Warriors,

Short post this week, with some insight that I stole from a former IBOLC Commander.

Many BOLC students feel like graduating from BOLC is a bit like graduating from the 8th grade. It’s not nothing, but it’s also not anything special. Literally, everyone needs to do it to serve as an officer in their assigned branch. That’s true. But, that misses the deeper understanding of how your performance in BOLC is important to your junior officer career. As a result, many BOLC students will attempt to merely “grey man” coast to the finish line, instead of taking BOLC as an opportunity to excel.

The obvious value of BOLC: establishes a base line of professional competencies for officers from a variety of commissioning sources, allows the institution to train new leaders on emerging doctrine/technology/practices/etc., provides a gradual transition period for new officers into military life, provides a networking opportunity among peers in your branch.

The secondary value of BOLC: This is the BEST opportunity the Army has to compare apples to apples in their new junior officer ranks. Every BOLC student within that branch is receiving the came curriculum and taking the same tests. The unit is the same. The installation is the same. The weather is same. The experience level is (relatively) the same… If I am looking for the best year group X officer for assignment as a General’s Aide, or to serve in the Ranger Regiment, or to serve in a position above pay-grade, I am going to compare BOLC evaluations. Why? Because, then I am comparing AG to AG or Armor to Armor, and in a officer pool that is the equivalent of a Division’s worth of officers. If I compare lieutenant OER’s, I am comparing that Asst-S1’s evaluation to the Chem-O’s evaluation to the evaluation of the senior most company XO to a Recon Platoon Leader’s evaluation. It’s apples to oranges…

So, do well in your BOLC course. Don’t coast. BOLC is the best way the Army has to compare apples to apples when it’s looking at specialty assignments and career opportunities specific to your branch. It’s important.

Also, just #protip. Don’t ever coast. The minimum standard is very rarely ever good enough to reflect positively on your professionalism and/or competence. Fail constantly, but fail striving for excellence.
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~Jeff
JOF “BOLC” Topic Lead