The Benavidez Leader Development Program (BLDP) is a three-week intensive non-credit workshop for tactical non-commissioned officers based at the United States Military Academy (USMA). Named after Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez, the program began in 2015. Select TAC NCOs are taught how to incorporate social-organizational psychology theories into their roles as educators, trainers, counselors, and role models for the Corps of Cadets at USMA. Many of these individuals have over 10 years of experience in the military.
Students spend on week at USMA with faculty from Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership (BS&L) where they are taught Leader Development and USMA History. This prepares them for the two-week immersive experience at Teachers College where students are housed in Manhattan and attend full day sessions leading up to their capstone organizational change project.
In addition to class sessions, students complete a broadening experience at an area military institution to gain a better understanding of organizational differences and a mini-conference hosted by a financial and analytics private institution. Both experiences introduce organizational change in areas other than the U.S. Army.