CARLISLE BARRACKS, Pa. - An officer from the Netherlands is one of the 350 graduates from the Army War College's two-year Internet-based distance education program July 23 on the historic parade ground's Wheelock Bandstand.
Col. Hans Folmer, of the Royal Netherlands Army and who has most recently served as chief of the European Union Operations Centre and Watchkeeping Capability in Brussels, Belgium, called the program "tough."
"It was tough to do alongside all my regular duties," he said with a smile. "But it was worth it because it is a good program and I really liked the content. It was a good opportunity for me to learn the United States' perspective."
Mike Howard, chief of public affairs for operations at the US Army Space and Missile and Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command in Colorado Springs, enjoyed the program for its lessons, online discussions and deep insights into the strategic level, which he was able to apply while working in a strategic atmosphere.
"Initially I thought of the non-resident course as something less than the resident course, and even though I didn't want to have to displace my family, I saw it as a kind of second cut," said the retired sergeant major.
Howard laughed and shook his head.
"But having gone through it, there is absolutely no way that is true. This was a tremendous thing to do and having already earned a master's degree and having gone through the sergeant's major academy, I wasn't in pursuit of a promotion coming here; I wanted to understand the strategic level," he said. "This program has given me a scope of understanding of the military's strategic problems. Having worked with strategic communication for senior leadership, I felt that I should have a firm understanding of how things work at the strategic level."
Students were addressed by new Commandant of the US Army War College, Maj. Gen. Gregg F. Martin.
"You should feel inspired to take this education forth and go serve in bigger, better and new ways during the rest of your career and the rest of your life," Martin said. He also reminded the class how important they are to the nation and to the military service. "The nation needs you. We need you with your education, leading up, leading latterly, using the new thinking and the new education and all the stuff you have learned and put it into effect for our national security."
Retired Maj. Gen. Bruce K. Scott, president of ITT Defense International, and vice president and chief international development officer at ITT Defense, will give the keynote address.
"Today you have to understand the cultural, economic and political aspects almost as much as the military capabilities of the forces you are facing. And you have to understand how those four things interact with each other, and then you can understand the why," Scott told graduates. "Inspire people with it, make a commitment so when you do end your service to this great nation you can reflect and say, 'I did what I could.'"
Retired from the U.S. Army in 2002, Scott is a 1972 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and has served in a variety of assignments in infantry and armored divisions in the United States and in Germany. He served as a White House Fellow and his assignments included special assistant to the Secretary of Transportation, Elizabeth Dole; executive assistant/aide to Colin Powell and executive officer, vice chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The 350 graduates include nine Pennsylvania officers, among the 302 Army; two Air Force, eight Marine Corps; and nine Navy Reserve, most of which are from the Reserve or National Guard. Twenty-five civilians are joined by four International Fellows representing Taiwan, Netherlands and Mexico.
The U.S. Army War College, educating senior leaders since 1901 - in Carlisle since 1951 - was established "not to promote war, but to preserve peace." The Army's most prestigious strategic land power, prepares senior officers of the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard to serve in the highest command and staff positions in the armed forces of the United States.
Other USASMDC/ARSTRAT graduates of the distance education course were 100th Missile Defense Brigade (GMD) Commander, Col. Greg Bowen, 1st Space Brigade Executive Officer, Lt. Col. Tim Cassibry, and Deputy G3, John Crown.
In addition to their diplomas, Bowen also received A Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Writing Award for his paper titled, "Ballistic Missile Defense and Deterrence: Not Mutually Exclusive," and Howard received the Commandant's Award for Distinction in Research for his paper titled, "Rendezvous in Space - A Look in on Military Space Power."
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