At BLC, do you get personal time to do College assignments ?

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 14:03:18 -0400

I’m taking college online courses and are pretty intense engineering courses while I will be doing BLC ( just planning to go BLC ). I was Wondering if i will have personal time ( about 4-5 hours ) everyday to attend my online college courses and projects in the evenings. Will I be going to the woods for days in BLC to conduct training ?
Thans for the pointers in advance.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2019 2:05 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 14:05:33 -0400

If it is the same as my time, you won’t have 4 hours to spare

Response by SGT Tyrone Adams made Jul 10 at 2019 2:11 PM

SGT Tyrone Adams — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 14:11:19 -0400

Not that I remember but that was back in the 90’s

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2019 2:13 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 14:13:10 -0400

As for me, our average day at BLC would end at 1800. However, we had homework everyday and would finish around 2100 at the latest. I had first formation at 0430 the next morning. So that should give you an idea. (This is with the BLC implementation. I went to BLC in September 2018)

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jul 10 at 2019 2:15 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 14:15:02 -0400

I assume you're going to a Reserve Component BLC course which will be shorter and more intense than the AD course. I wouldn't plan on much free time.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2019 2:15 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 14:15:25 -0400

Not unless you plan on being up until 0300

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2019 2:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 14:30:36 -0400

I just got back in March, you have so.e free time depending on how you manage your time. Not enough to do college work though.

Response by SGT Charles Belford made Jul 10 at 2019 2:46 PM

SGT Charles Belford — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 14:46:45 -0400

I’m sure every BLC differs slightly, but my BLC in Korea we were off by 1700, and had till whenever you decide to sleep for whatever you want to do. However, during our off time we usually wrote our essays that were due or we practiced prep drills or D and C.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2019 3:02 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 15:02:39 -0400

No. There was only one day in the field for us. Normally out of class by 1700, but there is homework. Not everyday, but fairly often. Additionally, Sunday's are off days and M-Sat are work days. 0550 normally for PT until 0650-7. If you manage your time well and don't procrastinate, you should be fine.

Response by SFC(P) Jonathan P. made Jul 10 at 2019 3:20 PM

SFC(P) Jonathan P. — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 15:20:30 -0400

Just finished the BLC few months ago. The best thing I can tell you is as follow. Sunday’s are off days. If you leave prepared with everything you need uniforms dress blue etc. You should be fine and won’t have to spend that extra time getting squared away. It’s your course your time you run it how you seem fit as a collective. It’s also more college based now with essays and assignments as well. 0600-1700 is your day of class and you do get some time to your self after class but believe most likely will spend it doing work for the blc course.

I made the time I also do online school and working on my masters. Just get focused and put the work in from day one and you will do just fine and it won’t interfere with your school. Time management !

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2019 3:39 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 15:39:32 -0400

Depends on where you go for BLC honestly. Every post is not the same.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Jul 10 at 2019 4:45 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 16:45:05 -0400

Not part of the training schedule. I took 3 weeks off classes and coordinated with my professors. I made up the work I couldn't do beforehand and took all tests and quizzes upon return to school.

Response by SGT Micheal Adams made Jul 10 at 2019 7:40 PM

SGT Micheal Adams — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 19:40:07 -0400

You will find conflict in both schools, when you are there for only a short time, that time is well used.

Response by CSM Carl Cunningham made Jul 10 at 2019 10:10 PM

CSM Carl Cunningham — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 22:10:02 -0400

I don't have to even know which NCOA you are attending to know that you will NOT have appropriate time to attend college classes at BLC. If you do, I'd love to know about it.

Your focus in BLC should be honing your leadership skills and preparing to be the best in all aspects of your class. Soon there will be a class ranking for all leaders attending a course. And you want to be near the top, believe that.

Response by SSG Dale London made Jul 11 at 2019 10:41 PM

SSG Dale London — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 22:41:59 -0400

Not the way I remember it. Your plate is going to be pretty full. You're going to have daily room inspections, daily locker inspections, classes with homework, extra duties, GI parties, police call, CQ, Fire watch and all that other grand stuff.
Also, I remember they had a merit/demerit system when I went through. If you got 39 or more demerits (and having your shoes misaligned under your bunk was an automatic 5) you didn't pass.
If I were you I would take the hit on the college courses for the 28 days you'll be in BLC (if it still is 28 days).
Besides, if you have enough energy and brain power for 4-5 hours of study when you are doing BLC then either your NCO academy is doing something wrong or the army's standards have really dropped since I left.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2019 8:15 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 20:15:29 -0400

Chiming in with most of the other comments.
The Army wont give you time specific for it, however there is plently of time after COB, especiall if you are in the barracks there and dont have to drive back home etc. You will still have to manage your time wisely and be in the right mindset to focus on both BLC and College, but completely doable.
As with what 1SG John Furr said, you could/should talk to the professor to either make it up, get assigned it earlier, etc.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2019 7:25 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 19:25:13 -0400

You can but you'll be losing alot of sleep unless you understand the basic NCO stuff. When I went through BLC my roommate was attending online college & was able to well balance thing in the cost of giving up his freedom & enjoyment of going out with the rest of the class. Overall it depends on the individual

Response by CPL Julie Haas made Jul 16 at 2019 12:08 AM

CPL Julie Haas — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 00:08:09 -0400

It depends on which one you go to as there are multiple. Hawaii has a schedule of 08 to 1900. California Is 07 to 1700. Thus is just class time time and not accounting for PT

Response by SGT Adam Jones made Jul 17 at 2019 11:45 AM

SGT Adam Jones — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 11:45:49 -0400

I believe they have ways to extend the time your assignments are due in college due to military commitments. I had a couple people in college when I went but they had their stuff postponed until they got back. I would recommend to see if they can extend your time due. It's pretty hard to remember and perform what you learn in BLC on top of whatever your academic courses demand.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2019 2:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 14:18:24 -0400

Yes. Manage your time wisely.

Response by SSG Cheri Kelley Miller made Jul 31 at 2019 3:20 PM

SSG Cheri Kelley Miller — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 15:20:50 -0400

Honestly you do get "personal time" but I would NOT use that time for your college work. Use that time to study for BLC. Trust me you're going to need it. Focus on the task at hand and take a break from your College studies. Let your College instructors know that you are going to be out of communication for a bit. Most of them will understand and will not hold it against your grade, as lo g as you are in communication with them, and tell them what is going on. Focus on graduating BLC right now so that you can better enhance your military career later.