In a sweeping move that marks a significant shift in its promotion and training paradigm, the Army has decided to discontinue the Distributed Leader Course (DLC), an online training component for Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs). This strategic decision was announced following an internal briefing that was leaked to an online forum, garnering the attention of soldiers and military enthusiasts alike.
The Army’s decision to eliminate the online requirement is set to overhaul the enlisted promotion system, making it more efficient and less burdensome for soldiers. Effective immediately, the DLC, which previously constituted about 250 hours of computer-based training over a career, is no longer a prerequisite for attending noncommissioned officer academies or for promotions. This is a transformative change for enlisted soldiers, who were required to complete approximately 40-hour online courses before they could advance to the next rank.
Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer highlighted the necessity of this shift by stating, “We are scrubbing everything we are asking our soldiers to study, because there is only so much time during the day to do your job, for your personal development, and for your family.” Weimer elaborated on the redundancy within the current training system, saying, “We have added to the point of creating redundancies in distance learning, online learning, brick and mortar learning, self-study learning, what the units are teaching, what the leadership inside units are teaching, and we are overwhelming people.”
The DLC was originally developed in 2010 during the Global War on Terror to bridge the gap between operational and institutional knowledge, but over time, the Army came to the conclusion that these courses were creating unnecessary duplication with the hands-on training provided at NCO academies. A thorough analysis led the Army to the determination that removing the DLC would have “little to no negative impact to resident NCO PME learning outcomes,” thereby streamlining the path to promotion.
Additionally, in a move to correct a longstanding leadership deficit, particularly within the Army Reserve which for years faced a critical shortage of NCOs, the Army Reserve has reported an uptick in promotions to sergeant. This increase is partly due to the elimination of the DLC and other adjustments to the promotion system, including the revocation of the requirement for the Basic Leader Course (BLC) to be promoted to sergeant.
In contrast to the slow average seven-year process for an Army Reserve specialist to advance to sergeant, these changes have led to significant improvements. In the current fiscal year, the reserve saw 9,000 promotions to sergeant, notably higher than previous median numbers. Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, commander of the Army Reserve, emphasized the need for these reforms, stating, “We had shortages of staff sergeants, sergeants first class, and if we didn’t start building the sergeant population, we’re going to have a very challenging future.”
The Army is aligning its promotions with the vision for the “Army of 2030-2040,” striving for efficiencies and a focus on building leaders who can adapt to the demands of the future battlefield. These reforms arrive amid other significant changes, such as an update to temporary promotion policies and alterations to officer course requirements, all part of a broader effort to “relieve excessive strain on the force and to meet readiness requirements.”
Relevant articles:
– Army Eliminates Online Training Requirement for Noncommissioned Officers, Saying It’s Too Burdensome, Military.com
– Army eliminates Distributed Leader Course (DLC I-VI), army.mil
– Army Reserve Reports Hitting Goal for Sergeants Amid Push to End Noncommissioned Officer Shortage, Military.com
– Army eliminates online courses to stop ‘overwhelming’ soldiers, Task & Purpose