2006 Ad

Army Communicator, Spring, 2006 by John R. Turns

By the end of this fiscal year, 2006, the Army will fully implement the Basic Officer Leader Course. This is one of the most significant changes in officer training and development in recent history. As part of the implementation of BOLC, the Signal Center will convert the Signal Officer Basic Course into the Signal Basic Officer Leader Course.

BOLC is a three-phased training program designed to produce officers who are tactically proficient, technically competent, physically fit, and ready to lead Soldiers. BOLC focuses on leader development and prepares new officers for the complexities of our current battlefields. Training and Doctrine Command designed BOLC to produce agile, adaptable leaders who embody the Warriors Ethos. The Army Accessions Command is the proponent for BOLC and has been focusing on BOLC as well as Initial Entry Training for enlisted Soldiers.

BOLC model: BOLC is designed to ensure a tough, standardized, small-unit leadership experience flowing progressively through three phases. BOLC's Phase I is the pre-commissioning phase and includes training conducted at the U.S. Military Academy, in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, and at Officer Candidate Schools). In Phase I officers are trained in basic Soldier and leader tasks performed by all lieutenants.

After commissioning, all lieutenants, with the exception of some in some of the special branches, attend BOLC Phase II. BOLC II is a rigorous six-week, branch-immaterial course in small-unit leadership and tactics designed to challenge officers both physically and mentally. The mission of the BOLC II is to develop competent and confident small unit combat leaders. Phase II training is conducted at Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Sill, Okla. Upon graduation, these officers will possess tactical competence, be able to lead platoon dismounted battle drills, execute selected collective tasks, and apply troop-leading procedures.

Graduates of BOLC II will:

* be capable of operating, maintaining, and employing all current dismounted U.S. platoon weapons and equipment

* be prepared to train squads and platoons in accordance with current doctrine

* be prepared to execute light-infantry field craft and first aid

* be capable of bringing all combined arms fires on target using current platoon level communications systems

* embody Army values, Army leader attributes, be adaptable and self-aware

* be physically rugged and have an ingrained physical fitness ethic

* possess the confidence and fortitude necessary to successfully complete BOLC Phase III at their respective branch school

In August 2005, the 442nd Signal Battalion received 15 signal officers from a BOLC, Phase II pilot course conducted at Fort Benning. This was the last BOLC II pilot course conducted only at Fort Benning and some cadre members from Fort Sill also conducted the course. Currently, 56 destined-to-be signal officers are attending BOLC, Phase II. About half are attending at

Fort Benning, Ga., and the other half at Fort Sill, Okla. Immediately following their successful completion of BOLC Phase II, these officers will head to Fort Gordon for our initial implementation of SBOLC (the Signal Regiment's version of BOLC Phase III). SBOLC is 13 weeks long and consists largely of the technical training the lieutenants need to be effective signal platoon leaders and Signal staff officers.

During SBOLC, the officers learn specialized skills, doctrine, the most current tactics and techniques of the Signal Regiment. We are reducing block training and making greater use of experiential training to enhance the relevance, quality, and effectiveness of the SBOLC course. SBOLC will conclude with a demanding and realistic field training exercise requiring students to display their knowledge and skills in a tactical environment.

These specific topics are included in SBOLC:

General Knowledge--provide health, welfare, & morale to Soldiers/ Soldiers' families; supervise PMCS; direct small unit supply activities; supervise unit maintenance operations; and conduct individual & collective training.

Information Technology--PC hardware & software; networking fundamentals; web design; and advanced email client administration.

Network Management--CISCO Call Manager; Warfighter-Machine Interface.

Communications Fundamentals--basic electronics; telecommunications; data communications; and switching.

DoD Tactical Networks--Mobile Subscriber Equipment; Signal Flow; Digital Group Multiplexing; Tactical Satellite; Joint Network Node; and Combat Net Radio

Capstone Exercise--MSE Map Exercise; MSE Switch Exercise; Field Training Exercise; and Recovery & Reconstitution

Upon graduating from BOLC III, officers will proceed to their first unit or attend additional assignment-oriented training.

The 442nd Signal Battalion will conduct a test run of SBOLC and then run two more iterations of SOBC. This will allow the 442nd to make adjustments to the program of instruction prior to full BOLC implementation. The SOBC/SBOLC schedule for the remainder of FY06 follows: