JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Earlier this month, the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education released a new Course 00015, NCO Academy Distance Learning Course. This new course will replace Course 00009, the NCO Academy Correspondence Course. It consists of two sets of sub-courses; the first set includes Course Introduction, Military Professional, and Operational Airman volumes, and the second sub-course consists of the Managerial Communicator and Unit Manager volumes.
The major differences between Course 00009 and the NCOADLC 00015 include a new design, current and relevant content, higher levels of learning, and two different types of media. The new college text book design departs significantly from the CDC format, and offers the student a new visual experience by incorporating colorful graphics and thought-provoking activities. The NCOADLC is equivalent to the current resident NCO Academy Program in terms of content and required learning levels. Students will be challenged to explore cognitive (thinking) and affective (feeling) aspects of the curriculum. The level of learning is at a higher level of comprehension than Course 00009; hence the exams test to this higher level of learning. Upon enrollment, students may select between two types of media: hardcopy books, delivered via mail, and electronic softcopy (Adobe PDFs) files available for immediate download. Some exercises may have to be printed locally from the softcopy files.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Until funding is available for hardcopy printing, the NCOADLC will only be available via electronic softcopies.
While the course includes all the material necessary to meet the developmental educational objectives, critical thinking will be required to comprehend the material and pass the exams. A cursory reading of the material will NOT prepare students for the exams. In preparation for sub-course exams, each chapter takes the student through various exercises and assignments.
Each sub-course has a closed book exam that will be administered at the designated authorized Test Control Facility. Successful completion of the NCOADLC requires a minimum passing score of 70 percent. Students who fail their initial exam with a score of 69 or below are authorized to retest after 72 hours. Students will have 12 months to complete the course. The 12-month enrollment period is inclusive of requested materials delivery time, as well as the time required to order, schedule, and submit exams for scoring/posting. Student may request an automatic four month extension prior to the end of the initial 12 months of enrollment; however, any other subsequent extension will be considered an exception to policy and must be approved by the Operations Directorate, Barnes Center for Enlisted Professional Military Education/Academic Affairs.
Enrollment for the NCO Academy Distance Learning Course will no longer be accomplished through the local base education office, but rather on-line via self registration through the Air University Student Information System website located at https://ausis.maxwell.af.mil/SIS/app. Steps for account creation are as follows:
(1) Move curser over and select "Create Account." Select "NCOA DL Program." This will send the enrollee to the AU Portal to create a student account.
(2) From the right menu select the 'None of the above' option under New User Account - then select Create New Account (ensure input is supplied for all bolded fields) - select create account
(3) Once the account is created (screen message will confirm creation), select login to the AU portal
(4) Using left menu fill in User name and Password and select Log in - Ok
(5) Under Select a Program to Enroll In choose NCOADL (Course 00015) (eligibility to enroll in the course will be confirmed click ok) - read and check/accept all 3 statements of understanding - and select enroll. Below the enrollment button is an option to change the Test Control Facility (TCF) that the student will use to test for Course 00015. Students may use this option if they will be away from their home station due to deployment or TDY.
(6) Media selection - upon registration, students will have the option to choose from one of two forms of media: hardcopy books or softcopy, electronic files. If the hardcopy is ordered, it will take a few weeks for the printed materials to be mailed. The electronic version will be available for immediate download in PDF format. Due to a software glitch, the student must log out and log back in to see the downloadable files. Click on the "Course Materials" tab to begin downloading the files. There is no difference in the course content between the hardcopy and the PDFs.
This is a challenging course. Potential students should plan to devote time and serious effort toward successful completion of this course. The more students apply themselves to the study of the NCO Academy Distance Learning Course, the more they will learn to prepare themselves to be effective Air Force managers, supervisors and leaders.