Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System (NCOPDS)
What is it?
The NCOPDS provides non-commissioned officers (NCO) with progressive and
sequential leader, technical and tactical training relevant to the duties, responsibilities
and missions they will perform in operational units after graduation. The training and
education process for the NCO starts with an initial, branch–immaterial, leadership
development course; followed by a basic, branch-specific level; an advanced, branch
specific
level; and culminates with a branch- immaterial senior level course. The
NCOPDS is comprised of the following educational opportunities:
Basic Leader Course (BLC): A branch-immaterial course that provides basic
leadership training to allow Soldiers in the pay grade of Private First Class
through Staff Sergeant (SSG) the opportunity to acquire the leader skills,
knowledge and experience needed to lead team/squad size units.
Advanced Leader Course (ALC): ALC consists of both an 80 hour, 90-day highly
facilitated web-based common core program and a branch-specific resident
phase designed for the Soldiers military occupation specialty. This course
provides Soldiers selected for promotion to SSG with an opportunity to acquire
the leader, technical, and tactical skills, knowledge and experience needed to
lead squad/platoon size units.
Senior Leader Course (SLC): A branch-specific course that provides an
opportunity for Soldiers selected for promotion to Sergeant First Class (SFC) to
acquire the leader, technical, and tactical skills, knowledge and experience
needed to lead platoon/company size units.
Master Leader Course (MLC): Specifically designed to prepare SFCs for the increase
leadership and management responsibilities required prior to promotion to Master
Sergeant/First Sergeant. The curriculum includes topics such as Army and Joint
Doctrine; Interagency Capabilities and Considerations; Plans orders and Annexes;
Decisive Actions: Military Justice Rules and Procedures; Command Inspection program;
Servant leadership; Personnel Readiness; Military Decision Making Process; Public
Speaking; Mil9itary Briefings and Writing.
Sergeants Major Course (SMC): The capstone enlisted training for the Master
Sergeant (MSG), MSG (Promotable), Sergeant Major, and Command Sergeant
Major prepares them for troop and staff assignments. This course is task based
and performance oriented, focusing on leadership, combat and sustainment
operations, team building, communication skills, training management, and
professional development. It prepares the NCO for responsibility at the Battalion
and Brigade level.
What has the Army done?
The NCOPDS has undergone tremendous transformations in support of the Army’s
goals to develop agile leaders and afford NCOs an opportunity to acquire the skills, and
knowledge needed to perform more complex duties and missions of greater
responsibility. The Army continues to explore the following professional development
initiatives that enhance professional military education through traditional and
nontraditional
learning opportunities in support of individual and collective training:
