New education course to fill E-8 'knowledge gap'

Since this is an older article I'll weigh in on it.

It's not for MSG/1SG. It's for SFC P. It's designed to bridge the gap from the tactical to the operations world. Covering such topics as JIPOE, JOPP, MDMP, mission command, and leadership. There is writing involved, however, it's not in my opinion, on a collegiate level. A personal experience paper that you hand in when you inprocess. Then an APA formatted paper on an assigned topic. The essay questions format/grammar portions of the rubric are minute. It's more about relating your knowledge of the content to the article.

I didn't think it was a super hard course. Just different in format and content.

I just graduated from Master Leaders course Class 1 at Fort Bliss. Be advised that this isn't your typical party course. Closed book, no notes, no PDF ,and timed assessments. The subject matter and academic rigor is a quantum leap from past NCOPDS courses. The rigor is needed however so senior NCOS can add value to the team. Officers should no longer have the market cornered on intellectual thought. If you want to hang around and be "Big Sarge" and coast by, MLC isn't the course to attend. Quite a bit of reading after class and comprehension of material is necessary. Also, if you don't have Battle Staff prior to class you could be hurting. All in all, I'm glad it was hard.

When I had been a SFC for four years I went to a one-month seminar. We did nothing but sit and listen to briefings from all the agencies who used our intelligence products. It was such an eye opener to see how your MOS and CMF fit in the big scheme of things. Nearly all of us were selected for promotion to MSG the next year.