Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twnetynine Palms, Calif. -- Corporals hoping to add on their third stripe will soon be required to give a little extra before seeing a promotion starting Oct. 1, 2013, according to MarAdmin 314/12.
The requirement will be the completion of either a command-sponsored or distance education Corporals Course.
A MarineNet version of Corporals Course is now available to Marines in need of training.
Resident Corporals Courses conducted at the regional Staff NCO Academies are now considered command-sponsored courses. These courses will count the same as the distance learning version when it comes to promotions.
The distance education program is not just limited to corporals. Lance corporals who have completed the “Leading Marines” DEP may also enroll in the program.
The DEP option for Corporals Course consists of 24 lessons within seven subcategories and includes operations, offensive operations, combat orders, defensive operations, land navigation, Marine NCO and leadership techniques and tools.
The online course is comprised of 30 hours of work, which includes study time, completing exercises and end-of-course exams. After each of the seven courses with the Corporals Course DEP, Marines will need to take an end-of-course exam, proctored by a staff sergeant or higher.
There are differences in command-sponsored and distance education options. There are things that just can’t be done in distance education. Practical application and hands-on learning isn’t available in DEP.
The DEP is designed to provide corporals additional knowledge and skills necessary to become successful small-unit leaders using authentic problem-based situations that a Marine corporal will encounter. It also places an emphasis on leadership and warfighting. Corporals looking to attend a command-sponsored course will have to go through their individual command and find out the next available slot for a class. Marines looking to sign up for the DEP version can log onto http://www.marinenet.com.usmc.mil and look up the course ID EPME4000AA.
For more information visit http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/cdet/corporals_course.asp or contact the MarineNet help desk.