U.S. Marine graduates college during Eager Lion 2015

AQABA FREE ZONE, JORDAN

05.15.2015

Story by Ensign Seth Koenig 

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

AQABA FREE ZONE, Jordan - Thousands of miles away, thousands of American college students are participating in traditional graduation ceremonies, turning their tassels and throwing their mortar boards into the air in celebration.

“I don’t have a traditional job,” shrugged U.S. Marine Sgt. Curtis Pannier. “So a non-traditional ceremony is great, too.”

There was no pomp and circumstance played. Instead of a sea of classmates in black graduation gowns, Pannier saw miles of sand in all directions from where he received his diploma Friday.

But receive it he did. Pannier was granted his bachelor’s degree from American Military University, part of the American Public University System, during a small, evening ceremony in the middle of Exercise Eager Lion 2015 in a desert encampment not far from Aqaba, Jordan.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Burke Whitman, Coalition Forces Land and Maritime Component Command for the exercise, presented the diploma.

“It was a great honor to have the general present it to me,” Pannier said.

Whitman, speaking before Pannier and a group of more than 50 Marines and Sailors in attendance, called Pannier a “very dedicated, very accomplished young Marine.

“Somehow, along with all the other things he’s done – multiple deployments, up-tempo military career, starting a family – he’s managed to complete his degree,” Whitman said.

Pannier is serving in Eager Lion as the air logistics chief for Marine Forces Central Command (FWD). Eager Lion is a recurring multinational exercise hosted and led by the host Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships, increase interoperability between partner nations, and enhance regional security and stability.

Eager Lion 2015 takes place from May 5-19 at various locations throughout Jordan.

To get his degree, Pannier spent many long nights studying and doing homework while serving the Marines all over the world.

At the end of 2012, the retirement of a gunnery sergeant left Pannier the senior enlisted logistician on deck for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, attached to Marine Air Group (MAG) 40 at a time when it hefted a lot of work onto its logisticians -- the MAG was relocating from Kuwait to Bahrain.

“That was three C-130 aircraft movements a day for 45 days, plus planning at night,” recalled Pannier.

But Pannier said his experience as a Marine helped him as a student. His degree is in transportation logistics management, and he said his professors in the entirely online program often sought out his expertise and real-world stories when talking through class scenarios.

Now, with a bachelor’s degree on his resume, Pannier said he’s relieved he’ll get a respite from the extra homework. But that free time may not last long.

“I’m looking forward to going after my master’s degree,” he said.

• Date Taken: 05.15.2015
• Date Posted: 05.17.2015 13:52
• Story ID: 163584
• Location: AQABA FREE ZONE, JO