Basic Officer Leaders Course


The Basic Officer Leader Course is a two-phased training course designed to produce commissioned officers in the United States Army. Prospective officers complete Phase I as either a cadet or an officer candidate before continuing on to BOLC B as Second Lieutenants. If BOLC B is not completed within two years of commissioning, 2LTs will be administratively separated from the service unless there are extenuating circumstances. This a progressive model designed to produce US Army officers with leadership skills, small unit tactics and certain branch-specific capabilities.

BOLC A

All Army officers, Phase I of BOLC consists of pre-commissioning training, either through Reserve Officers' Training Corps, Officer Candidate School, or the United States Military Academy. It is at this stage the officer candidate learns basic leadership skills and basic small unit tactics.
Direct commissioned officers, who have no commissioning source must attend the Direct Commission Course. DCC consists of a six-week course at Ft. Benning, Georgia or Ft Sill, OK. The primary purpose of this training is to provide basic military training to obtain the skills necessary to continue on to BOLC B. DCC is required for all direct commissioned officers regardless of prior service experience.

BOLC B

The second phase of the Basic Officer Leader Course - previously referred to as the Officer Basic Course and BOLC III - is designed to develop new combat-effective officers and train them to perform their wartime duties as commissioned officers. It is during this phase that they learn the specifics of the systems and equipment they will use in their duty unit.