Instructor Candidate, Sgt. 1st Class LaVada Williams, explains the importance of organizing lecture material to an Army Basic Instructor Course student. ABIC prepares Soldiers to conduct Army classes in accordance with the Army School System standar...

Army Basic Instructor Course graduates pose for a photo after completing the 80-hour training at Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst, N.J. ABIC prepares Soldiers to conduct Army classes in accordance with the Army School System standard. Its emphasis ...

Staff Sgt. Thomas Costa, 3-313 LSB, 72d FA BDE, prepares a PowerPoint presentation at the Army Basic Instructor Course. ABIC prepares Soldiers to conduct Army classes in accordance with the Army School System standard. Its emphasis is the importanc...

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE DIX LAKEHURST, N.J. - Soldiers assigned to the 72nd Field Artillery Brigade, First Army Division East, completed the Army Basic Instructor Course held Nov. 8 -18 here.

Before First Army Division East observer-coach/trainers can provide the most relevant, realistic training possible to Reserve Component forces, they must first receive training themselves.

"While remaining engaged in post-mobilization training and demobilization, we continue to expand support to our Reserve Component partners in pre-mobilization settings," said Col. John Lange, commander of the 72nd F.A. Bde. "ABIC is a foundational course that impacts the ability of our observer-coach/trainers to meet the training goals set by First Army."

ABIC is a comprehensive 80-hour course that trains both military and civilian instructors to provide training and education in the Army training environment.

"This is a great course because it allows military personnel, as well as their civilian counterparts, the opportunity to enhance their training toolbox," said Sgt. 1st Class Robin Russell, ABIC instructor. "At some point everyone involved will be an instructor regardless of their rank or title. The purpose of this course is to provide is to provide a training standard that everyone should strive to reach."

Graduate and 3-313th Logistical Support Battalion observer coach/trainer, Staff Sgt. Thomas Costa, welcomed the additional training.

"Everything learned in this course definitely enhances our skills. It is a first-rate course that prepares us to carry out our mission using current standards," Costa said.

The students used a combination of adult communication and learning theories, training sessions, and teaching methodologies to demonstrate mastery of their subjects.

"Each of us enjoys this type of training environment," explained Master Sgt. Philip Carter, course manager. "It provides us the opportunity to not only affect the currently enrolled Soldier or civilian, but also the person that he or she serves as an instructor for down the road."

First Army Division East advises, assists and trains reserve-component forces prior to deployments as well as during monthly and annual training events to maintain Army-directed readiness standards.