Posted on Apr 17, 2014
What was your experience with ILE? How much value did you get from it?
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For the Army field grades out there, what was your experience with ILE?<div><br></div><div>Did you go to the schoolhouse, did you do the DL, a satellite, or the RC course? How did that work out for you? </div><div><br></div><div>What was good about it, what was pointless/painful? </div><div><br></div><div>What would you change about it?</div><div><br></div><div>For those who have experience with the "legacy" CGSC, how do they compare? How about the most recent iteration of the "new" ILE/CGSC? </div>
Posted in these groups: 
Professional Development
Intermediate Level Education (ILE)
Professional Development Intermediate Level Education (ILE)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 14
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I did it through Distance Learning, and I felt that it was pretty much a check-the-block experience. If you've been paying attention throughout your career, you know 90% of what was taught, and if not, it won't make any difference. At this point, MDMP ought to be second nature to us, and another review of the GATT scenario was equally pointless. There should have been more emphasis on the reading and papers, which actually could advance individual knowledge.
The biggest problem that I have with it is that we board the residence course as if it's a critical career boost, even though there is not supposed to be any difference between DL and residence in terms of career qualifications. Instead of simply repeating the same boards that we use for promotions and command, we should provide the Phase I reading list and course assignments to everyone, and then start with doing online prerequisites. Those whose papers get the highest grades get the highest priority to go to the next phase, which would be a shortened residence phase (2-3 weeks), followed by additional DL work, and another residence phase. That would cull a lot of those who don't have the interest to do the work, or who do it badly, narrow the difference between the residence course and DL, since everyone would have a DL requirement and could get the residence phase if they were motivated enough, and reduce the disparity between components in terms of completion.
The biggest problem that I have with it is that we board the residence course as if it's a critical career boost, even though there is not supposed to be any difference between DL and residence in terms of career qualifications. Instead of simply repeating the same boards that we use for promotions and command, we should provide the Phase I reading list and course assignments to everyone, and then start with doing online prerequisites. Those whose papers get the highest grades get the highest priority to go to the next phase, which would be a shortened residence phase (2-3 weeks), followed by additional DL work, and another residence phase. That would cull a lot of those who don't have the interest to do the work, or who do it badly, narrow the difference between the residence course and DL, since everyone would have a DL requirement and could get the residence phase if they were motivated enough, and reduce the disparity between components in terms of completion.
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I am doing DL and hate every second of it. Now, the subjects are relevant and the readings aren't bad, but I find that I am working in a vacuum more often then not. The most valuable aspects of a residential course are the classroom discussions, q&a with the instructors and networking with your classmates, and in DL you get none of that. I am not an "expert" paper writer, but I find that the differences betw/ individuals grading papers result in vastly different grades. <div><br></div><div>I do not know how to fix this educational requirement of ILE w/ such vastly different population (full-timers vs reservists). Given the obvious advantages of residential course, everyone should go to residential, or at least be given the opportunity to go w/ the idea that you must apply for DL or RC TASS. (BTW, I'm AGR). </div>
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COL Vincent Stoneking
MAJ Stebbing,
I had a similar experience with the DL portion. I have done a LOT of online/distance learning, but this particular course I really struggled with at the time & I think its being in a vacuum was the issue.
I AM a good writer and like to learn independently as a rule. The parts of the curriculum that I had knowledge of/affinity for, I took to with no problem. Flew through it. The parts that I didn't, it just was painful - There was no one to really reach out to for clarification. Not supposed to discuss coursework with others, don't have an assigned SGL, etc.
Also, while the readings were good, I was underwhelmed by the CBTs at the time. Very "next slide" This was 6 or so years ago, so they may well be much different now.
I later taught the RC course for a bit over 2 years, and in my biased opinion, it was significantly better at educating the students.
Of course, the trade-off is that it eats up 8 months of weekends and 2 2 week stints. Which puts the Reservist in the position of double drilling, doing it for free (points only), or disconnecting from their unit for a year... So the DL version needs to exist. One of my officers right now is signing up for DL. No way his civilian job could absorb the resident course, and his travel schedule wouldn't allow him to attend two assemblies a month routinely.
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MAJ (Join to see)
It's a joke - it's not the learning experience or you it's the content and how it's outlined for the DL. University of Pheniox does a better job. You are supposed to guess what the instructors want with vague direction that I think they do t read half the time.
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I considered applying for the 15-week (or even the full resident course) but I decided not to because I needed to put more focus on my civilian career. So I opted to do the full course DL and am just about finished with the final phase (and will be attending an AOC credentialing course in May-June.
I generally liked the DL. I'm not a big fan of Army online courses, but the readings were actually very good, and I wish I had more time to spend on them. I downloaded several and distributed them to my officers.
There's absolutely no question in my mind that the satellite course (or even the RC TASS course) would have been a better professional education experience, but that's the balancing act that TPUs have to make, right? Had I taken the months out for that, I would've taken a serious hit on my civilian job… and ultimately, that's my priority and real career.
For what it's worth though, I thought they did a good job with the DL, but it requires quite a lot of self-discipline.
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COL (Join to see)
In USAR, you can apply 12-points per FY for the different phases of ILE. Go to this website and search on the page for the term "EBDL": https://www.atrrs.army.mil/news.aspx
There's a course list that includes the three phases of ILE. You submit your DA 1380 along with the proof of completion etc, and get paid up to a dozen points each FY. Not too bad. Otherwise, you just charge the time as non-paid POINTS ONLY. That's what I did.
There's a course list that includes the three phases of ILE. You submit your DA 1380 along with the proof of completion etc, and get paid up to a dozen points each FY. Not too bad. Otherwise, you just charge the time as non-paid POINTS ONLY. That's what I did.
The TACITS is the only official solicitation which recognizes the Total Army (Active, Reserve Component, and National Guard) training requirements for military and civilian personnel. Participation in the 2017 TACITS Survey will afford your organization the opportunity to identify, project, and resource future training needs in Army schools. This year’s TACITS survey will support the FY21 SMDR. You must complete the survey if you want your...
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MAJ (Join to see)
I can't read the news, ATRRS keeps timing out (I can't get to anything the last few days, not course catalog, not login, and no the news either apparently). If I'm reading your response right, USAR can actually do up to 12 points for pay and additional points unpaid just to get retirement points, is that correct? And I presume that applies to NG as well?
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