Scope
BLC prepares the Specialist/Corporal for duties and responsibilities as a Sergeant. Using the Leadership Requirements Model (LRM) through a holistic approach, learners will develop skills in written and oral communications, critical and creative thinking, problem solving, leadership and counseling, drill and ceremonies, how to train Soldiers, character development, nutrition and physical fitness, troop leading procedures and mission orders, Army programs, and how to build effective teams. As a result, learners will be able to train, lead, and conduct operations at the team level.
BLC Preparation Tips
- Refresh on Drill & Ceremony
- Refresh on Physical Training
- Refresh on basic grammar and writing skills
- Understand that the Basic Leader Course is a professional education environment
- Be ready to collaborate with your peers
Course Objectives
The BLC focuses on six NCO Common Core Competencies (NCO-C3). These competencies are: Readiness, Leadership, Training Management, Communications, Operations, and Program Management. BLC is designed to build basic leader and trainer skills needed to lead a team size element; while providing the foundation for further development along the PME learning continuum.
Course Structure
Instruction at the BLC is accomplished with the Army Experiential Learning Model (ELM) methodology. Lessons are facilitated in a small group setting with a collaborative approach, which allows the Soldiers to discover information and then apply it to new and ambiguous situations. Lessons include critical and creative thinking activities and exercises, which aid in learning. Facilitators assess the Soldiers’ leadership ability and potential through observing discussions and interactions.
The BLC is a 22-academic day course consisting of 169 academic hours. The course map below shows a listing of the lessons that make up the course. It reflects the mandatory sequence, the lesson identification number, the lesson title, the length of the lesson (total), and the phase for rotation purposes. (NOTE: The six administrative lessons are not part of the course map). Research Time: Students are provided 22 hours of academic/research time throughout the course to produce four products associated with writing, public speaking/presentation, training management, and SHARP. This time allows students to research, collaborate with peers, and develop their academically required products which will be assessed for grading. This is academic time and by no means considered study hall.