Any advice to help prepare for Army Basic Instructor Course or Small Group Instructor Training?

SFC Aaron G. — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 18:47:02 -0500

I just found out that I will be going to ABIC and SGIT in March at Fort Leonard Wood. Do you have any advice on how to prepare for the school?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 6:49 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 18:49:38 -0500

Learn how to develop lesson plans and outlines. Be open to criticism have fun

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 6:50 PM

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 18:50:14 -0500

Bring an interesting topic along with access to info. Make sure if you are using PowerPoint, you have pictures to go along with what you are presenting. Not just slides full of wording. It's not hard, just don't get nervous and don't use any "ummmm" when speaking.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 6:51 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 18:51:39 -0500

I just went to the fort Campbell course in October. I have instructed a lot of training but the way the army wants classes taught had changed. Best advise I can give is keep an open mind and try to identify words you use over and over again while talking like um, uh, alright, like, and so on. And last but not least learn to use APCE which stands for ask pause call and evaluate. Hope this helps

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 6:52 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 18:52:23 -0500

Picking a topic to instruct on is often the hardest part. Depending on the instructors, they may require you to pick military specific topics, or they may allow you to teach something nonspecific to the military. If you come with some ideas of tasks you are comfortable teaching, they will walk you through the rest. Good luck!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 7:13 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 19:13:30 -0500

Just like everyone else has mentioned already, definitely work on your crutch words. Understanding adult learning principles will probably help give you a head start. You will make a lesson plan and teach the class you make twice in ABIC. Once for 30 mins and once for an hour. Be open to receiving a lot of feedback. You can google SGITC student reference guide for the reference material. Both courses are great and will definitely help you become a better trainer! Wish you the best.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 2 at 2016 7:32 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 19:32:54 -0500

Task, Conditions, Standards, Safety

Response by CPT Gary Jugenheimer made Feb 2 at 2016 8:35 PM

CPT Gary Jugenheimer — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 20:35:03 -0500

You might want to ask for advice.....pay attention and ask lots of questions...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 8:43 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 20:43:12 -0500

Just went through this course in December on the ARNG side of the house. Not sure if it differs from Active. I had to do a 20 minute podium style presentation, and then a 40 and 50 minute hands on style class. Basically, the first class was providing information about your "class subject" and the other two you had to use examples, role players, etc.

My suggestions are as follow:

1) If you get to choose your subject make sure it is something that you are comfortable teaching but also something that can take up 50 minutes of class time.

2) Make sure that you can improvise and elaborate as needed to ensure you hit your time but you also want to make sure you teach quality material.

3) If you don't know how to build a power point start learning now as we had to use it.

4) APFC/AAR: Make sure you know how to conduct an AAR and use the APFC method of garnering class participation. Ask a question, pause a few seconds, then call on someone specifically to answer the question. Once the question is answered evaluate the answer and provide feedback.

They'll provide the information you need to be successful just make sure you practice, practice, practice... because you'll always be faster in the actual class than your rehearsal.

Response by SGM Billy Herrington made Feb 2 at 2016 9:01 PM

SGM Billy Herrington — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 21:01:32 -0500

I used pre-made classes I took from our courses. I had to add the mandatory slides they wanted and then I just rehearsed it.

Don't sweat it. You'll be fine. Once you get there and see how much of a breeze it is, you'll laugh at yourself for worrying any at all.

If you're looking for atta boys, after your safety stuff etc hit for 5 minutes or so on OE. Usually NCOA types teach ABIC/SGITC. They love OE discussions.

Other than that, don't drink too much and bring some monsters to stay awake.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 11:29 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 23:29:17 -0500

Make sure you pick a subject that you know and love and can talk about for hours on hours. For example, if you're an Air Assault instructor, learning how to tie a swiss seat is pretty good, however, make sure you have enough ropes and carbiners for the whole class or at least half. You can talk about fishing and tying certain knots to your hook, you can talk about CPR or you can even talk about how to make a double decker BLT. These were all topics in my class. Pick something you know where the entire process takes 15-20 steps while explaining every step in detail. Break it down Barney style and make it into a powerpoint presentation and you will do fine.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 11:36 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 23:36:15 -0500

There's really not a while lt to do to prepare. They are very easy courses and as long as your able to be comfortable speaking to a small group you will be fine. ABIC and SGITC are really as easy and fun as you make it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2016 12:14 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 00:14:16 -0500

There should be FMs that you can reference. There should also be army circulars.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2016 12:17 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 00:17:16 -0500

I would also recommend contacting the school house to see if they have read ahead materials

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2016 10:43 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:43:16 -0500

Also look at TC 25-20. After Action Review.

Response by SFC Phillip Woodard made Feb 4 at 2016 9:13 AM

SFC Phillip Woodard — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 09:13:12 -0500

SSG Golden, you are in very select company to have this special opportunity. I attended both schools in preparation for my assignment as a Small Group Leader at the AMEDD NCO Academy. SGITC will teach you how to be more of a facilitator, inspiring members of the group to interact and share their knowledge and experiences. These skills will carry you well in future assignments. With that being said, any read-ahead materials offered by the schools are a great start. A number of the schools have outlines available such as this one: http://www.me.ngb.army.mil/units/rti/resources/ABIC_Module_1.pdf

ABIC is one of the most rewarding 80 hour course I have experienced. SGITC will take you to the next level of confidence and teaching proficiency. Best wishes to you SSG Golden!

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Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2022 4:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 16:06:22 -0500

Why are you going to those classes and not to CFD-IC? I thought ABIC was phased out.

Response by Carlo E. Harold made May 25 at 2023 9:14 AM

Carlo E. Harold — Thu, 25 May 2023 09:14:07 -0400

Good question. In the general context, everyone is right. But, in my opinion, liaison duties are not taken into account when training different units. Learning in small groups on different topics is good; it is easier to prepare for a small group than for a large one (if they are units of different directions with one main and several secondary tasks). But it also depends on interest and the form of information submission. It takes a lot of effort to create a good methodology for training multiple groups in a particular direction of interaction. When one group understands the tasks of neighboring groups (when performing certain tasks), interaction between units must be worked out, because the goal is the same - the protection and integrity of the unit.