Army ATRRS offers many opportunities for Soldiers to take courses that will help them in their career. From basic training to specialized courses like language, safety, and civilian education.
The Army Basic Instructor Course (ABIC) is designed to help soldiers become instructors for the Army School System. It is open to enlisted soldiers, officers, and civilians in the Department of the Army.
The Army’s Basic instructors course, also known as the ABIC, is an 80-hour training and education program. The program is designed to teach new Army instructor responsibilities, including classroom and field instruction, coordinating training spaces, food services, and additional logistical requirements. The Army also requires that instructors document everything they do and every aspect of their students’ performance.
According to the writers at Indeed, military instructors can make anywhere from $25,000 to $129,000 per year. In addition to a good salary, the military offers excellent benefits like health, dental and vision insurance, a retirement plan and paid time off.
Military training instructors are the people who help mold civilians into soldiers, starting with things like stowing gear and physical training. However, they also need to be able to do well in the classroom, and that’s where the ABIC comes in. The ten-day class is “a lot of group discussions and doing assignments that prepare you to teach,” said Staff Sgt. Heath Goins, a 737th TRSS MTIS student. The course helps them learn the skills they need to be effective instructors and mentors in the Army’s teaching environment.
What is ABIC?
The Army Basic Instructor Course, also known as ABIC, is an 80-hour training and education program for enlisted soldiers, officers, Department of Army civilians, and DA defense contractors who are assigned as instructors. It includes group discussions, homework assignments, and tests. The course also teaches how to develop and conduct training and presentations.
Graduates receive the “X” identifier for military records, certifying them as Army instructors. They can then take additional training to advance in rank and become senior or master instructors.
CPT Stephanie Gay, a native of Chicago, Illinois, graduated from Maria High School and attended Northern Illinois University before being accepted to the Army Reserve AGR program in August 2015. She was promoted to Sergeant First Class in April 2016. She is an instructor for Detachment 1, 1st BDE (EN), 94th Training Division at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. She has completed a multitude of Troop Labor projects improving range roads and FOB areas still being used by trainees today. She has also completed a number of military courses including ABIC, Small Group Instructor Course, Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course and Foundation Instructor Facilitator Course.
How Do You Become an Instructor in the Army?
The first step to becoming an instructor in the Army is to submit a developmental special duty application. Once accepted, you will shadow an experienced Master Training Instructor (MTI) for about two weeks to better understand the day-to-day duties before attending the formal course, which is 35 academic days.
Once you successfully complete the course, you will be required to attend the Army Instructor Refresher Course once every five years. This refresher course is designed to keep your teaching and leadership skills sharp. It also helps you stay up-to-date with changes in the military and your unit’s policies.
A career as an instructor in the Army can be very rewarding. The training and leadership skills you gain from your work can translate to several civilian careers, including law enforcement, coaching, and personal trainers. You may also want to consider pursuing an education or business management degree. This will prepare you for future leadership roles in the military and beyond.