Basic Leader Course

The Basic Leader Course (BLC),[1][2] formerly the Warrior Leader Course (WLC) and Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), is the first course of study in the US Army noncommissioned officer Professional Development System (NCOPDS). BLC is a month-long course that trains specialists and corporals in the fundamentals of leadership.[3] As of 1 July 2021, all corporals are to have already completed BLC; in the interim those corporals who have not yet completed BLC are reassigned as specialists until they have passed the NCO promotion boards for junior leadership; specialists who have completed BLC and have been recommended for promotion are to wear corporal rank before their recommended promotion.[4]

U.S. Army student squad leaders are evaluated by a Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Academy instructor during a mission preparation exercise at Camp Buehring, Kuwait

Curriculum

The course curriculum includes instruction in leadership skills, training skills, and war-fighting skills. A passing HT/WT and ACFT score is needed to attend BLC. Soldiers with the first highest and second highest GPA, respectively, are awarded Distinguished Honor Graduate and Honor Graduate, respectively. The soldier's GPA is determined by six evaluations, and soldiers must pass the evaluations with a score of 70% or higher:

  • Physical Readiness Training
  • Drill and Ceremony Squad Drill
  • Informative Essay
  • Conduct Individual Training
  • Public Speaking Presentation
  • Compare and Contrast Essay

Additionally, soldiers must complete the following assessments:

BLC is non-specific to the soldier's Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), and graduates are awarded the NCO Professional Development Ribbon.[6] BLC is no longer worth promotion points unless the soldier receives commandants or distinguished honor grad. The next level of education is Advanced Leader Course (ALC), formerly known as Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course (BNCOC).

References
  1. "Basic Leader Course". U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  2. "New course for E7s begins as part of NCO education overhaul". The Official Homepage of the United States Army. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  3. "Basic Leader Course (BLC)". Goarmy.com. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  4. Joseph Lacdan, Army News Service (4 June 2021) Soldiers to pin on corporal after BLC
  5. Hon. Christine E. Wormuth (2 Jun 2021) Letter to the force from the 25th Secretary of the Army "There is no place in our Army for sexual harassment and assault, domestic violence, extremism or racism."
  6. "NCO Professional Development Ribbon". Archived from the original on 2010-03-14. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
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