If you’re one of the 420 members who just sat for the E-6 Service Wide Exam (SWE) but don’t yet have LAMS completed: this is for you! Due to the backlog of members needing LAMS, the Coast Guard temporarily waived the requirement to have completed this leadership training to be eligible to sit for the 2024 SWE. LAMS, though, is required to affect the advancement.
So, if your name comes up on the monthly advancement message and you have not yet completed LAMS, or a DoD LAMS-equivalent course, your advancement will be withheld until you do so. And to compete for advancement on the May 2025 SWE, you will need to have completed LAMS, or a DoD LAMS-equivalent, by the Service Wide Eligibility Date of Feb. 1 for active-duty or July 1 for Reservists.
“Now is the time to take LAMS if you haven’t already completed the training and plan to sit for the E-6 SWE next year,” said ETCS Joe Hoff, enlisted development program manager.
Take action now
Go to the LAMS SharePoint site and see if there is an Exportable LAMS coming near you soon. But you don’t have to wait for a LAMS class to come to you: resident courses are available at Training Center Petaluma, Training Center Yorktown, and the Leadership Development Center in New London, Connecticut. Talk to you Training Officer now to start the electronic training request (ETR) process!
“Resident courses at the Training Centers are often overlooked as a way to meet the LAMS training requirement,” added Hoff. “Often a member is more likely to get into a residential course then to have an exportable class near them.”
Check out ALCOAST 284-24 FY24/25 Chiefs Academy and Leadership and Management School (LAMS) Attendance Prioritization Update for more details.
LAMS is a one-week ACE-accredited course designed to enhance supervisory skills for first line supervisors. The course develops skills in the following areas: communicating effectively, influencing others positively, creating an environment that motivates performance, getting the job done while taking care of subordinates, encouraging personal ethics, and promoting teamwork.
Alternatively, there are three DoD courses that meet the leadership training requirements for advancement to E-6 and are considered LAMS-equivalent. If you’re interested in attending one of these alternatives, see your Silver Badge Command Master Chief (CAC Required).
The Office of Leadership may grant waivers on a case-by-case basis permitting advancement without completing LAMS or a LAMS-equivalent course. If you unsuccessfully attempted to complete LAMS, you can submit your waiver request through your chain of command to ETCS Joseph Hoff.
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