What is it like being an BLC, ALC, AIT, or MSI Instructor?

2019-11-11T12:03:10-05:00

I was wondering what everyone's experience was as an instructor in BLC, ALC, or in general at the school house or MSI. I am in Italy, coming up on 15 years and looking at my potential next position and instructor interests me. Pros/Cons; will it put me ahead of the curb when it comes to getting looked at for SFC?

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Nov 11 at 2019 1:00 PM

2019-11-11T13:00:11-05:00

I was a pilot training instructor for 3 years and later on a C-130 instructor pilot for 4 years. The pilot training job was at a "school house", but the C-130 job was what you might call instructing on-the-job training.

My experience as an Undergraduate Pilot Training instructor was not the best of my career. I liked instructing student pilots to fly the primary jet trainer. Taking a lieutenant with 16 to 32 hours of flying time from his initial jet flight to solo to phase graduation was a challenging and rewarding job. It was even more challenging when the student was a foreign national student. What I did not like was the work climate of the time (mid-1970s). There was great emphasis on following the syllabus precisely, applying performance standards strictly, and complying with rules without exception. One of our sayings was, "you don't graduate the student, you graduate the grade book." This meant that the documentation was more important than the student's performance. Having come into the school house from a C-130 squadron, I asked too many questions. Objected to what I viewed as stupid rules. And was probably a pain in the butt to my Flight Commanders, so the Squadron Commander kicked me up to the Wing level as a Flight Safety Officer. That normally ends one's career in the Air Force. I lucked out, got a slot to USAF Flight Safety Officer Course and successfully landed an assignment at Headquarters Military Airlift Command in the Safety Division. That job changed my life and saved by career.

SSG Private RallyPoint Member, I would say approach the school house job with care, but an open mind. Things have changed greatly since my time. The Army I worked for as a DAC in 2007-2013 was much different than the post-Vietnam Army I knew in the early 1970s and late 1980s as a C-130 pilot. Hopefully the most modern teaching techniques and equipment are available at the school house where you will work. Having been a "certified instructor" is a good thing to have on your resume when you look for post-retirement jobs. Many government contractors teach courses for the DoD and other government agencies and your time as an instructor will make you very competitive for those jobs. Also, the military departments hire civilians to teach many courses. Again, your instructor certification will make you very competitive.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2019 1:21 PM

2019-11-11T13:21:16-05:00

I was a Ranger Instructor for 4 years in Mountain phase. I chose Mountains because it is where I learned the most as a student and wanted to pass that along. Pros- most students were motivated and want to be there, great peer group to work with, and great physical environment to work in.
Cons- 32 hour shifts, can get repetitive, hard to make yourself stand out for rating purposes.
As far as career impact, being an RI is generally favorable on boards and RTB has a slightly higher promotion selection rate. However, if you stay an instructor for too long it will have negative impact of you dont get your key development time.

Response by SSG Alan Pelletier made Nov 11 at 2019 1:31 PM

2019-11-11T13:31:34-05:00

I was an Instructor at Fort Knox for basic trainees and the ROTC Cadets during the Summer.
My pro's: FAMILY TIME, FAMILY TIME, FAMILY TIME, and as many college courses as I could handle. Also, as a 19D Scout having access to the ranges for training, being surrounded by Senior NCO's, and Louisville a great city it was a solid good time.
My con's: Sept 11. happened and instructors were locked in place. Day and night firing ranges and the heat was hot and the cold was cold. We were required to wear the same uniform as the soldiers coming through.

As an instructor and still being young in my career solidifying those basic skills proved invaluable when I returned to the line. As for promotion at your level I'm not sure but at the time being a Recruiter or Drill Sergeant were more likely to get your name in front of the boards. I do not recall a single SSG being promoted to SFC while I was there.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2019 2:03 PM

2019-11-11T14:03:35-05:00

I am a developer at Ft. Benning, started out as an instructed. It’s a great break from FORSCOM. Just treat the students “similar” to FORSCOM. Some things are different biggest thing just don’t lose your cool.

Response by SSG William Zopff III made Nov 11 at 2019 2:57 PM

2019-11-11T14:57:18-05:00

SSG Fletcher,
Talk to your SGM or branch manager, find out from them suggestions on what you need for the next promotion. As to the decision to become an MOS Instructor/ Writer; its an important phase of our career to pass on the leassons we learned to the new soldiers. Just as the day-to-day training of soldiers is important, so to is the education of new soldiers. A decision I’ll never regret!

SSG Zopff (Retired)

Response by SFC Monica Primus made Nov 14 at 2019 12:09 AM

2019-11-14T00:09:22-05:00

I was an instructor for 4 years at Fort Sam Houston for MOS 68Q (then 91Q) Pharmacy Specialist. I loved it, and unlike some others, I did not have lots of time for family or college classes because I was busy honing my lesson plans, conducting research, providing extra learning sessions for my students, etc.

I really focused on the soldiers that were there because in the section of the course that I was the Primary Instructor for, Sterile Products, could cause a patient to die very quickly if their medications were not made properly. I taught Pharmacy to ENT Specialists, Cardiovascular Lab Techs, Physician Assistants, and medics as well as being a Secondary Instructor for other portions of the Pharmacy Program. Times obviously have changed, but way back then each one of your classes required a Lesson Plan, Powerpoint presentation, Mimeos for the students, Quizzes, Exam, and Answer Keys and each instructor was required to create/update this. Once these were created, they had to be maintained and updated at least annually. If any changes were made to any of these, then they had to be vetted by your peers.

I also had to create an Exportable Sterile Products program that could be sent out to the units and each of us was responsible for different sections of the Pharmacy Specialist Correspondence Course.

Now, everyone has their own teaching style, but mine was quite interactive. I remember that when I had to teach the class on Solutions: Hypo-, Hyper-, and Iso-Tonic, I would have all the students gather around the table where I would be lying down and explaining to them what happened to my eyelid when I got a gash of it from my cat and had to have it irrigated. They all learned the difference between those 3 types of solutions and it stuck with them because I made it memorable. I did something similar in my class on topical medications and devices. I would find the youngest female and male and have her explain how to apply a condom using the word "p*n*s" and have him explain how to use a tampon using the word "v*g**a". (I used the * because I don't know how sensitive everyone or the system is) Everyone would laugh, but they remembered and were no longer embarrassed to use proper medical terms.

My point is, know your subject matter and teach it in a way that your students will remember, make it applicable to what they will be doing or to a life experience you had. Use different techniques, if allowed, so it is not just the same type of class that everyone else had. Try to remember when you were in Basic or AIT and take from those times what would you have done better or what would you like to emulate. Sorry I am so long winded, but I love teaching :-)

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Nov 14 at 2019 4:19 PM

2019-11-14T16:19:00-05:00

I was an instructor at the army aviation school at Ft. Rucker, AL. I taught in the classroom, not flight. Although I enjoyed teaching I don't think it helped my career. I think those 2 years would have been better for my career had I stayed in UH-1 or UH-60 air assault company and battalion. As far as my career it was lost time. Aviation branch and the aviation school did use their muscle to make sure I got a command after teaching, but I think I would have gotten one anyway if I had stayed in an aviation brigade.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2019 6:51 PM

2019-11-16T18:51:27-05:00

I personally enjoyed it, at the same time I was a civilian instructor in a junior college. I enjoy impacting knowledge. Besides that, it is very demanding. My biggest challenge was dealing with other instructors who merely wanted to check the block.
And the demands depend on whether your'e instructing BLC (some adult-babysitting needed)...ALC or SLC. The higher the better. Most of the work is done prior to make reservations for sites that you may need. Anyway being AGR it's hard to get a slot. Except if you're TPU.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2019 11:01 AM

2019-11-17T11:01:30-05:00

I started as a medic 68W, then went to M6 school LPN(now 68C). I became a pediatric LPN and it was the most fulfilling job I have ever had in my life. I then got ‘promoted’ to NCOIC. I hated every second of it, and vowed to get out of the Army as soon as possible. After 2 years as NCOIC I spoke with my leadership and begged for a change. They put me at the school house to train 68C’s. I was a jaded unhappy soldier who had made up his mind to get out of the Army in order to come back as a government employee and be a nurse again.
The school house experience was incredible. The kids(and they are kids) for the most part are excited to learn and want to be there. Their enthusiasm is infectious and really knocked me out of my funk. I found myself truly enjoying teaching, mentoring, and providing leadership. Yes, some will do stupid things, and a lot get in trouble, and they will complain about everything, but that’s the military. Don’t let the few bad apples ruin your experience with the good ones. After my students graduate I friend them on face book, and it’s great to see them advance in their career and grow personally.
I am now out of the Army, and I still get messages and questions from my old students, life advice and nursing questions.
So if you like helping and advising it’s a great job. Also remember, you can advise these kids all you want but they won’t necessarily follow your advise. So don’t stress over it, just enjoy advising them, and facilitating their learning experience, and (Hopefully) defining good leadership for them. You literally are forming the future of the Army, and your MOS. What can be better and more honorable then that?

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Mar 7 at 2020 1:28 AM

2020-03-07T01:28:06-05:00

I was an instructor at the Army Aviation School and taught, officer basic, officer advanced, warrant officer candidates, warrant officer advanced, and a couple other courses. I enjoyed being an instructor at the aviation school. However I don't think being an instructor helped to advance my career. I think it would have been better for my career spending that time with the troops in an aviation battalion. (It may be different for NCOs.)