Educators came from around South Carolina to learn more about their military

Story and Photos By Vernetta Garcia

It was full STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) ahead. The fifth year of Military Career Pathways (MCP) 101 brought significant changes. This year the three-day course was hosted by the South Carolina Department of Education, Columbia Recruiting Battalion, and Navy and Air Force Recruiting. Also, this year’s event had a significant STEM career focus. The course brought together over 70 statewide teachers, counselors, and administers to learn about military careers and military life. 

The course is designed so that participants earn continuing education units (CEUs). After the three days of instruction and touring military facilities, participants are required to design a project they must implement in their schools or district during the upcoming school year.

MCP 101 also helps improve military recruiter and educator relations. It builds understanding that the military today offers viable career options. “We want all participants to walk away from MCP 101 knowing that the military can be an amazing opportunity for the young people they guide,” said Lt. Col. Michael Standish Commander of the Columbia Recruiting Battalion.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised about how much I learned,” said educator Wanda Brown. Like many of the educators, she had little knowledge and a poor view of the military in the beginning, but definitely had a more favorable view after the event.

The first morning, educators learned about basic enlistment requirements, officer opportunities, Reserve Officer Training Corps, the ASVAB career exploration, and March 2 Success. The lone Marine representative, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Erik Cobham, spoke about transitioning out of military and how his military experience has translated into civilian business success. Cobham is now the Military and Performance Fabrics Director for Milliken and Company in Spartanburg, S.C. Most of the afternoon was devoted to questions and answers with a military panel made up of the Army, Air Force, Navy, and South Carolina National Guard representatives. The day ended with discussions on STEM and how the 16 national career clusters fit with military occupations as well project proposals and guidelines.

“It's mutually beneficial to education and military communities when we can identify so many similarities between civilian and military careers and personalities!” stated Donna B. Smith, Navy Education Specialist of Navy Recruiting District Raleigh.

Days two and three were dedicated to learning about STEM careers in the three services, such as nuclear power, engineering, medical, chemical, aerospace technology, and aircraft and vehicle maintenance. The participants heard from Dr. Cindy Moss, Director, Global STEM Initiatives with Discovery Education and toured Fort Jackson, in Columbia, S.C. and Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, S.C. “STEM is our future, it is not enough to just have a four-degree,” explained Moss.

MCP 101 committee chairperson, Kama Staton, Career Guidance Education Associate with the SC Department of Education said, “as our participants left the last afternoon, each and every one of them came up to me with one question -- can I sign up again next year?!? It was a huge success.”