OKINAWA, Japan -- Forty-one Marines graduated from the non-resident, Expeditionary Warfare School, at the Butler Officer Club on plaza housing June 4th.
EWS trains junior officers in basic war fighting, Marine Air Ground Task Force operations, the Marine Corps planning process and amphibious and expeditionary operations in order to prepare them for higher ranks and billets.
“An officer is expected to complete his period of military education, in grade, in order to be eligible for his next rank,” said Scott Uecker, Okinawa regional chief instructor for the Expeditionary Warfare School.
However, staff noncommissioned officers, the rank of gunnery sergeant and above, are also allowed to enroll in EWS.
In order for SNCO’s to attend, the SNCO’s officer, a first lieutenant or above, must contact their local College of Continuing Education regional office, according to Uecker.
The school focuses on helping students develop an understanding of the Marine Corps’ expeditionary capability and planning processes.
“The practical exercises were difficult for me initially, but I came out of the exercises with a better understanding of deployment and sustainment of the MAGTF at the operational and tactical levels,” said Gunnery Sgt. Daniel McKernan, Headquarters and Services Company first sergeant , Marine Air Support Squadron 2, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force and graduate from EWS.
The course is broken up into two phases that each take one academic year to complete, said Capt. Blaise T. McFadden, staff secretary for Headquarters Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III MEF and graduate of EWS.
“After graduation from EWS, I believe you have a Marine that can integrate well into an operational environment and provide a positive impact,” said McKernan.
The Marines that attend the course feel they become better equipped, and more capable to carry out the Marine Corps mission.
It’s so easy for Marines to get wrapped up in doing their job, he said, that sometimes we don’t see we are all working together for one purpose, McFadden added. “EWS exposes you to that ‘big picture’.”
McFadden said the course has made him a better officer for his Marines. “The smarter we are, the more we can teach our Marines.”