• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Air Force, Marine Corps select enlisted troops to attend AFIT

USMC News

Story by By Air Force 1st Lt. Ellen Kowalchuk
Story Identification Number: 20032121498

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio(July 3, 2002) -- As the Air Force Institute of Technology prepares for the class of 2004 to enter its doors this August, things will be a little different from usual. The class will include 8 senior noncommissioned officers from across the Air Force and 6 from across the Marine Corps as well. In an initiative spurred by the Secretary of the Air Force, Dr. James Roche, these enlisted men and women will bring a new realm of expertise in the technologically-focused Air Force and Department of Defense. With all 8 Air Force troops coming from the communication and information systems career field, 5 will pursue a masters degree in computer science, 2 will study electrical engineering, and 1 will study information systems management. The Marines will all pursue specializations in Information Assurance.

"Our Air Force continues to become more technically oriented all the time," said Chief Master Sergeant Michael Eitnier, enlisted professional military education chief at the Pentagon. "Graduate education for these [senior] NCOs brings greater technical competencies across their Air Force specialties, which benefits our high-tech Air Force."

Members coming from the Marine Corps include: Gunnery Sgt. Pamela J. Cole; Gunnery Sgt. Brian K. Hamilton; Gunnery Sgt. Irene C. Johnson; Gunnery Sgt. Juan Lopez; Gunnery Sgt. James R. Orlovsky; and Staff Sgt. Kelvin B. Scott.

Enlisted graduates of AFIT will incur the same active-duty service commitment as officers. Graduates currently must agree to serve an additional three years on active duty following graduation in an advance academic degree slot across the Air Force. AFIT is currently offering enlisted attendance at AFIT through in-residence only. There are no plans for participation in the Civilian Institutions program at this time; however, future-year quotas will be based on degree program availability and whether the applicant is reassignment eligible.

Since AFIT first granted accredited degrees in 1956, over 15,000 masters degrees and 300 doctorate degrees have been issued. According to AFIT Commandant, Air Force Col. Michael Heil, "AFIT welcomes the addition of the enlisted corps to our family. AFIT graduate degrees have allowed for relevant, world-class research and education on critical Air Force and DoD issues. Our current graduates are making tremendous differences across a realm of specialties. I'm excited to see the results of this positive step."