First and foremost, instructors are proven first-class leaders of operational units who are dedicated to careers in the U.S. Army. They have demonstrated a passion for leading their organizations by building and developing their people into dedicated leaders and training their units to be combat-ready teams. BSL instructors historically are extremely competitive with their peers throughout their careers.

• Current and incoming instructors represent all the major commissioning sources (USMA, ROTC, OCS) and most of the branches. B&L instructors have a diverse array of undergraduate degrees and ethnic backgrounds. MC and MS officers are not eligible to join, however, due to restrictions by their branch.
• Current BSL instructors have been promoted early (BZ) to major at higher-than-average rates. Current and incoming instructors have combat/operational-deployment leadership experience in all recent operations.
• Some recognitions that recent BSL instructors have received include: Douglas Macarthur Leadership Award (one of top company grade officers in the Army); Draper Award (top cavalry/armor company in a Division); U.S. Army Best Ranger Competition Top 10 Finisher; Emerson-Itschner Award (top engineer company in the U.S. Army); student body president of a major university with over 40,000 students; and distinguished honor/leadership graduate of numerous military schools and courses (including U.S. Army Flight School, Ranger School, AOBC, EOBC, IOBC, SFOQC, and Sapper School).
• Recent BSL instructors had a 100% selection rate for Battalion Command (four out of four over the past 4 years, with three from the combat arms and one from combat support). 

• GEN Leon LaPorte, U.S. Forces Korea
• LTG Dave Ohle, Asst. Dep. Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Staff
• MG Robert W. Cone, CG Joint Advanced Warfighting Program
• John A. George, Commanding General of the CCDC
• MG Tom Garrett, PERSCOM
• MG Randy Rigby, Director Program Analysis and Evaluation
• BG Mitch Zais, Deputy CG 1st Infantry Division
• BG Pat O’Neal, G3 Forces Command

Management major

The Management major is designed to help prepare you to lead efficient and effective organizations by developing critical managerial skills. Management also teaches electives to large numbers of cadets in other USMA academic majors due to cross-relevance of subject matter. Most instructors in the management program begin their tour by teaching PL300 (Military Leadership) in their first year at West Point, and then transition to teach management courses in their 2nd and/or 3rd year.

Some of the LMS Fellowships recently awarded to captains include (all 2-yr):

• Duke -Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Kansas -Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Harvard -Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Stanford -Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Penn-Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Dartmouth-Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Learn more about the Management major

Psychology Program

The program directs and mentors cadets through the Psychology major. Program officers teach electives to a large number of cadets in BS&L and other USMA majors due to the direct cross-relevance of the subject matter. Most instructors begin their tour by teaching PL 100 (General Psychology for Leaders) during their first year in BSL and then transition to the Psychology major program in their 2nd and/or 3rd year.
 
Competent leaders develop through an unending process of self-examination, education, and experience. To lead successfully, you need to know what makes your soldiers "tick," and before you can understand others, you must understand yourself.  People and human nature are the subject matter of a field of study or Psychology major. 

 Such a program of study provides a firm foundation on which to build as you continue to develop as a leader throughout a lifetime of service to the nation. Leaders teach, train, and counsel. Good teaching and training enhance proficiency and build the self-confidence necessary to confront difficult tasks. Sensitive and insightful counseling ensures discipline, lifts morale, and promotes the cohesion essential to keep going under the most stressful conditions. The Psychology program helps cadets acquire these skills.

Some of the current electives that a Psychology instructor could have the opportunity to teach include:

• PL361- Research Methods I
• PL373- Life Cycle & Human Development
• PL376- Abnormal Psychology
• PL383- Social Psychology
• PL387- Foundations of Counseling
• PL392- Cognitive Psychology
• PL488- Psychology Colloquium (Positive Psychology)

Some of the Psychology Fellowships recently awarded to captains include (all 2-yr):

• Columbia University - MS, Double Major, Social & Organizational Psychology and Counseling
• New York University - MS, Counseling & Guidance
• Georgia Tech - MS, Psychology (including Experimental-Cognitive, I/O, and Engineering)
• University of TX Austin - MA, Educational Psychology
• Duke - MA, Developmental Psychology
• University of Washington - MA, Psychology-Social Cognition
• Chapman University - MA, Marriage, Family and Child Counseling
• UNC - MA, Social Psychology

Yes. In creating a file with BLS, you will be asked to specify an academic preference based on your interest and educational background. This is important, since the department's positions are generally degree-specific.