01/12/2020 – CHARLOTTE, N.C. – -- North Carolina Air National Guard members, Master Sgt. Daniel Judd and Master Sgt. Kernice Locklear, 263rd Combat Communications Squadron, were formally recognized by the Assistant Adjutant General for Air, Brig. Gen. Stephen Mallette, for graduating from the United States Marine Corps Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy at the New London headquarters building Air National Guard Base, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020.
“We talk about lining ourselves up with our sister services and joint efforts to make sure we accomplish our mission; these two individuals have done just that,” stated Assistant Adjutant General for Air, Brig. Gen. Stephen Mallette.
The seven-week course, located in Quantico, V.A. teaches Marine Corps operations, warfighting, tactics, leadership skills, planning and command and control. Physical fitness is also a central component of the training, which Judd and Locklear excelled in.
“I thought it would be interesting to go,” stated Master Sgt. Judd. “The curriculum is about the same but they go deeper into battle scenarios, maps, strategy, and the history and tradition of their units.”
Master Sgts. Judd and Locklear applied and were selected through the Enlisted Development Opportunity paneling process. The Airmen met the United States Marine Corps academic prerequisites, physical fitness requirements and body composition standards. Sister Service Academies like United States Marine Corps Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy provide a joint learning environment and the opportunity to learn in a challenging environment.
“When I came back I briefed my unit on what I learned,” said Master Sgt. Judd, “So now they’ve started a history brief every drill where someone comes up and gives some background or history on the unit during our roll call.”
The United States Marine Corps Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy had other qualities that Master Sgt. Judd enjoyed and has implemented within his unit for his Airmen.
“They (U.S. Marine Corps.) push command down to the lowest level; I’ve tried to do that here since attending the course and it’s a bit of a rocky road because of the Air Force culture, but I want to start that in our section, I feel when I gave my briefing about the course, the leadership heard me and they’re maybe trying to implement these changes in the background.”
Master Sgt. Judd was one Airman out of 52 U.S. Marines that attended the United States Marine Corps Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy in Quantico, V.A. in January of 2019.
“I would recommend anyone do it; it’s really an eye-opener to be able to see another service’s way of doing things,” said Master Sgt. Judd. “I’m very glad they allow us to do that.”