Command and Staff graduates first sergeants major

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Virginia -- The Marine Corps Command and Staff College aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico graduated the first senior enlisted Marines in the history of the college, here June 4.

Sgt. Maj. Scott D. Hamm and Sgt. Maj. Jonathan Henry are the first enlisted Marines to be admitted to and graduate from the CSC, which is part of Marine Corps University.

“I saw it as an opportunity to make myself a more complete Marine,” said Hamm. “I wanted to make myself more valuable to my Marines.”

The CSC, founded in 1933, is a 10-month course that educates and trains joint, multinational and interagency leaders in a variety of topics including leadership, war fighting, war studies, and security studies.

Having both senior enlisted and officers participating in the school added to the learning for both groups.

“The majors felt they benefited from my unvarnished opinion and the majors were able to glean experience from my billet,” said Henry.

“I was able to understand my CO’s worries and what keeps him up at night,” added Hamm.

Up to four seats are available for senior enlisted Marines, two for sergeants major and two for master gunnery sergeants.

This is the first year that the CSC has admitted enlisted students. Per MARADMIN 600/13, enlisted applicants who have achieved the rank of sergeant major or master gunnery sergeant, who have a bachelor’s degree and have served as a senior enlisted advisor or as an operations or department chief at the battalion or squadron level are eligible to apply.

“It’s a great opportunity,” said Hamm. “I really encourage others to apply.”

Applications for the upcoming academic year are closed, however applications opportunities for the following year will be released via MARADMIN in the fall each year.