Purpose
Prepare sergeants, promotable specialists, and corporals to lead team-level size units by providing an opportunity to acquire the leader skills, knowledge, and experience needed to be successful as noncommissioned officers. The Basic Leader Course (BLC) is the foundation for further training and leader development.
Scope
Future junior leaders upon completion of the BLC should be able to:
- Lead by example and model characteristics of the Army Profession.
- Use the Leadership Requirements Model (attributes and competencies) and are critical thinkers and problem-solvers.
- Communicate skillfully and effectively both verbally and in writing to lead, supervise, counsel, coach, mentor, and build teams.
- Use the Army’s training principles to assess risk management and prepare an eight-step outline to conduct individual training.
- Practice mission command as the Army’s approach to command and control by using troop leading procedures (TLPs) at the team-level.
Preparation Tips
- Read FM 7-22, Holistic Health and Fitness to assist you with physical training.
- Be ready to collaborate with your peers.
- BLC is a professional environment.
- Prepare for the lesson in accordance with lesson advance sheet.
- Actively participate in the adult learning process.
- Practice metacognition through journaling.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI resources may be utilized for preparation or further investigation of course content. However, all assessments submitted to be evaluated by the facilitator must be the original work of the learner. Submitting content that has been generated, whole or in part, by an AI content generator is prohibited and considered an act of deception. Learners will be considered for immediate course dismissal under the Army Value of “Integrity” It requires that you do and say nothing that deceives others.
- International Military Students (IMS): may not use a translator (e.g., Google Translator) to translate their paper to English. All IMS will receive a completed DD Form 2496 International Student Academic Report rating their English proficiency. NCOAs will work with IMS to provide more time if necessary for written assignments.
- Apathy (a lack of learner motivation). Lack of learner motivation will be considered for immediate dismissal.
Course Structure
Facilitation at BLC is accomplished through the Army Experiential Learning Model (ELM) methodology as the principal tool to delivery educational content. Lessons are facilitated in a small collaborative group setting. This allows the learner to use experience and knowledge to show how much lesson comprehension the learner has. Also, where the learner should be at the end of the lesson. Learning is self-directed, using background knowledge, and your motivation to learn should enable you to apply lesson content to new and ambiguous situations. Lessons incorporate critical and creative thinking activities, which aid in learning. Facilitators assess the learners’ leadership ability and potential by observing their discussions and interactions.
The BLC is a 22-academic day course consisting of 169 academic hours. The course map button on the right shows the mandatory lesson sequence.
If you have any technical questions, contact the NCOLCoE Helpdesk at 915-744-9139 or 915-744-1252. For enrollment questions contact your local NCOA.