Education leaders build on a common goal but compete on the range

Photo By James Andrews | Directors and deputy directors of the seven, scattered Enlisted Professional Military Academies, Marine Corps University, pause for a photo during a teambuilding event at the MCB Quantico shooting range on Feb. 23, 2017.  

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES

03.27.2017

Story by James Andrews 

Marine Corps Base Quantico

Twice a year, the directors and deputy directors of the seven, scattered Enlisted Professional Military Education (EPME) Academies of Marine Corps University get together for information sharing and comradery. From Feb. 20‒Feb. 24 , Col. C.J. Williams, director of EPME at Marine Corps University hosted 14 senior noncommissioned officers (SNCO) aboard MCB Quantico.
Williams’ main message was simple: “Make sure we are all on the same page.” That focus on a common message across all EPME academies was echoed by the directors. Williams stressed that while these academies are all unique in their location and setting, the common mission of giving enlisted Marines the best possible education in leadership and critical thinking creates shared situations across the institution that is best discussed and shared face-to-face in this forum. Williams also made certain to emphasize that this week is about the individual academies and their Marines that create the proper learning environment for enlisted Marines. This unified message is of great importance to the standardized education of the future leaders of the Marine Corps.
However, the week is not solely dedicated to sitting in a conference room listening to each other speak about their respective academy. On the afternoon of Feb. 23, all of the directors spent time with members of the Marine Corps Shooting Team at the range doing what Marines do – shooting guns and competing against their peers. As you would expect, the “friendly” afternoon of shooting different weapon systems and diverse courses of fire brought out the competitive nature in most of the participants. Still, the friendly jabs at each other and the desire to be the best at each station was equally mixed with words of encouragement and support for each other. This juxtaposition in atmosphere was exactly what the day was about. The relationships fostered among the leaders on the range and away from the confines of a conference room create a desire to more openly share information and education techniques, therefore making EPME stronger and better than ever before for the entire Marine Corps.
The motto of EPME, Educatio Aequalis Succeccus, roughly translates into Education Equals Success. That success starts with the professional relationships and friendships that are formed during this week of information sharing and teambuilding. When a group of individuals strive to improve themselves and each other and possess a desire to create a superior product, the words of Aristotle ring true – “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

• Date Taken: 03.27.2017
• Date Posted: 03.27.2017 15:49
• Story ID: 228201
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, US