At Sea and in Port, Class is in Session Aboard USS Cushing - higher education programmes for sailors aboard ship - Brief Article

All Hands, Feb, 2001 by Steve Lowe

Higher education is a primary goal for many Americans. Its value in expanding one's horizons and opportunities is limitless. Further education is also highly sought by many members of the U.S. Navy who desire to increase their knowledge and improve their skills while serving their country. What about those members of the Navy who cannot easily attend college classes and must deploy to sea?

The crew of USS Cushing (DD 985) found their answer in the Program for Afloat College Education (PACE) -- in essence, a classroom at sea.

The PACE program is designed to provide advanced education to Sailors aboard their ships. There are two types of courses -- instructor-based and CD-ROM-based. Both types of courses earn students three semester college credits for each class, which they can apply towards their associate's, bachelor's or master's degree.

The supervisory agency is Central Texas College, Killeen, Texas.

Thirty-five courses in 15 different subject areas are available on CD-ROM, covering both lower and upper level studies. Instructor-based classes are held both underway and in port.

Courses on a destroyer-sized ship are usually taught one at a time with topics ranging from Criminal Justice to English to History. Fifty-eight Cushing crew members are presently enrolled in the CD-ROM courses.

LTJG Matt Cieslukowski, of Norwich, Conn., Cushing's educational services officer, said that Navy recruiting efforts often emphasize the educational opportunities available to Sailors.

"On Cushing, we make that happen," Cieslukowski said.

On Sept. 25, 37 crewmembers graduated from the instructor-based Criminal Justice course, which was taught twice each day in Cushing's classroom, the "Lion's Den."

Earlier this year, 37 students completed English 1301 and 1302. More than 60 crewmembers are signed up for the current instructor-based sessions (History 1301 and 1302), which began Sept. 28. Students who complete all five courses offered so far in 2000 will have earned 15 semester credits.

Cushing Sailors are currently on track to earn 650 college credits this year.

Electronics Warfare Technician 1st Class(SW/AW) Michael Kimmel, of White Plains, N.Y., is Cushing's PACE coordinator and organizes both instructor assignment and class schedules.

"PACE has been extremely popular with the crew," Kimmel explained. "After calculating all the student-hours logged in the PACE program (including classroom attendance and CD-ROM work), you'll find that Cushing has invested more than 3,200 hours in higher education since January. The PACE program belongs to the crew. Their interest and enthusiasm truly make the difference."

Cushing has hosted several PACE courses on board in the last several years, all taught by different instructors and centered on different areas of study. Cushing's last PACE instructor was retired Marine Corps Col. Trent A. Williamson, of Sequim, Wash. Williamson has been a PACE instructor for nearly one year and has been attached to several other ships, including USS Port Royal (CG 73) during a deployment to the Arabian Gulf. He feels that the pace program gives Sailors unique opportunities they wouldn't have otherwise.

"The courses fill the blue-jackets' off-duty time with productive study, which broadens their horizons and affects them in a positive way." Williamson said.

As Williamson attests, the PACE program is more profitable than distance learning. "Distance Learning, in which students study and take exams online over the Internet or through the mail, is impersonal and sometimes difficult. PACE brings the students into contact with the instructor, giving them a chance to develop a better understanding."

PACE student Cryptological Technician (collection) 3rd Class (SW) Travis Greer, of Denver, showed his satisfaction.

"PACE has given me a chance to pursue my degree while serving my country in a full time job," Greer said. "What a deal!"

Story by LTJG Steve Lowe, public affairs officer USS Cushing (DD 985).