Signal Soldier graduates Camp Buehring Basic Leader Course

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait -- The U.S. Army Basic Leader Course, formerly the Warrior Leader Course and Primary Leadership Development Course, is the first noncommissioned officer course available to Army Soldiers. The course prepares Specialist, Corporals, and Sergeants the for leadership roles as noncommissioned officers.

The core competencies of the course are readiness, leadership, training management, communications, operations, and program management. Upon graduation, Soldiers are prepared to lead team size units, and acquire leader skills and knowledge to be successful noncommissioned officers.

The U.S. Army Central Noncommissioned Officer Academy, located at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, held a graduation ceremony for BLC class 403-19 after the students successfully completed the course requirements.

Spc. Jason Loomis, Jr., a Soldier assigned to the 335th Signal Command (Theater) (Provisional) as a Nodal Network Maintainer, was a student in BLC Class 403-19. As a BLC graduate, Loomis is prepared to assume a leadership role.

"The next step is being promoted to sergeant," said Loomis. "The promotion should happen during my deployment with 335th Signal Command (T) (P)."

U.S. Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major Joseph Hjelmstad, 34th Infantry Division (Red Bulls), was the guest speaker and challenged the graduating class remember the lessons they learn.

After receiving the BLC certificates, the graduates stood to recite the Noncommissioned Officer's Creed, along with other noncommissioned officers who were in attendance. The NCO Creed spells out what NCOs will and must do as leaders.

According to former Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack Tilley, "Noncommissioned officers are the backbone of the Army and the reason our Army is the best trained, most professional, and most respected in the world."

The graduates of BLC Class 403-19 have the tools and resources to go and be dynamic noncommissioned officers in the U.S. Army and lead.