Marine Corps Base Hawaii -- Corporals must complete a Corporals Course in order to get promoted beginning Oct. 1. There are two ways to complete the course; resident or nonresident. If a Marine attends a resident course, they will have to physically go to a classroom with instructors and attend the class. A nonresident course can be done at anytime and anywhere with Internet. More specifically, the nonresident course is on Marine Net for those who don’t want to attend a resident course.
Each unit has the ability to host a resident Corporals Course for Marines in their units. There is also a nonresident distant education program Corporals Course that can be found at http://www.marinenet.usmc.mil. The Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy offers a resident course which is open to all Marines on the installation.
“Command-sponsored Corporals Course is good for Marines in the same unit and who work together because they are encouraged to discuss and fix problems in their units,” said Gunnery Sgt. William Eddy, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy. “When Marines come to the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy they have a chance to communicate with Marines from units all over base. This gives them an opportunity to talk about their experiences and share what they have learned from their time in the Marine Corps.”
The course offered by the academy consists of 16 training days. The cycle consists of physical training and classes on leadership, Marine Corps knowledge and skills needed to further a career within the organization. The academy breaks away from the traditional PowerPoint by encouraging students to break into small or large groups to discuss how they can apply what they have learned into their daily Marine Corps lives.
“A benefit of attending the academy is the personnel experience Marines gain through the instructors and other Marines in the course,” said 1st Sgt. Jesus Deniz, director of the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy. “We highly encourage Marines to attend their residential courses. Send the Marines our way, we are here to educate all Marines. It’s important that every Marine has the opportunity to go through a high quality Corporals Course.”
The course also has comprehensive exams to establish an assurance that Marines understand what is being taught. Sword manual and guide on drill is just one example of something every Marine should know, but may not always perform every day. The academy provides hands-on experience and mentorship the online course cannot provide.
Eddy said there are advantages to both nonresident and the resident courses. If a Marine doesn’t have the time to attend a resident course, the nonresident is there so they can complete it at any time. If a Marine does decide to choose the nonresident just because its more convenient, they are missing an opportunity to take their education to the next level. Marines will take much more away from attending a resident course.
Attending the academy is also a good way to network and meet peers from around the base. The next Corporals Course at the Staff Noncommissioned Academy starts Sept. 17.
All corporals are required to complete either a command sponsored Corporals Course or a Distant Education Program Corporals Course by Oct. 1 for promotion to sergeant per the Marine Administrative.