Basic Officer Leadership School (BOLC)/Commissioned Officer Training (COT) Prep

Basic Officer Leadership School (BOLC)/Commissioned Officer Training (COT) Prep

What Should I Get From BOLC • First, Recognize that the vast majority of your education is dictated by TRADOC for ALL Army officers. • That means a lot of the details aren’t very helpful to you as a physician. Land Navigation, vehicle names, etc… • But, there are 4 things that you should remember and get out of BOLC.

4. Recognize What Your Colleagues Will Be Doing. • Almost everything that you have been taught is actually accomplished by MSC officers. • Your ability to accomplish your job is directly affected by MSC (and other) officers completing theirs. • Especially in deployed environments and operational medicine. • Occasionally, you will be expected to do some of those tasks.

3. Evaluations and Awards • Remember practice writing OERS/NCOERs? • The ability to write a good evaluation is one of the best things you can do for subordinates. • Not knowing how to write them can actually ruin someone’s career. Even if it’s unintentional. • We get promoted almost automatically, the rest of the Army has a lot of competition.

3. Evaluations and Awards Cont. • Awards • Medical Corps is one of the worst divisions in the Army about recognizing the effort of it’s soldiers. • Look at a MSC or Infantry officer and see what kinds of awards and amount they have. • Remember, it doesn’t take much effort to try and recognize your colleagues or subordinates, but the effect can be huge!

2. Be Comfortable with Army Culture • You are an OFFICER. • Act Like it. • Your patients will respect a good officer more than a smart physician. • The reason you have a scholarship and job is to take care of soldiers and their families. • NEVER Forget that.

2. Army Culture Cont. • Corrections • If a PFC walks by you and doesn’t salute, what do you do? • Some MC officers just walk by and are even glad because they are uncomfortable. WRONG • It is much better to be corrected by YOU than by the platoon leader or company commander. • This goes back to taking care of the soldiers and their families. • If they fail to salute they can be prevented from promotion, docked rank, or even withheld pay. • The more respect you show, the more likely they are to listen to your medical advice.

1. Network • The most important thing you should do at BOLC is make friends. • Everyone here will be your peers and colleagues for the majority of your career. • Having friends in other departments and hospitals will make you a more effective physician and help you enjoy your job more.

What to do at BOLC • Have Smart Fun! • Do: • Enjoy Yourself • Have Hobbies • Go On Vacation • Study Hard • Don’t: • Drink and Drive • Abuse Illicit Substances • Don’t Cheat • If it is illegal… Don’t do it

Soldier Vs. Physician Vs. Leader • Can I do all three? • This has been a big issue amongst physicians recently. Why? • Greater emphasis on doing soldier activities by MEDCOM and the Greater Army. • Enforced by using these as discriminators for promotion.

Soldier Vs. Physician Vs. Leader • Some Army physicians argue that it is impossible, they cannot be all three and be the best. There is not enough time. • I (amongst many) disagree with that statement. • How can we say this? We have the same amount of time as they do.

Being a Great Physician • Be LOYAL to your patients. Take care of their personal and families’ needs. • Take care of your DUTY. Show up on time and do your work. • RESPECT your patients, nurses and ancillary staff. • SELFLESS SERVICE while taking care of your patients. They come first. • HONOR the physicians’ oath. • Demonstrate INTEGRITY with each patient encounter. Be honest, do not do unnecessary medical procedures, treat them like a soldier defending your country. • There are times when the best medical interests of the patients conflict with the commands interest or other interests of the patient. Have the PERSONAL COURAGE to do what you feel is the best course of action.

Being a Great Soldier • Wear the uniform with pride • Correctly. • Don’t do anything while wearing it that will dishonor the military. • Show respect to your superiors and subordinates. • Expect the best from Both. • Maintain military bearing. • Live by the Army Core Values. • Pass your PT tests.

Being a Great Leader • You WILL be put in command spots. • Many times right out of Residency. • Make the best out of these and serve the soldier. • Operational spots. • Humanitarian Missions. • USAREC/ Regional Commands. • Physicians are routinely asked to be community health leaders. • Being a leader can bring positive change to the clinics, hospitals, regional medical commands and even MEDCOM. This will positively impact your patient care and care for yourselves and your families.

What to do before Day 0 • PT • CAC • Uniform and gear • Register for BOLC on MODS • http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/bolc/ (for complete packing list, rules, etc) • Copies, Copies, Copies • Mandatory training?

Schedule • Day 0 • Inprocessing • PT • Briefings • Medical Corps Branch Day/CG Reception • FTX (Weapons Qual, Land Nav, Role 1-3) • Graduation

Army BOLC To-Do List • River Walk • Austin (Barton Springs, Salt Lick) • Corpus Christi • Recovery Room • Cowboys Dancehall • BBQ/Keg at Salado Park • Waterpark • The Cove • River Tubing

Pictures

Basic Officer Leadership School (BOLC)/Commissioned Officer Training (COT) Prep