MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- Twenty international officers, students at Command and Staff College, Marine Corps University, and three faculty advisors toured Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico on May 5, 2014.
The 10-month program at MCU trains and educates the officers to serve as commanders and staff officers in service, joint, interagency and multinational organizations by developing critical thinking, innovative problem solving and ethical leading in complex and uncertain security environments, according to www.mcu.usmc.mil.
“They took the tour to gain more insight and information on Marine Corps air capabilities and what we do at an air facility aboard a Marine Corps installation,” said 1st Lt. Gabriel Walton, an adjutant for MCAF.
They had the opportunity to explore the MV-22 Osprey and CH-46E Sea Knight, the base operations and weather section, Air Traffic Control Maintenance, work centers, radar room facilities, Air Traffic Control Tower and an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting demonstration.
“It’s important for them to see this so they can, not only learn about it in the classroom, but apply it and get a practical sense of what takes place aboard these type of installations,” said Walton. “[They get a sense] in terms of operations, our capabilities and how we operate in the air and on the ground as well.”
They were greeted at every station by Marines who work in that area, and they were given the basic knowledge on what they do, how it functions and why it’s important.
“The impressive portion is that just a few Marines are running this very busy airfield and having not just one job [but] having many jobs in parallel,” said Lt. Col. Thorsten Kunzmann, a German exchange student at Command and Staff College.
Just like those who visited MCAF gained knowledge, the Marines there gained something too.
“I think it’s also good for the Marines at MCAF to showcase what we do here as well. It gives them practice in discussing what their work section is doing, [and] experience in seeing international officers, conversing with them and understanding where they may be coming from and what type of work they do in their respective countries,” said Walton.
Correspondent: sarah.a.garcia@usmc.mil