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thedrifter
06-17-04, 07:30 AM
CCE opens doors for military officers
Submitted by: MCB Hawaii
Story Identification #: 2004614161213
Story by Cpl. Jessica M. Mills



MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Kaneohe Bay(June 11, 2004) -- After two years of late night cram sessions and rigorous time management, 73 officers stationed on Oahu successfully completed their professional military education (PME) and graduated from the MCB Hawaii Satellite Campus of the Marine Corps University College of Continuing Education, June 7 at the base theatre here.

Lt. Gen. Wallace C. Gregson, commander of Marine Forces Pacific, was the guest of honor at the ceremony. He said he regarded it an honor to award diplomas to the graduates.

During the ceremony, he emphasized the importance of a strong military education in an officer's career and personal life.

"The best advice I can give all of you is to continue to learn and succeed through formal and informal processes. Continue to attend classes and seminars at your leisure," said Gregson. "This should not be an end to your education, but only a beginning. This training gives you the intellectual ability to command your units successfully and advance in your career choices."

Gregson made it very clear that this graduation was not only the graduates' achievement, but the family members' and units' as well.

"It was the family members and units who had to deal with the late-night studying sessions and all-day seminars," he added. "Without their support, these graduates would not be here today."

Thirty officers, including one Army and one Navy officer, completed the Command and Staff College Distance Education Program, a nine-course, two-year program. The other 43 officers were the first to complete the new Expeditionary Warfare School Distance Education Program, which replaces the career-level course Amphibious Warfare School.

According to retired Col. Bill Peoples, the CCE regional coordinator, the school underwent a major transformation of curriculum two years ago, in an effort to keep the distance education program in step with the changing needs of the Marine Corps. The name was changed, this year, to better describe the focus of the course.

"The Amphibious Warfare School left a very narrow door for training," said Peoples, "but the Expeditionary Warfare School is much more encompassing and covers a larger scope."

Although every name was announced at the ceremony, several of the graduates were unable to attend because they were deployed for operations in support of our nation, or already transferred to another duty station.

"This is the most impressive class I've seen in light of the incredible operations tempo confronting our officers these past two years. The professional commitment required of these graduates to complete the CSC and EWS programs, while simultaneously satisfying the unrelenting demands of family, deployments, training and temporary duties, was nothing short of phenomenal," said Peoples.

Officers who have not yet completed their PME obligations are urged to visit the regional coordinator's office in Bldg. 224, located above the Staff NCO Academy, or call (808) 257-0459 or (808) 257-1956.
General information about the program is available online at www.mcbh.usmc.mil/cce /homepage.htm.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004614161429/$file/msgtbrownhandshakelow.jpg

Col. Richard C. Roten, deputy commander of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and Sgt. Maj. Anthony E. Franks, the base sergeant major here, congratulate College of Continuing Education graduates after a ceremony, June 7. Photo by: Cpl. Jessica M. Mills

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/01384AC90D44D1D785256EB3006EFB8C?opendocument


Ellie