Posted on Feb 20, 2014

Professional Military education...should there be an alternate?

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In the Air Force Officer Corps, there is PME (professional military education) that must be taken before going from captain to major....SOS (Squadron Officer School) or at least that was the old name... ACSC (Air Command and Staff College) between Major and LTC, and Air War College to put on Col.

If you are selected to do in-residence for ACSC, you are given a Masters Degree (although I am not sure what it is in, and I can't think it would have much worth...). Do you feel that if a military member gets a Masters Degree IN their career field that the PME should be waived? An example would be in the Nurse Corps.... I have no use for ACSC. I will NEVER be allowed to command combat/line units, if I become a POW, I will NEVER be camp commander, even if highest ranking. I took all the coursework for my Masters Science of Nursing....do you think the ACSC should be able to be waived?

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Posted 11 y ago

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Responses: 2

MAJ Samuel Weber

Posted 11 y ago

Sir,

I would have to disagree that you don't need ACSC as a Nurse Corp officer. I have a good friend (LTC in the Nurse Corps) who ended up on staff at the Office of the Surgeon a General and needed the skills he learned at CGSC/ILE. Now it would be or greater benefit if they created an AMEDD specific CGSC.

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Maj Chris Nelson

11 y

I could definitely agree with and may have interest in a medical specific course! I understand the concept of it, however some of the material they teach just has no real place in the medical community... There is always "that one person" that breaks the stereotype on need... But not often! Thank you for your thoughts and input!

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Maj Chris Nelson

11 y

duplicate....my phone loves me.

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Maj Chris Nelson

11 y

duplicate...my phone loves me

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Maj Chris Nelson

11 y

duplicate...my phone loves me.

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MAJ(P) (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

Maj Chris Nelson , I know the opinion of a non-Intermediate Level Education completed Army CPT will only go so far in this discussion, but I think it is still important. Even in the medical or legal field, you could still find yourself serving on a joint staff somewhere as a medical planner or SJA. PME helps build those basic staff skills and better understand the needs of the commander's we support while on staff.

However, I think it would be great if the DOD sent a lot of Nurses or Docs to a civilian health care management masters level course or even an MPH as well. It is good to cross pollinate with civilian health care TTPs I think.

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Professional Military education...should there be an alternate?

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