{"id":4640,"date":"2021-09-10T18:00:17","date_gmt":"2021-09-11T01:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.palomar.edu\/news\/?p=4640"},"modified":"2021-09-11T15:15:51","modified_gmt":"2021-09-11T22:15:51","slug":"palomar-celebrates-inaugural-class-of-marine-corps-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.palomar.edu\/news\/palomar-celebrates-inaugural-class-of-marine-corps-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Palomar Celebrates Inaugural Class of Marine Corps Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Picture left to right: MIL Apprenticeship graduates Staff Sgt. Todd Graves, Gunnery Sgt. Christopher McCullar, Gunnery Sgt. Melissa Robinson and Gunnery Sgt. Ricardo Candelario.<\/em><\/p>\n

Eight graduates from the U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant School at Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms receive Palomar College course credit for their military classroom work.<\/p>\n

SAN MARCOS \u2014 The first graduates of Palomar College\u2019s new Military Leadership (MIL) Apprenticeship program at Camp Pendleton were honored during a ceremony on the main campus in San Marcos on Friday, September 10, 2021.<\/p>\n

A total of eight active-duty Marines were awarded program certificates, four of whom attended the intimate ceremony that was held on the lawn beside the campus veterans\u2019 memorial.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t wait to see what\u2019s next in your future,\u201d said Superintendent\/President Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey. \u201cThis is a culmination of your hard work, and I hope you take this moment in the sun to celebrate. I couldn\u2019t be more proud that you are joining Palomar College\u2019s alumni.\u201d<\/p>\n

The program is designed to articulate the coursework of Marines in Sergeant School into 12 units of Palomar credit, followed by 2,000 on-the-job training hours once they return to their Military Occupation Specialty (MOS). Another six units of credit is awarded for the on-the-job training hours, resulting in a Certificate of Achievement in Military Leadership from Palomar College.<\/p>\n

If participants choose to fulfill the general education requirements, they will also be eligible for an Associate of Science in Military Leadership.<\/p>\n

On Friday, the Marines who finished the program also received a Certificate of Completion from the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you to all of you who participated in the program this year,\u201d said Dr. Jack Kahn, Palomar\u2019s Assistant Superintendent\/ Vice President of Instruction, \u201cWe hope this gives you some ideas for your next steps, and if those next steps include staying at Palomar College, we\u2019re here for you\u2014to be a bridge to your future success.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Marines who earned their certificate during the inaugural cohort were:<\/p>\n