If you’ve recently commissioned, or intend to commission in the next 4 (or 5) years, you likely have some curiosity about the next step in your Army career. The Basic Officer Leaders Course (BOLC-B) is the first stop for newly-commissioned officers. Because BOLC-B is branch specific, the courses vary in duration and program of instruction. Regardless of branch, however, keys for success at BOLC are more-or-less universal. The recommendations found in this article are based on survey responses by Engineer BOLC instructors and administrators.
The leadership attributes and competencies that you learned and developed at your commissioning source are no less applicable at BOLC. If you were successful at West Point, ROTC, or OCS, you likely already possess most of the skills required to succeed at BOLC. The difference is that you are now a professional Army officer, and expected to conduct yourself accordingly. Furthermore, you are now working with peers from all walks of life- the homogeneity of your commissioning source is a thing of the past.
The Team
There is significant value in the networking that you will do at BOLC. The relationships that you develop over the few months of BOLC-B will carry forward throughout your career. It is extremely likely that you will end up working with some of your classmates in the future. At the very least, you should remain in contact and reach out to one another to solve problems. It follows that the reputation that you build at BOLC is lasting and will directly affect your ability to leverage the relationships you build.
You will conduct peer evaluations during the course, and should give serious consideration to the feedback from your teammates. The feedback from your peers is among the most candid feedback that you will receive during your career. Just as in any other Army course, the peer evaluations tend to favor those that are good team players and eager to help the team. If you do receive critical feedback, maintain a thick skin and try to remain objective about your faults. While you should strive to remain introspective throughout your career, this is your last chance to address leadership weaknesses prior to reporting to your unit.
Attitude is Everything
At some point in BOLC, the professional complainers will come out of the woodwork. Perhaps you will be standing in formation at 0500 for PT, or cleaning weapons for three hours after returning from an FTX. At that point, the lamentations of the righteously indignant will begin to spew forth into the void. It’s important at these times to keep things in perspective.
First, the crappy attitude, however righteous it may feel, is not helping the situation. There’s a good chance that your peers are annoyed by your “salty lieutenant” routine, and will let you know about it on your peer evaluations. Second, every officer in your branch has been through essentially the same experience. BOLC is a right of passage, and not a particularly trying one. Finally, in a very short period of time you will be charged with leading soldiers. You have absolutely no right to complain to your soldiers, so it’s best to quit the cynicism now. While you are training in the relative comfort of BOLC, your future soldiers are likely conducting rigorous training or operations. Keep it in perspective and stay motivated.
Come to Learn
BOLC-B is a learning environment. The level of technical or tactical rigor varies based on branch, but you will almost certainly be learning concepts and principles that are entirely new to you. Do not be afraid to reach out to your peers or instructors for help. The most common response from EBOLC instructors describing the “type of student that struggles” was “does not ask for help”. Your instructors are subject matter experts in the topics that you are learning. Leverage their expertise while you have the opportunity.
BOLC will not make you an expert in operations for any branch (notice the word BASIC in BOLC). The purpose of BOLC-B is to train branch-specific technical and tactical skills to serve as a foundation for success at your first unit of assignment. On the job training will account for the majority of your development as an officer, but will only be productive if you possess the base-level proficiency expected of a new officer. Equally as important, you will learn “common core” skills that will develop small-unit leadership skills, familiarization with doctrine, and general officership. Take the learning seriously. While no one expects a new lieutenant to have all the answers, they will expect that you applied yourself and prepared yourself for your new profession.
PT
While fitness is certainly not the primary measure of leader performance, it is a necessity in our inherently physical profession. Regardless of your branch or duty station, it is highly advisable that you report to your first unit in the best physical condition possible. Most BOLC PT programs focus on preparing the class to perform on the APFT/ACFT. As with any unit PT program, your success or failure is in your own hands. Take advantage of optional PT opportunities, and plan to regularly do PT on your own.
Most BOLCs offer optional train-ups for follow on training (Ranger, Sapper, etc…). Regardless of whether you end up attending the follow-on training, these train-ups will only benefit you in preparing to report to your first unit. If you do want to compete to attend Ranger school (or other courses) after BOLC, you will compete for slots and the competition will be stiff. Plan to max your APFT/ACFT to ensure best chances of securing a slot.
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