Posted on Dec 2, 2019
What can you tell us about 35F Intelligence Analyst Advanced Leaders Course (ALC)?
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I've searched this forum (and Google) and unless I've missed something, can't seem to find any information on what 35F ALC is like, to include the curriculum, the length of the school, and the environment (i.e. relaxed or like TRADOC). Because this question doesn't appear to have been asked before, I'm sure there are many 35Fs or 35F-hopefuls who could benefit from this information.
As far as curriculum, please don't release anything that is classified or U//FOUO (although ALC shouldn't have classified materials anyways). I understand that writing constitutes a large portion of the course, but what I'd really like to know is to what extent ALC touches on IPB, doctrine, DCGS-MFWS, and other 35F-specific tasks, etc.
Thanks in advance.
As far as curriculum, please don't release anything that is classified or U//FOUO (although ALC shouldn't have classified materials anyways). I understand that writing constitutes a large portion of the course, but what I'd really like to know is to what extent ALC touches on IPB, doctrine, DCGS-MFWS, and other 35F-specific tasks, etc.
Thanks in advance.
Edited 5 y ago
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 2
So i went through a bit over a year ago now; and here is what i can tell you.
- Check/sign-in, get you're room, meal card, and left alone. Length was 6 weeks long, M-F with weekends off (had to do one platoon project on the town that we did on a Saturday half way into training.)
- The next couple of days are the generic auditorium "classes", do's and don'ts, etc.
- APFT/Height and weight on day 3-4 i believe. We did H&W the day before APFT. APFT was Apache flats, so a nice easy run.
- Assigned a "practice" topic to write a paper on (it was done with APA formatting, and about 90% of all submitted failed.) (they know everyone fails and that's why give us the practice one.)
- The next few weeks were generic going over "analyst" skills. However it was all pretty much skill level 1 and recaps.
- Almost all of the assignments were as a group and we split up to work on them. also the systems were offline for our class, and right after an update. So we were SOL on how it was "supposed" to be.
- The big things you need to worry and focus on... You will be assigned a country and have to prepare a Slide deck presentation, Brief, and Written paper. All 3 are graded separately and are the requirements for graduation. (They spell out what is needed in pretty good detail in the rubric.)
All in all it was a really simple/easy time. Had the last minute worry prior to each thing being due of course. We did PT together 3/5 days a week and graded on that as well. We were treated like adults (for the most part) there was a stupid time of about a week where they got all up in how the barracks "were"?? Pretty ridiculous but had to clean more, so be it.
Worst part, super short lunch time which made rush there, eat quick, and get back. Could go to either DFAC. Choice is yours, either had to deal with a bunch of butter bars, or a bunch of privates haha.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
- Check/sign-in, get you're room, meal card, and left alone. Length was 6 weeks long, M-F with weekends off (had to do one platoon project on the town that we did on a Saturday half way into training.)
- The next couple of days are the generic auditorium "classes", do's and don'ts, etc.
- APFT/Height and weight on day 3-4 i believe. We did H&W the day before APFT. APFT was Apache flats, so a nice easy run.
- Assigned a "practice" topic to write a paper on (it was done with APA formatting, and about 90% of all submitted failed.) (they know everyone fails and that's why give us the practice one.)
- The next few weeks were generic going over "analyst" skills. However it was all pretty much skill level 1 and recaps.
- Almost all of the assignments were as a group and we split up to work on them. also the systems were offline for our class, and right after an update. So we were SOL on how it was "supposed" to be.
- The big things you need to worry and focus on... You will be assigned a country and have to prepare a Slide deck presentation, Brief, and Written paper. All 3 are graded separately and are the requirements for graduation. (They spell out what is needed in pretty good detail in the rubric.)
All in all it was a really simple/easy time. Had the last minute worry prior to each thing being due of course. We did PT together 3/5 days a week and graded on that as well. We were treated like adults (for the most part) there was a stupid time of about a week where they got all up in how the barracks "were"?? Pretty ridiculous but had to clean more, so be it.
Worst part, super short lunch time which made rush there, eat quick, and get back. Could go to either DFAC. Choice is yours, either had to deal with a bunch of butter bars, or a bunch of privates haha.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
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WO1 (Join to see)
SGT(P) (Join to see) - Not a problem, good luck with getting a date and knocking it out!
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WO1 (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - So we "used" the DCGSs (which i havent touched for over 5 years, and seemed like alot of others havent either) so there was some general refresher of DCGS, MFWS, IPB process etc. But like i said it was pretty much down for us all of the time and ended up doing some of it analog on paper.
The training was a good mix of powerpoint/briefing by the instructors. Good/bad thing is that each instructor is different and talked/taught differently, good for the change, bad for when grading things came up as there was "no standard" even though they say there is.
We did not do any map reading or symbology at all. It was all 100% classroom, there was a "FTX" at the end for our ending problem set that combined all of the classes to work together etc. But was just increased hours in the classroom during the last few days of it.
I'm trying to think of the PT, I dont recall even doing it every day for almost all of it. The first week was H&W/APFT, the last was increased classroom hours for the "FTX" the few weeks before that on our non-pt days we just didn't have anything, let us sleep in a bit extra ha.
Even when we did conduct PT, it was all to standard and by the numbers (graded on executing it.) But nothing to get excited about if you like PT or be worried about if you don't.
Now for the reality of it... It was worthless in my opinion for the following break down:
Intel:
- Any of the "intel" we did was either the refreshers (good to "know" again but obviously we needed a refresher because it isn't what regular units use.)
- Unable to talk about how people use Palantir, or other things, because "DCGS" is the system of record. Yay for us...
- Overall it was half assed and just a refresher of stuff that i dont use, or dont use often to give some credit.
Leadership:
- Did not really go over anything of value.
- Graded on "leadership" roles (really just did someone F up or if the cadre like the person)
- Army stuff like Drill and Ceremony and conducting PT
- Overall I wish they would teach increased leadership roles with training for being a skill level 3 , NCOERs, counselings, etc.
Overall-Overall:
- They "taught" leadership and intel both half assed to where it was pointless. I would say it needed to focus on one or the other to actually be useful. It ended up just being a check the block to get the 1059 required for promotion.
The training was a good mix of powerpoint/briefing by the instructors. Good/bad thing is that each instructor is different and talked/taught differently, good for the change, bad for when grading things came up as there was "no standard" even though they say there is.
We did not do any map reading or symbology at all. It was all 100% classroom, there was a "FTX" at the end for our ending problem set that combined all of the classes to work together etc. But was just increased hours in the classroom during the last few days of it.
I'm trying to think of the PT, I dont recall even doing it every day for almost all of it. The first week was H&W/APFT, the last was increased classroom hours for the "FTX" the few weeks before that on our non-pt days we just didn't have anything, let us sleep in a bit extra ha.
Even when we did conduct PT, it was all to standard and by the numbers (graded on executing it.) But nothing to get excited about if you like PT or be worried about if you don't.
Now for the reality of it... It was worthless in my opinion for the following break down:
Intel:
- Any of the "intel" we did was either the refreshers (good to "know" again but obviously we needed a refresher because it isn't what regular units use.)
- Unable to talk about how people use Palantir, or other things, because "DCGS" is the system of record. Yay for us...
- Overall it was half assed and just a refresher of stuff that i dont use, or dont use often to give some credit.
Leadership:
- Did not really go over anything of value.
- Graded on "leadership" roles (really just did someone F up or if the cadre like the person)
- Army stuff like Drill and Ceremony and conducting PT
- Overall I wish they would teach increased leadership roles with training for being a skill level 3 , NCOERs, counselings, etc.
Overall-Overall:
- They "taught" leadership and intel both half assed to where it was pointless. I would say it needed to focus on one or the other to actually be useful. It ended up just being a check the block to get the 1059 required for promotion.
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SGT (Join to see)
Well... that's about what I expected, although I was hoping to learn something novel related to intel. Thanks for putting all of this out here anyway!
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You can pull the "course curriculum" from ATRRS on the self service option or go to IKN and pull it from there. But long story short everything is pretty much Group events, you have to write one-two individual assignments/papers, APFT at Apache flats ( if you go to Ft. Huachuca), you have to come up with a community event ( i suggest doing this ASAP), DCGS-A will be ur main focus the last 2 weeks or so, stay away from them privates and DUI's.... About 15 people got kick out due to this soooo dont do it. best advice i can give you is as follows: FOLLOW THE RUBRIC IN EVERY SINGLE MATTER AND FORM. if you do so you be fine.
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