Photo By Sgt. Anna Churco | Soldiers graduating from the Basic Leader Course recite the Creed of the...... read more read more
Fourteen students graduated from the first fully virtual Basic Leader Course (BLC) on May 7, 2020, in Poznan, Poland. The graduates were part of a larger graduating BLC class from the 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy.
BLC is the first pillar in the development of the Noncommissioned Officer (NCO). The course is 22 days and consists of more that 160 hours of instruction. This cycle of BLC was unique in that it was the first fully virtual BLC experience due to the conditions created by COVID-19. The experience of hosting a virtual BLC came with its own set of challenges that instructors had to face.
“Connectivity was the biggest thing,” said Sgt. 1st Class Juan Cruz, an assistant BLC instructor with 1st Infantry Division Forward. “There were a lot of times we had problems with technology, but we got it done.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Ricky Jackson, 1st Infantry Division Forward senior enlisted advisor, attended the ceremony and offered the graduates some words of wisdom before they received their diplomas.
“Being accountable and reliable is the backbone of an NCO, and the NCO is the backbone of the Army,” said Jackson during his speech. “You are all the future of our Army, don’t let us down.”
The ceremony also included a speech from Command Sgt. Maj. Darrin Campbell, the 484th Movement Control Battalion senior enlisted advisor, who served as the guest speaker for the ceremony.
“Focus on actions rather than argument,” said Campbell. “If you are going to build influence, you must take action, and be seen following through on your rhetoric.”
The ceremony concluded with the graduates reciting the Creed of the Non-Commissioned Officer and singing the Army Song.
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 05.10.2020 12:58 |
| Story ID: | 369523 |
| Location: | POZNAN, PL |
| Hometown: | FORT RILEY, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 371 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
| Podcast Hits: | 0 |
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