Army school will boost job performance, growth.

Attendance at the Army Management Staff Colleges provides qualified applicants additional opportunity for both learning and promotion.

That was the message from Dr. Ursula Lohmann, Dean, of the Fort Belvoir, Va., based school, to prospective students from MTMC Headquarters and the U.S. Personnel Command.

"We're interested in developing a person who really understands the complexity of an organization and can provide leadership and management in their respective jobs," said Lohmann, in the session on July 8.

She outlined the college's Sustaining Base Leadership & Management course, available in 12-week resident or one-year non-resident versions.

"Back in the working environment," said Lohmann, "that's when the lessons learned have great clarity ... six months after, 12 months after ...

"Five years later, students are still applying the material."

The course received a hearty introduction from Bill Lucas, Deputy to the Commander, who has repeatedly visited MTMC employees attending the school and attended many graduation ceremonies.

"If you're really interested in your career," said Lucas, "you want the Army Management Staff College on your individual development plan."

While not an easy course, Lucas said the training and thinking taught at the school would prove "very valuable" to employees in their careers.

Similar to military service schools, classes are mostly taught through small seminar sessions of 15 students. However, unlike the military schools, the seminars are composed of students from a wide variety of work fields. Classes of 155 to 165 students are conducted three times a year.

Instruction includes such subjects as: leadership, communication, decision making, analysis, Army cultural literacy, Army environment, and readiness and systems. Many colleges will grant as many as 15 graduate hours of credit for the instruction.

The course is designed for Army civilians in grade levels 12 through 14, and military officers in the ranks of major and lieutenant colonel.

A review of class students, said Lohmann, reveals that approximately 94 percent are civilian employees and 6 percent are military. Most are men. Their average age is 43. About three-quarters of the students have college or advanced degree.

A long-term study of graduates, she said, indicates a promotion rate about twice that of nongraduates.

Graduates of the class are expected to better meet the curriculum's long-term goals:

* Lead people.

* Make decisions and solve problems.

* Write clearly and concisely.

* Communicate well orally.

* Internalize Army values.

* Understand the vision and see connections.

Potential students from MTMC were enthusiastic about the briefing.

"I'm looking forward to attending Army Management Staff College," said Tara Phelps-Jones, a specialist in the Inspector General's office. "The course sounds challenging and exciting. I know this will be a tremendous learning experience and a major career booster."

Another attendee looking forward to the course was Chester Damian, of Global Freight Management.

"I'm looking forward to attending the Army Management Staff College program in September of 2002," said Damian. "Being relatively new to the government, I believe the experience of attending the Army Management Staff College will help me gain a better understanding of the complete picture of the environment I work in."

With more than 20 prospective students, turnout was good, said Curtis Moore, President, MTMC Army Management Staff College alumni chapter.

"Club members are just trying to pass the message along," said Moore. "The training and experience of the school has helped us. We'd like to see the good that comes from the school continue to reach deserving students."

Vivian Washington, a 1997 graduate, agreed with Moore.

"It provided me a better understanding of the total Army," said Washington. "Another main area of help was in critical thinking. After working the problems and issues in the course, I find I'm better able to focus, prioritize, analyze and complete any variety of projects."

Additional material on the course is available at ww.amsc.belvoir.army.mil.