Before being selected for the Instructional Design Program as part of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Fellowship, I did not understand the field of study within instructional design in any capacity.  I had no concept of instruction and how it was analyzed, designed, developed, implemented, and evaluated.  Since my graduation in 2021 and my application, I feel that I have not only gained an understanding of the field but now have developed a foundational set of valuable skills and competencies.  These skills and competencies have enhanced my proficiency in analyzing and identifying a human performance gap, and in turn developing valuable, effective, and efficient instruction to bridge the knowledge, skills, or attitudes necessary of the applicable learner.

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     My initial journey throughout Syracuse University’s M.S. IDD&E program and now application of IDD&E has allowed me to build a foundational set of critical Instructional Designer core competencies.  These core competencies will enable my success in future assignments as an Instructional Designer and Army instructor.  Although the core competencies and my self-assessment of each are not that of an expert level, the ability for me to self-reflect upon my strengths and weaknesses of each core competency is vital to ensuring I grow as a future Instructional Designer.  There are a variety of competencies that are important to the instructional designer to master to ensure that they have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to perform the work of a professional well. 

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     I have worked diligently to improve the set of core competencies found in the below checklists.  I feel that I have improved over time in many of these core competencies.  Although I am not an expert by any means, the ability to apply self-reflection and application through this checklist method has greatly enhanced my skill set as a future instructional designer.  As current Department Director/Instructional System Specialist for senior leaders within the organization, many of these competencies apply to my job.  Enhancing communication, effectively enhancing interpersonal skills, targeting learners, identifying instructional strategies, developing learning assessment strategies, implementing instructional interventions, and evaluating instructional interventions are just a few examples of instructional designer competencies that are applicable to my current job as an Department Director/Instructional System Specialist.  As I continue the application of the competencies found within this section, I will always ensure that I consistently use these checklists reflect of those strengths and weaknesses found within this self-evaluation/reflection, and continue to sustain and improve the competencies necessary to become an expert in the field.   

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