***image1***The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps met face to face on the training battlefield.
A Ramstein non-commissioned officer went one-on-one with Marines and met the match to become the first ever Air Force senior NCO to graduate from the U.S. Marine Corps Staff NCO Academy, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va. – paving the way for the future.
Master Sgt. Lee Beausoleil from the 435th Security Forces Group was selected to attend the course that involved its participants in a balanced curriculum of academics, field performance and physical conditioning.
Training and working in a joint environment was an important aspect of the course, said Sergeant Beausoleil. “We covered topics pertaining to Marine Corps warfighting doctrine, ground combat operations, joint operations, military operation in urban terrain, casualty evacuation and fire support missions.”
The course offers members of other branches of service a clear understanding of how each branch works to accomplish the mission. It is also designed to teach participants about the know-ledge and skills needed to assume leadership roles of greater responsibility.
“The biggest expectation of the students is to stand tall and be the leader your service and country need you to be,” said Sergeant Beausoleil.
The faculty and other students inspire confidence, competence and motivation from the moment you sign in to the class, he said.
According to, Master Gunnery Sgt. Dominic Green, deputy director of the senior NCO academy, the goal of the program is to provide a window for members of other services to “see how we perceive a mission or problem and let them view how we negotiate the task at hand.”
As a representative of the Air Force, Sergeant Beausoleil was a great selection as our first senior NCO to attend the course, said Chief Master Sgt. Hale, Air Force Enlisted Professional Military Education Programs, Pentagon.
“He was exceptionally professional and a motivating influence among his Marine classmates. Sergeant Beausoleil also influenced the Marine gunnery sergeants in his class, demonstrating through personal example the professionalism of Air Force senior NCOs,” said Chief Hale.
More and more the services are deploying together or stationed together to maximize resources and effort. “One day I might have to deploy or be stationed with Marines, and I feel I will be able to better assimilate to their missions and needs,” said Sergeant Beausoleil.
Sergeant Beausoleil admits to the challenges the course offers and recommends it to those who may be interested in participating.
“You will be rewarded with an experience like no other in the Air Force and the chance to see first hand how one of our sister services works,” he said.
“So it doesn’t matter if you say hooah, Air power or Ooh-rah, the end state is the same … a more capable and educated leader of troops.”
Twitter
Facebook
