Reservist dedicates time to education in the Corps

Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. William Caban, U.S. Marine Corps and Intelligence Activity, Individual Mobilization Augmentee Detachment, is the first reservist to graduate from the Career Course held at Marine Corps University aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. Caban, a native of New York City, attended a graduation ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps Sept. 18. Caban continues more than 12 years of government service as a reservist, to include government employment as a regional cultural analyst and linguist for the Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning at MCU.  

QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES

09.18.2015

Story by Ida Irby 

Marine Corps Base Quantico

QUANTICO, Va. - When pursing professional military education, navigating the guidelines of funding, participation hours and registration requirements can be challenging for many reservists serving in the U.S. military. This challenge is met by balancing the priorities of a civilian job, family obligations or pursuing higher education.

Staff Sgt. William Caban, honor graduate for Quantico regional seminar class, became the first Select Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) component Marine to graduate from the Career Course Seminar at the Marine Corps University. The graduation ceremony was held at the National Museum of the Marine Corps Sept. 18.

For Caban, being nominated to attend this 15-week resident course, allowed him to develop and validate his leadership alongside other highly experienced active component staff sergeants. The small group seminar setting was made up of staff sergeants with diverse experiences level, various backgrounds and various approaches to learning and problem solving. The instruction on professional correspondence focuses on developing each Marine’s critical thinking, professional communication and leadership skills.

“Completing the course helped me to become a more effective leader and more effective Marine,” he said. “After interacting with Marines from different occupational specialties, I was able to reflect on how we all approach challenges differently. I developed leadership skills using Marine Corps concepts that I was unaware of beforehand.”

Staff sergeants who successfully complete the resident-course are prepared to assume leadership roles which hold greater responsibility.

“Career Course Seminar is designed to be intellectually driven course. Through face-to-face interaction with professors and cadre, Marines absorb the material quickly in order to be successful,” said guest of honor Sgt. Maj. Charles A. Metzger, Marine Helicopter Squadron One. “The second place for honor grad was less than five hundredths points away, and this shows you the quality and caliber of Marines that are coming to this course.”

According to Metzger, As the Marine Corps progresses and promotional capabilities increase, this seminar based learning course will be a vital link to bridge staff sergeants, who have promotional edibility, to essential billets.

• Date Taken: 09.18.2015
• Date Posted: 09.23.2015 16:34
• Story ID: 177010
• Location: QUANTICO, VA, US
• Hometown: NEW YORK MILLS, NY, US