Getting through the pNCO course

[trellheim Lord Chief Bottlewasher Find all posts View Profile Close trellheim]

Its coming to that time of year again. I'm starting this thread for anyone doing the potential NCO course, and offering some tips to get through.

For kit and so on and personal Admin , and on the ground there is of course the EXCELLENT "Good Tips, the Knowledge Thread" . This is more a "how to get through a Career course"



I'll start it off


1. You don't know everything
2. Be early for everything
3. Time spent preparing is never ever wasted, there will always be something that looks like it is more fun or less work to do
4. why are you here on this course ? Always know the answer



5. Always carry a 20 euro note in the inside pocket, it doesn't weigh much and someday it will come in handy.

[greyfox the gunney Find all posts View Profile Close greyfox]

many have all ready tried and went home ,
~do not tell the angry instructor you consider yourself a bit of a weapons specialist and don't need to listen to instruction on any weapons :L (true story).
~ do not be a heatseaker

[Goldie fish Tim Horgan Find all posts View Profile Close Goldie fish]

Give commands from the diaphgram. If you just shout, your voice will be gone by day 4.
Wear sunscreen EVERY DAY! It may look cloudy in the morning, but you'll be wondering at 3 o clock why the wind hurts your exposed flesh so much and you can no longer turn your headwithout hearing a funny crackling noise from the back of your neck.

Go to bed early.

It amazed me the difference between my Pots and My standard course, my the time we went on standard, we were all in bed by 10pm, because we learnt how hard it was to survive on 4 hours sleep on our Pots course. If you get the opportunity to sleep, use it. Don't waste it talking shite in the mess/canteen till 1am and waking your classmates as you fall back into the billets. You'll only end up being tired, and unpopular.

Be a team. The aim is to get everyone through successfully. You won't gain anything by making it difficult for someone else. Help those who need it. Don't show irritation at the fact that others may not be as good as you "in your opinion".

When you finish the course, don't go back to your unit thinking you know it all. You won't stop learning to be a corporal until you begin your Standard NCO course.

Remember its a "Potential" NCO course. You are not an NCO yet. Remember that when you are throwing your weight around as an Orderly Sgt. You Begin the course a 3*,you'll finish it a better trained 3*, you will remain a 3* until routine orders say otherwise.

[Jereth Pleb Find all posts View Profile Close Jereth]

I ain't an NCO but these sound like good tips from what I'm hearing about last year's and this year's courses...

Keep 'em coming

[trellheim Lord Chief Bottlewasher Find all posts View Profile Close trellheim]

phrases you should not be using EVER

"In My Unit We Do It Like This"....

Phrases and acronyms like DSACRAWLER, ERF, MROAL , Northings, Eastings, Stag, Est of Sit, Point of Fire , BLPP, SMESSCS, FRAGO, should be in your head and what they mean


Know the section battle drills BEFORE you go on the ground. Know in depth the roles especially IC and 2IC and what the difference is

Practice giving section orders BEFORE the course starts - find a mate. Confidence is a big thing in inspiring people and if you're stuttering they will be too.


Laminate your own Ammo Cas state and have a few spares, you will be extremely popular

Be helpful and have a little model kit for those happy times in the forest.

a TALC is a tracing paper overlay on top of a map, if you're ever asked for one.


Corps people need to know all the above as well


Your Steyr and GPMG skills need to be on-the-ball

[HavocIRL Viking Find all posts View Profile Close HavocIRL]

Rob a stationary shop...................

[riflemangundy Duplicate Accounts Find all posts View Profile Close riflemangundy]

Rdf Pots

CEMO CEFO IS A MUST THE SHIT WILL HIT THE FAN IF YOU DONT HAVE IT1. Know the screed
2. Make sure you have all your kit
3. make sure you have extra kit
4. make sure your kit is water proof.
5. make sure your webbing and cemo is ready to go as soon as you walk in the gate.
6. babywipes for everything
7. black insulating tape loads of it
8. you'd be surprised howmany lads forgot ther iron
9. Decent boot polish
10. Some grub for night time not shit.
11. Pad Lockfor lockers
12. Pad lock for kit bag
13. bungees
14. Spare laces (ALWAYS A MUST)
15. DF Documentation
16. towels and wash gear you will be running and sweating alot
17. camo cream etc.

And alot more besides that,, after that enjoy it,, Ye will be the best trained and ye will earn them

[The Prisoner Number 6 Find all posts View Profile Close The Prisoner]

Most important item to bring on a PNCO course, or any course for that matter, is a positive mental attitute ie you must want to be there and succed. The right attitude goes a long way.

[trellheim Lord Chief Bottlewasher Find all posts View Profile Close trellheim]

At least once the Orderly Sgt will have to go away. Deal with it, someone take charge and MOVE OUT.

Prepare for the course. TM201 and TM200 are fun reads.

Draw up a little tac-aide of your own [ one side IC, other side 2IC ]

[bunny shooter C/S Find all posts View Profile Close bunny shooter]

many have all ready tried and went home ,
~do not tell the angry instructor you consider yourself a bit of a weapons specialist and don't need to listen to instruction on any weapons :L (true story).
~ do not be a heatseaker

That story rings a bell ! And I'll verify it as true. I reckon I'm that "angry instructor", Bere Island Pot NCO's course, 2000ish, pot from 23 Bn, if I remember rightly.

And for the record that course was the best group of lads and ladies I ever instructed to be NCO's. :wink:

Lovely ambush in the pissing rain on the other platoon after the overnight ex in the pissing rain. Which the instructors christened the Alamo, what a show !!!!! And we gave 'em back all but one smoke grenade in the morning that they set up as booby traps. What a display ! I was as proud as a father ! As the Platoon Sgt. said to me after that "you made them , now be proud of 'em"

AND I WAS and STILL AM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bunny shooter C/S Find all posts View Profile Close bunny shooter]

Be the "grey man", know the screed before you get to the camp, know the weapons, know section battle drills, know the orders IN IRISH, be a team player, no room for individuals, two pairs of boots, one parade pair one tactics pair, make sure you get waterproofs, never answer back an instructor, ..........................

The insturctors, at least I do, care about you, even if they seem "angry" :wink:

More when I have a good think about it :wink:

[Goldie fish Tim Horgan Find all posts View Profile Close Goldie fish]

Bang on bunny shooter. 2001 if my polo shirt of the course is to be believed.

[spider pig BQMS Find all posts View Profile Close spider pig]

wear flip flops

[bunny shooter C/S Find all posts View Profile Close bunny shooter]

Bang on bunny shooter. 2001 if my polo shirt of the course is to be believed.

Ah one of my proteges. Still serving ? Jesus that was 7 years ago. Time flies

[Truck Driver Captain Find all posts View Profile Close Truck Driver]

Some good tips there.

RE: going to bed early, I found on my course that by the time we prepared lessons for the
following day, did up unifrom, boots, etc., we were too fcuked to go near a mess of any description.

Mind you, some managed it.

RE: this....

Remember its a "Potential" NCO course. You are not an NCO yet. Remember that when you are throwing your weight around as an Orderly Sgt. You Begin the course a 3*,you'll finish it a better trained 3*, you will remain a 3* until routine orders say otherwise.

.... we had a guy failed on the last day of the course, allegedly for being overheard to utter:
".... wait til I get my hands on these recruits, etc..."

I take my hat off to anyone completing the Pot NCO in its present modularised form, I did the old
2 week format, and I found that tough enough