The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2012

J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 1 2 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 29 the career path of professional mili- tary development. During BOLC, officers first learn skills common to all Army officers. The final part of BOLC covers specific technical and tactical skills associated with each specialty or branch (Artillery, In- fantry, Engineer, etc.), such as how to operate a tank, how to maneuver an infantry platoon, or how to fly a heli- copter. Participants then learn the skills necessary to train and lead other soldiers. In their first assignment as pla- toon leaders, they will each be responsible for develop- ing, training and leading 16 to 45 soldiers as a unit that can effectively operate in a tactical combat environment with full mastery of their weapon systems. After about three years in an operational unit, offi- cers are promoted to the rank of captain and return to school for the 24-week Captains Career Course. Com- pletion of the CCC, combined with platoon leader experience, prepares officers for greater responsibility: as company commanders, they will each be responsible for 100 to 120 troops. Beginning at about the junior captain level, while they are still working to master their technical branch skills, each officer is also expected to begin, as an apprentice, to develop as a combined arms officer. The essential task is integrating and synchronizing all the branches of the Army to sustain land operations in any mission. A key concept of land warfare is integrating the com- bat power of several different weapon systems and tech- nical branch skills in time and space to achieve a military objective. In addition to being able to lead their own units effectively, an NCO, warrant officer or commis- sioned officer must thoroughly understand how the Army works and fights as a combined arms team. They F OCUS State must develop leaders from within who have the right mix of experience and professional education.