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by Staff Sgt. Osvaldo Sanchez
7th Army Reserve Command Public Affairs
The Intermediate Level Education course for officer professional development is offered in Europe by the 7th Army Reserve Command’s 3747th Multifunctional Training Brigade–Europe Officer Education Services Battalion, located in the
Grafenwöhr Training Area.
The ILE course is accredited by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and meets the same criteria as the residence course in the United States.
“It’s been a very good course,” said Maj. Rebecca Evans, an active duty student and deputy commander of the Europe Regional Veterinary Command in Heidelberg. “The instructors were phenomenal and the course content was great.”
“The course is offered to select active duty, Reserve and National Guard officers, to officers stationed throughout Europe, as well as officers serving in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility,” said Lt. Col. Cary Costa, course director for the ILE course.
Active component officers can attend if approved by their branch managers. Presently, more than 80 percent of the students in the current ILE class are active duty, mobilized Reserve Soldiers and Active Guard Reserve officers.
“The diversity of our European based student population adds a unique dimension to our classrooms,” said Colonel Costa. “Not only are our students stationed in various locations throughout the world, they also bring a variety of military experiences to the classroom that aren’t always found in a CONUS-based class.”
Another advantage for European-based students is the ability to attend ILE while still remaining in Germany with their families. This avoids a permanent change of station move to the United States or attending school without their families.
“I have three young children and being able to spend the time with family is great,” said Major Evans. “It’s more manageable with less impact on the family and command.”
ILE is required for promotion to lieutenant colonel and, after graduating from ILE, the officers are Military Education Level-4 qualified, which is critical when working at the strategic and operational level.
“I think that more people should know about this course,” Major Evans said. “It is offered through the Reserve here and allows me to continue to support my unit.”
Officers in the ranks of captain (within three years of promotion to major) through lieutenant colonel are eligible to attend and must have completed Combined Armed Exercises, Combined Armed Services Staff School, Captains Career Course or received constructive credit for these courses.
According to Colonel Costa, the first step to attend the course is to register in Army Training Requirements and Resources System.Once the student is in ATTRS, personnel at Fort Leavenworth will verify eligibility of the student and enroll them in Blackboard, the software system utilized in ILE. From there, the students will receive a welcome letter, homework assignments and a list of required reading materials.
Upcoming class dates are Phase I: Aug. 3 to 16; Phase II: October 2008 to May 2009 (class dates are finalized during Phase I); and Phase III: first two weeks in June 2009.
For more information, contact the 3747th Multifunctional Training Brigade–Europe at DSN (314) 475-8027 or +49 (0) 9641-83-8027or e-mail to mail.7ar.3747web@eur.army.mil.
