Chapter 19 ROLE OF THE CAPTAINS CAREER COURSE

Captains Career Course Physician Assistant Small Group LeaderChapter 19ROLE OF THE CAPTAINS CAREERCOURSE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTSMALL GROUP LEADERManuel Menendez, APA-C, MPASIntroductionThe physician assistant (PA) small group leader (SGL) at the ArmyMedical Department Center and School Health Readiness Center ofExcellence (AMEDD C&S HRCoE) Captains Career Course (CCC)is responsible for planning, developing, and presenting graduate-levelprofessional military education (PME) to active duty, reserve, andinternational students. This education provides students with the skills,knowledge, and attributes required to lead company-size units and toserve on battalion and brigade staffs operating in joint environmentsthroughout the full range of military operations.1 Students also gainadvanced training in combat health service support operations, as wellas AMEDD-specific skills and knowledge required to succeed at clinicand hospital assignments. The AMEDD CCC PA SGL plays a key rolein educating and mentoring AMEDD company-grade and field-gradeofficers to succeed in battalion to brigade level assignments.1Course BackgroundThe School of Advanced Leadership and Tactics at Fort Leavenworthdevelops, disseminates, and supervises a 12-week “common core”program of instruction to all CCCs across the Army. As the onlynon-permanent change of station CCC in the Army, the AMEDDC&S HRCoE makes modifications to the program of instruction,with the approval of the Office of The Surgeon General, to balance263

US Army Physician Assistant Handbookthe educational requirements of AMEDD officers with the healthcareneeds of the force. These modifications allow the curriculum to fitinto a 9-, 3-, or 2-week course for AMEDD active duty officers, activeduty Medical Corps officers, and reserve officers, respectively.2 All ofthese course options include the same lessons; however, the shortercourses progress through the lessons in less time, and shorten orremove application exercises. Common core training includes lessonson leadership, management, culture, mission command, operations,unified land operations, and training management. An additional 3weeks (within the 9-week course) focus on AMEDD-specific topicssuch as operational health service support, Army medicine, clinicaloperations, human resources, healthcare administration, and leadershipdevelopment.Active component officers attend the 9-week course on a temporaryduty status during one of four sessions per year; reserve componentofficers attend the 2-week session that meets once a year during thesummer. Medical corps officers have the option to attend one of the3-week courses offered nine times a year. Active component officers areencouraged to attend as soon as practical, once promotable to captain (O3), or between their 4th and 7th year of federal commissioned service.3Officers incur a 1-year service obligation for course attendance. 1All officers are encouraged to plan their long-term individual,organizational, and institutional education goals by utilizing the Armycareer tracker at https://actnow.army.mil.4SGL-to-student ratios ideally range from 1:12 to 1:16.2 SGLs areresponsible for facilitating learning through counseling, coaching,and team building. Students are expected to “learn to think” and tochallenge each other to succeed through shared knowledge and lessonslearned. Measures of effectiveness include graded written and oralcommunication skills evaluations, demonstrated knowledge of themilitary planning process, demonstrated knowledge of medical businessprocesses, and improvements in leadership skills as demonstrated bypeer evaluations.5Small Group Leader Roles and ResponsibilitiesThe SGL operates under the Army Learning Concept, published bythe Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).4 Each SGLis responsible for creating a positive learning environment in which264

Captains Career Course Physician Assistant Small Group Leaderstudents work as a team to improve themselves and each other. SGLsmust possess strong spoken and written communication skills, a peopleoriented personality, knowledge of the AMEDD business processes,and superior field technical and tactical knowledge.All SGLs will mentor AMEDD CCC officers assigned to their classregarding course performance, professional development, and theirindividual careers. Additionally, the PA SGL, as the senior representativefor PAs in the AMEDD CCC, is expected to provide specific guidanceand career advice for all PAs in the course. In addition to teaching, thePA SGL may complete strategic projects for the PA branch, TRADOC,AMEDD, or Office of The Surgeon General. The PA SGL is alsoresponsible for providing mentorship opportunities for PA branch andprogram managers, as well as coordinating social events for the PAs.Area of Concentration DayThe PA SGL also coordinates “AOC (area of concentration) Day,” alsoreferred to as “PA Day,” for the PAs in the course. AOC Day occursduring the last week of the course. The PA SGL arranges for guestspeakers to present information to the students on issues pertinent topromotion, career progression, or professional education. Topics shouldinclude long-term health education opportunities, job progression, andfuture promotions and job opportunities (delivered by a representativefrom Human Resources Command), among other subjects.Desired Skills and Attributes Candidates must be a CCC graduate. Rank of lieutenant colonel ormajor and Intermediate Level Education graduate are preferred. Hospital leadership and operational, tactical, and strategic planningexperience as a PA; senior leadership positions (division or corpsPA, company command, clinic command) preferred. Strong knowledge and application of leader attributes andcompetencies per Army Doctrine Reference Publication 6-22, ArmyLeadership.6 Must be an excellent role model with a strong desire to mentor others. Knowledge of AMEDD business practices and processes. Strong written and spoken communication skills, as well as excellentteaching skills.265

US Army Physician Assistant Handbook Able to serve as SGL for no less than 2 years (3 years preferred). Experience working on strategic-level projects.Small Group Leader TrainingSGLs must complete faculty development training (parts 1 and 2) afterarriving, which results in a “5K” additional skill identifier. SGLs assistin the instruction of the AMEDD basic healthcare administrator course(BHAC), a 1-week course that educates students on the healthcarebusiness processes utilized by the Army, and on how to successfullymanage operations in a clinical setting. SGLs will have an opportunityto complete this training during assignment to the CCC, although priorexperience in BHAC is preferred.SummaryThe CCC PA SGL works, in a non-clinical capacity, as the PArepresentative in the AMEDD C&S HRCoE CCC. The PA SGLprovides a clinical perspective during the course and acts as a resourcefor clinical operations to all other instructors.References1. Department of the Army. Army Medical Department OfficerDevelopment and Career Management. Washington, DC:HQDA; 27 June 2007. Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-4.2. Department of the Army. Army Training and Leader Development.Washington, DC: HQDA; 19 August 2014. Army Regulation 3501.3. Department of the Army. Commissioned Officer ProfessionalDevelopment and Career Management. Washington, DC:HQDA; 3 December 2014. Department of the Army Pamphlet600-3.4. Department of the Army, Training and Doctrine Command. TheUS Army Learning Concept for 2015. Ft Monroe, VA: TRADOC;266

Captains Career Course Physician Assistant Small Group Leader20 January 2011. TRADOC Pamphlet 525-8-2.5. US Army Medical Department. AMEDD Captains Career Courseat Fort Sam Houston, Texas, website. http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/ccc/. Accessed November 17, 2015.6. Department of the Army. Army Leadership. Washington,DC: HQDA; 10 September 2012. Army Doctrine ReferencePublication 6-22.267

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the Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).4 Each SGL . Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-4. 2. Department of the Army. Army Training and Leader Development. Washington, DC: HQDA; 19 August 2014. Army Regulation 350- . TRADOC Pamphlet 525-8-2. 5.