NALC Preparation Suggestions
* Study
Study and have a detailed working knowledge of the following manuals before reporting to Advanced Camp.
Understanding these publications will be the foundation of your success.
--FM 22-5: Drill and Ceremonies
--FM 21-20: Physical Fitness Training
--FM 7-8: Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad
*Physical Training
To help ensure success at Advanced Camp you must be in top physical condition and possess a positive
mental attitude. Before camp, every cadet needs to design a personal training program designed to achieve
the following goals:
--increase physical endurance
--increase overall strength
--prevent injuries caused by atrophy
Refer to FM 21-20 when designing your physical training program. Start at a moderate pace at the beginning
of the school year while gradually increasing your workouts to set yourself up for success at Advanced
Camp.
*Grades
Classes are the most important aspect for every cadet from freshman to seniors. ROTC cadets are students
first, cadets second. Even though camp is important, it is not the most influential consideration when it
comes to branch and duty station selection. Cadets need to concentrate on academics first.
Advanced Camp Survival Tips
This list is a result of previous Advanced Camp graduates. Pay attention to these bits of advice from those
who have gone before you. Using these tips will lead to better performance and a more enjoyable
experience at advanced camp.
1. Do not pack for Advanced Camp the day before you leave. Do it at least one week prior to your departure.
The more time you give yourself, the more time you will have to acquire anything you find yourself lacking.
2. Upon arrival, remember the importance of first impressions.
3. When you get there, find a highly motivated cadet to work with during Advanced Camp. This helps make
the days go by faster and keeps you excited about what you are doing.
4. Give everyone you know your camp address and write to everyone. Have them send you packages,
cassette tapes, newspapers, etc. You will be amazed at how starved for information you and everyone else
will be; even your TACs. Be sure to share any papers or magazines you receive.
5. Write down any Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are adopted by your squad or platoon. A
good idea is to write them neatly on butcher block paper and have them posted where everyone can easily
refer to them.
6. Initiate a plan to pass down a book of hints for the Company Commander (CO), Executive Officer (XO),
First Sergeant (1SG), and Platoon Leader (PL) positions to aid successive chains of command. It helps
them do well and makes camp run more smoothly.
7. Use downtime to reteach Common Task Training (CTT) to your squad.
8. Follow FM 7-8 to the letter when it comes to the operations order (OPORD). Do not forget the task
organization.
9. Volunteer for extraneous duties.
10. Write heavily detailed and complete self-assessment cards (yellow cards). It is important to record every
positive action that you perform during your leadership floor. Since your evaluator will not always be present
to see all of the tasks that you accomplish, a detailed yellow card is important crucial in letting them know
how hard you have worked. Be factual and accentuate the positive.
11. Never hold an unnecessary formation. This is very straining for unit morale.
12. Support your cadet leadership. Do not fight their decisions. This helps unit morale and efficiency.
13. Act on the suggestions made during the after action reviews (AARs).
14. At appropriate times, ask questions of the TACs. They are teachers and mentors before they are
evaluators.
15. K.I.S.S. -- Keep It Simple, Stupid.
16. Delegate!!!! You will be quickly and immediately overwhelmed if you try to do everything by yourself.
17. Do PT whenever you can. If you are attending a follow-on training school (especially Airborne School or
Air Assault School), then talk to your cadre about the possibility of starting a separate PT group for these
people who have a need to train harder than the normal PT sessions often allow.
18. Do not slack off on your PT between the time school ends and camp starts. If anything, start training
harder and more often than usual.
19. Break in two to three pairs of boots before arriving at Fort Lewis. Advanced Camp requires you to be on
your feet a lot, so you need to take care of them.
20. Practice before camp so that you are comfortable with Drill and Ceremony as well as calling marching
and running cadences.
21. Relax. By the time you are sent to camp, you will be ready to successfully complete everything.
Stressing about Advanced Camp will not make you a better leader.
22. Keep a positive mental attitude.
Know why you are at advanced camp before you get there.....to be an officer in the most powerful army in
the history of the world.....never forget this during Advanced Camp!!!!!!
Advanced Camp Extra Packing List
1. A large ALCE pack. Advanced Camp issues medium packs, they just aren't big enough.
2. 550 cord
3. Sewing kit
4. Hand mirror
5. Green duct tape
6. Travel alarm clock
7. Baby wipes or Oxy Pads (Helps take off the camo)
8. Weapons cleaning kit
9. Colored markers
10. Gold Bond Medicated Foot Powder
11. Bungee Cords
12. Map case
13. Sand table kit
14. Mosquito head net
15. Bug repellent
16. Laundry detergent (No liquid, prone to breakage on flight)
17. CTT visual aids
18. Shower shoes
19. Ruck sac liner (Not a trash bag, but an actual liner)
20. FM 7-8, 22-5, Infantry Platoon TACSOP
21. Boot Inserts