Battle Staff Course
Developmental counseling statement sample covering Battle Staff Course

Posted Sunday, December 4, 2005

Possible topics to discuss during counseling:

• The Battle Staff course is for NCO’s assigned to, or projected to be assigned to battalion or higher coordinating staff positions. It is a two-phase course. Phase I is conducted at home station by correspondence and must be completed in 60 days. At the end of Phase I an exam will be administered via the internet. Phase II is a resident phase that lasts from three to four and a half weeks, depending on the course location. The resident phase at Ft McCoy, WI lasts 21 consecutive days, at Ft Bliss Phase II lasts four weeks and one day, and if taking Phase II at a Video Teletraining (VTT) location it lasts four weeks and four days.
• A Command Post Exercise (CPX) will be conducted at the end of phase II
• Phase II is taught using the small group instruction method of teaching
• Meeting height and weight standards is an enrollment requirement for Phase II
• The resident course at Ft Bliss takes place in a hot, dry climate, be prepared
• The resident course at Ft McCoy, WI takes place in a location with cold winters and mild summers, be prepared
• Weather conditions at the Video Teletraining locations vary, be prepared fot the worst
• An APFT will be administered during the course
• Arriving at the resident phase of the course with a temporary profile or in the recovery of a temporary profile will result in your being turned away
• Take a lap top computer from the office or personal
• Computer skills are a must
• Expect to present an oral military briefing at the resident phase
• You will be presenting at least one block of instruction to your small group
• Consequences of failing or being removed from the course
• During Phase II, students have the opportunity to form professional relationships with many of their peers (networking) from other specialties
• Exercise time management to ensure Phase I is completed by the suspense date
• Understand that plotting graphics on a map is the primary reason for course failure
• Soldiers will/may reside in BEQ while in the resident phase, payment for these quarters and food must be coordinated prior to the course, i.e. government credit card, advance pay, etc...

Short Term Goal:

• Maintain/improve physical fitness
• Improve computer/internet skills
• Improve time management skills
• Brush up on map reading skills
• Pre-study Army graphics and symbols
• Complete Phase I, correspondence requirements
• Plan for family needs while at the resident phase
• Request advanced pay
• Request government credit card

Long Term Goals:

• Complete Phase II
• Graduate from the Battle Staff Course
• Prepare for a follow on assignment as a Staff Non-Commissioned Officer
• Implement Battle Staff Techniques and systems in a battalion or higher staff position
• Develop a training plan to develop subordinates and peers on battle staff techniques and systems

Below is a space for you to list additional topics that may apply uniquely to your situation:
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Possible Plan of Action: (Person counseled develops plan with counselor’s guidance.)

• Develop and implement and additional physical fitness plan geared for the course and climate
• Download the Battle Staff Course information documents on the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy web site
• Conduct TDY planning and execution
• Develop a study schedule for Phase I with target completion dates
• Study extra hard on map reading and Army graphics and symbols

Possible Leader’s Responsibilities: (This is only an example for you to use as a guide.)

• Provide as much information as possible to the soldier
• Assist with studying and understanding the material in Phase I
• Test the soldier’s knowledge of map reading
• Assist the soldier with learning Army graphics and symbols
• Assist the soldier with developing his/her work schedule to ensure the maximum amount of time possible is afforded the soldier to complete Phase I. Fence off study time.
• Ensure the soldier has a base knowledge of all paragraphs of an operations orders and the operations order development process
• Ensure the soldier meets the physical fitness requirements
• Ensure soldier has prepared family members for soldier’s absence
• Ensure soldier gets a government credit card as applicable
• Make a government laptop computer available for the soldier while at the resident phase

Author: SGM Larry A. Jones Jr.