), report to supply for a direct exchange. CTA 50-900 (Para 8b) authorizes Reserve Component warrant officer candidates to receive 2 additional sets of BDUs from their unit supply prior to arrival. Candidates attending the WOCS in a TDY or ADT status wear the unit patch of their current or last unit. All others wear the Aviation Center patch. Ensure that all name tapes, patches, and authorized badges are properly sewn on in accordance with current requirements of AR 670-1. Interservice transfers are authorized to have all patches sewn on at government expense. The Clothing Sales store has a deferred payment plan available for purchases over $50.00 and less than a $200.00 unpaid balance. Wait until you get to HHC to mark your equipment to ensure it is marked IAW the WOC guide. 

8. PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES. Park your vehicle in the designated class area. It will remain there during the remainder of your time in the WOCS. If you have a privately owned weapon (shotgun, rifle, handgun), do not store it in your vehicle. You are given time on Sundays to start and idle your vehicle to prevent battery and engine problems. Don't store anything in your POV that is in plain view. 

9. PRIVATELY OWNED WEAPONS (POW). We recommend that you leave your POW at your place of residence. If you have a POW with you, report it IMMEDIATELY to the HHC cadre (First Sergeant or Commander). If it is after duty hours, have the Candidate Duty Officer call the Crime Prevention Officer. You will register your weapon with the military police and store it in arms room until you complete the course. Ensure you receive a briefing on how you are to draw your weapon from the arms room when it is turned in. 

10. PROFILES. In the event that an injury occurs or you have a profile when arriving at the WOCS, report it as soon as possible to cadre for evaluation. The training pace at 1st WOC is fast and an unreported injury may jeopardize your successful completion of WOCS. Candidates placed on medical/administrative hold will perform duties within the limits of their profile, as directed by the unit First Sergeant or Operations Sergeant. 

11. STATIC ITEMS. A static item is anything that duplicates an item that you display for inspections, or an inspectable item that is hidden for the purpose of evading inspection. You can be eliminated from the course for having static items once you begin training. You will have ample opportunity to store extra items in a security room on your first day of active training, so do not throw these duplicate type items away. If you wait until arrival at HHC to purchase the required items, you will avoid purchasing unnecessary items that may be considered "static". 

12. UNAUTHORIZED ITEMS. You are not permitted to use certain clothing items, equipment and products in the WOCS. They are items that are considered to give you an unfair advantage over others. Appendix 4 contains a list of unauthorized items. 

13.ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO USE. Consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages or tobacco products by students assigned to WOCS is strictly forbidden. This restriction applies from the date of sign-in to date of departure, regardless of status (i.e. snowbird, active class, admin/med hold, or holdover). If you are a user of tobacco products and believe that you will have severe withdrawal symptoms, it is highly recommended that you see your local medical authorities for help. Violation of this restriction is grounds for immediate elimination!

14. MAIL. You will be issued a mailbox when you inprocess. A sample address is: 

Any questions on items to bring should be addressed to the XO of HHC, WOCC for information. Phone 334-255-1287 or DSN 558-1287.
Appendix 1. Inventory Form - Male Clothing Requirements
Appendix 2. Inventory Form - Female Clothing Requirements
Appendix 3-1. Inventory Form - Required Additional Items
Appendix 3-2. Inventory Form - Authorized Additional Items
Appendix 4. Unauthorized Items List
Appendix 5. Candidate Autobiography

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