Army ROTC - Leadership Development and Assessment Course

Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC or Warrior Forge)

ROTC Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) is the most important training event for an Army ROTC cadet. The 32-day course incorporates a wide range of subjects designed to develop and evaluate leadership ability. The challenges are rigorous and demanding, both mentally and physically. The Leadership Assessment and Development Course tests intelligence, common sense, ingenuity and stamina. These challenges provide a new perspective on an individual's ability to perform challenging tasks and to make difficult decisions in demanding situations.

The course places each cadet in a variety of leadership positions, many of which simulate stressful combat situations. In each position, cadets are evaluated by platoon tactical and counseling (TAC) officers and noncommissioned officers. In addition to proving their leadership ability, cadets and officer candidates must meet established standards in physical fitness, weapons training, communication, combat patrols and demonstrate their proficiency in many other military skills. Cadets must complete camp with a satisfactory or excellence rating to be able to commission as an Army officer. For more information visit http://www.usaac.army.mil/accw/TNG_camp.htm.

Below are some of the tasks that each cadet will have to perform throughout Warrior Forge

	Field Leaders Reaction Course FLRC is designed to develop and evaluate leadership and to build teamwork early in the camp cycle. Course administration is accomplished using the established cadet organization and chain of command. Cadet leadership potential is assessed by committee evaluators. Cadets are provided the opportunity to get early feedback on their leadership strengths, weaknesses, styles and techniques.
	Basic Rifle Marksmanship Future Army Leaders must know the characteristics of the basic Army rifle, how to fire it accurately, and how to employ it in combat. Rifle marksmanship training teaches cadets to engage and hit targets on the battlefield. Cadets are required to fire for record.
	Land Navigation Land navigation training must be mastered early in the camp cycle for the cadets to be fully successful in the tactical training which follows. The land navigation evaluation consists of three portions totaling 100 points. The written examination is worth 30 percent. The day land navigation test is worth 50 percent. Night land navigation is worth 20 percent. Each cadet must earn 70 percent on each test to pass this event. A passing score in land navigation is a camp completion criterion.
	Individual Tactical Training ITT Committee provides cadets refresher training in basic leader planning, training to perform as members of a fire team, fire team leaders and squad leaders to clear a room and knock out a bunker using individual movement techniques while crossing over, through, and around obstacles.
	Hand Grenade Basic understanding and use of hand grenades is an important facet of weapons and tactical training. Cadets learn to identify major types of grenades. They learn the grenades' characteristics and uses. Cadets also employ live grenades.
	Nuclear, Biological, Chemical NBC training provides basic soldier skills that cadets must master to meet pre-commissioning requirements. Cadets learn characteristics, maintenance and employment of NBC equipment. They also develop confidence in defensive equipment during mask confidence exercises.
	Squad Situational Training Exercises Squad STX is a five-day, two-phase event. The first two days, the Squad training phase, are designed to train squad battle drills and collective tasks. The last three days, the Squad STX lane phase, are designed to evaluate leadership using tactical scenarios. Each cadet receives two formal evaluations of their performance as a squad leader during this phase. Squad operations build on and reinforce all previous instruction. Cadets use knowledge of land navigation, terrain association, weapons systems, and all individual training previously presented.
	Patrolling SituationalTraining Exercises Patrolling STX is a three-day event that provides cadets practical experience leading soldiers at the section level. The first day is a training day on which cadets are taught the fundamentals of patrolling missions. The following two days are designed to evaluate leadership potential using tactical scenarios by giving cadets opportunities to utilize the training as patrol leaders and assistant patrol leaders. Patrolling STX builds on and reinforces all previous instruction, and teaches cadets the basics of air assault operations. This event culminates cadets' training at Leadership Development and Assessment Course.