What are the most difficult parts of BLC?

2020-10-19T11:33:39-04:00

I am in the National Guard and will attend BLC this December. In preparation, what are the most difficult areas? I am prepping for PRT and D and C. If I have difficulty with it and have to retake it, can my status with my unit be affected when I return home? Can any future bonuses be changed? Thanks.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2020 11:39 AM

2020-10-19T11:39:11-04:00

If you fail you will be barred to continued service. You will be able to go back, but will need a 4187 with a GO signature. As for the bonus, that depends on what the bonus was being paid out for, your career counselor should be able to help.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2020 11:40 AM

2020-10-19T11:40:24-04:00

if you are of average intelligence and apply yourself, you should have no problem with BLC as long as you can pass PT. I had guys that were dumb as rocks in my PLDC class and they still passed. It's not rocket science.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2020 11:44 AM

2020-10-19T11:44:07-04:00

Your bonus is not tied to your PME. You will have other issues result if you end up failing BLC, though.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2020 11:52 AM

2020-10-19T11:52:10-04:00

I was in your same situation I got sent home for failing D&C I was able to go back after 6 Months knowing that if I failed I would not Promote.

Here are my take aways your command should have made sure you were ready to pass BLC the entire coursework is listed on their site.

When you get sent to a course without being prepared you set yourself up for failure and the Unit. Readiness and Training NCO'S need to better prepare their soldiers the first time you lead PRT should not be at BLC the first time you march a Squad should not be at BLC.

I can't say it loud enough NCO's prepare your soldier for success teach them what they need to know even before stepping in the front door of BLC.

My advice to you learn it well enough you can teach it. Same with PRT lead your unit in PRT until you learn it.

NCO's introduce your soldiers to Army writing and giving presentations by preparing soldiers ahead of time the timeframe from Private to Specialist is enough time to prepare a soldier for BLC.

I see this way to much we don't prepare soldiers for BLC we need to change this mindset and insure we set soldiers to win.

Leadership is the future of this army we need to prepare soldiers now time sitting around can be spent leading PRT in the Army Combat Uniform movements and walking can be used to March.

Response by SSgt William Quinn made Oct 19 at 2020 2:03 PM

2020-10-19T14:03:52-04:00

My only question, why would failure even be an option? You are in that course, that's your job.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2020 4:36 PM

2020-10-19T16:36:07-04:00

As others have said, BLC is not hard. Once you make Height & Weight and pass your ACFT (if they give a test) you're golden. I went to WLC in 2009, and the toughest thing academically was giving a class on an assigned subject. I put together a powerpoint presentation within 2 hours.

You should be fine. D & C is not as hard as it looks. At ALC, we were told we would have 5 days to prepare for D & C testing. The next morning we were tested; everyone did fine. If you do your D &C in a parking lot, use the parking space lines as guides from which to base your formation. Each space is usually about 3 paces. So align yourself where the lines cross, form the platoon/squad on the next parking space line, and there will be a line down the middle to center upon.

Do your best, and take notes where you need to. Help your classmates. You'll do fine.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2020 5:13 PM

2020-10-19T17:13:43-04:00

Yes you can get another chance to go to BLC - I don't know exactly how it works in the Guard and with covid going on too.

My brother is in the National Guard and he failed the PT test twice at BLC back in 2015 so he obviously didn't complete it. Not sure why- but I think he said pushups which he has struggled with before and said his unit doesn't grade pushups properly.

He went back in 2017 and graduated. He went to drill with his unit between 2015-2017 until he passed the second time. He's still in the Guard and just did his ALC August last year.

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Oct 19 at 2020 6:37 PM

2020-10-19T18:37:32-04:00

First, don't think about failing. Second, go through the course and finish it

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2020 8:36 PM

2020-10-19T20:36:20-04:00

Flat out, don't sweat it. BLC is hard to fail. When I went through, it was WLC and the bulk of the failures were APFT or body weight failures. The only one that raised a brow was a guy I had to send to SD because he was drunk and suicidal.

As long as you follow the four golden tips to succeed in the army (right place, right time, right uniform, right attitude), you'll pass BLC. Try and learn equally from your peers as you do your instructors. You will run across soldiers from different branches, units, experiences. The connections you make with your peers can do wonders for you.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Oct 19 at 2020 8:59 PM

2020-10-19T20:59:44-04:00

Do you want to fail? Receiving an answer to this question that has favorable answer if you fail is setting you up for that. Back in 2007 I was in the Army's Critical Care Course for nurses and my follow-on assignment was Hawaii. If I failed it would have been someplace else or on a horrible med/surge floor in Hawaii (the nurses there had it bad). To this day I have no idea what the outcome would have been if I failed, I spent every woke moment studying to pass. The final was a four hour oral board, all from memory. Don't look for answers that will make failing ok, just pass the damn course.

Response by SGT Frank Hewes made Oct 21 at 2020 11:18 PM

2020-10-21T23:18:23-04:00

The hardest part for most is probably leading a class. You need to make a formal lesson plan, including teacher notes and handouts. Then present the material to the rest of the BLC class, sticking to your lesson plan.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2020 10:52 PM

2020-10-26T22:52:35-04:00

Start studying PRT and DNC. If you are not a strong writer I would recommend researching and practicing your essay writing skills. Start learning The NCO Creed now.