FORT BLISS, Texas—The NCO Leadership Center of Excellence launches the latest Distributed Leader Course. The DLC V is live, Nov. 15.
DLC V and Structured Self Development 4 will run concurrently until August 30, 2020. At which time the DLC V will replace the SSD 4 as the new perquisite for Soldiers attending the Sergeants Major Course.
However, those who have completed the SSD 4 have met the necessary requirements and do not need to enroll into the DLC V.
“This fully supports the Sergeants Major Course by setting the foundational knowledge on topics being covered throughout the SMC,” Claudia Nieto DLC course manager said.
The DLC includes two additional levels that close the gap in the PME system by ensuring there is a continuum of learning between basic training and all subsequent in-residence PME courses.
Curriculum Developer, Roger Cross explains.
“We have closed the gaps that existed in the NCO PME system with the Distributed Leader Courses, the latest being DLC V,” he said. “These courses improve the Soldier’s education by being progressive and sequential with lesson content that is relevant to today's operational environment.”
One way to ensure the course is relevant to today’s operational environment is to have current Instructors of the SMC assist in developing and reviewing the new curriculum.
“I put myself in the position of the learner,” Kanessa Trent, SMC instructor said. “The instructions, scenarios, and plausible answers all needed to be clear, without errors and allow for the opportunity for more than one “right” answer.”
Through DLC V soldiers learn how to analyze and apply knowledge that will assist them in carrying out policies and standards of performance. The course will also teach them how to conduct themselves as senior leaders, ready to advise and initiate recommendations pertaining to the local NCO support channel.
“Every level of DLC is tailored to the learners as it pertains to their current level of responsibility and the next level of in-residence PME,” Cross said.
The latest DLC consists of four modules mission command, professional competence, human dimension/adaptability, and Army leadership and profession.
“DLC V sets the individual learner up for success by allowing for a variety of answers,” said Trent. “It is absolutely important to understand Army Doctrinal Publications, regulatory and doctrinal guidance, as there must be room for the soldier to incorporate personal experiences and knowledge to navigate different real-world situations. That’s what makes this so different than previous online courses. It allows for the student to select what he or she believes the most correct answer to be and then get additional information to inform them as to why that’s correct or, more importantly, how they might better come to a different and altogether appropriate solution or answer,” she said.
The latest course is completely different from its SSD predecessor.
“DLC V provides a more realistic aspect to training,” Sgt. Maj. Haywood Vines a participant in the DLC V group trial said. “It is streamlined when it comes to the focus of the material at hand. Unlike SSD 4 you do not have to read an entire regulation to gain the knowledge needed in order to understand the scenario on the lesson. SSD 4 was a robust lesson that focused on reading Army Regulations and Field Manuals. There was a lot of reading and study involved, which was not always relevant to the question at the end of the lesson,” he said.
Another trial participant, Sgt. Maj. Neftali Diaz felt this training would also be a good refresher for SGMs.
“It is a course that not only will benefit the Master Sergeants in preparation for SMC, but DLC V can be used as a reference or a refresher for SGMs with the many topics and areas that we work on in the force,” he said.
MSGs currently not enrolled in SSD 4 will be enrolled into DLC V on Nov. 15 by their component quota source managers.
However, the MSGs currently enrolled in SSD 4 and who fail to complete the course by August 30, 2020 will be disenrolled and enrolled by their component quota source managers into DLC V.
The NCOLCoE is the premier institution driving innovative development for enlisted leaders; constantly focused on readiness.
If you are interested in more information on DLC V or the NCOLCoE visit https://ncolcoe.armylive.dodlive.mil/distributed-leaders-course/
