Enlisted Professional Military Education



Marine Corps Enlisted Professional Military Education (EPME) is a part of Marine Corps University and is responsible for the EPME curriculum development and administrative support to Marine Corps Units (Corporals Course) and the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academies located in Quantico VA, Camp Pendleton CA, Twentynine Palms CA, Camp Lejeune NC, Kaneohe Bay HI and Okinawa Japan.

Mission and goal

 * Mission: The Enlisted Professional Military Education branch offers enlisted Marines progressive and career-level educational opportunities to improve their leadership, critical thinking capability, and sound tactical skills in an increasingly distributed and joint environment.
 * Goal: The branch's goal is to provide current operational information allowing Marines to contribute their excellence in warfighting and to operate at their specific level of the MAGTF as well as maintain the Marine Corps’ time-honored traditions. It says its approach utilizes traditional resident courses as well as nontraditional methods such as correspondence and interactive nonresident programs.

Schools, programs and courses (Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy)

 * Corporals Course: The Command Sponsored Corporals Course (CSCC) is focused on providing the skills necessary to lead Marines, and is designed to provide the war fighting skills, core values and mindset necessary for effective leadership of a team and subordinate Marines. Upon completion, corporals will have the skills necessary to: clearly articulate one’s thoughts in both oral and written communication; understand the standards of leadership traits, principles, and fundamentals; understand the noncommissioned officer (NCO) mindset of “doing instead of knowing;” execute and apply tactical measures at the team level; conduct training for Marines in the MCCS Program and military occupation specialty training; understand Operational Risk Management and apply risk management principles; understand career progression; and conduct personal/personnel management for the team.
 * Sergeants Course: At this level, PME consists of a building block approach; each course builds on the previous course with minimal overlap. The DEPs are designed as a PME perquisite to attend the resident Academies. Sergeants are required to complete the SGTDEP (nonresident) course. The SGTDEP is a prerequisite for the SNCOA Sergeants Course (SNCOASC), meaning it must be completed prior to attending the SNCOASC. The nonresident and resident courses are focused on providing the skills necessary for sergeants to plan and conduct training for their Marines and are designed to provide the war fighting skills, core values and mindset necessary for effective leadership of a squad size unit and subordinate leaders. Upon completion, sergeants will have the skills necessary to clearly articulate thoughts in both oral and written communication; lead Marines through effective leadership; implement tactical measures at the squad/platoon level; understand basic national military capabilities; conduct training with the MCCS Program; and understand career progression.
 * Career Course: Staff sergeants are required to complete the SNCOCDEP (nonresident) course. The SNCOCDEP is a prerequisite for the SNCOACC meaning it must be completed prior to attending the SNCOACC. The SNCOCDEP/SNCOACC courses are focused on providing the skills necessary for the staff sergeant to act as a “problem solver” and are designed to supply the skills necessary to provide leadership at the platoon level, influence company grade officers, lead and develop subordinate leaders in war fighting, core values, and preserve time-honored traditions. Upon completion, staff sergeants will have the skills necessary to clearly articulate thoughts in both oral and written communication; understand and model the mindset of a SNCO; develop and mentor character based leadership in NCOs (foster ethical leadership); advise the commander/officer in charge (OIC) on operational requirements; understand the joint environment; assist the unit commander in obtaining training goals, and effectively manage personnel and assets.
 * Advanced Course: Gunnery sergeants, regardless of future selection, are required to complete the SNCOADEP (nonresident) and attend and complete the SNCOAAC (resident). The SNCOADEP is a prerequisite for the SNCOAAC, meaning it must be completed prior to attending the SNCOAAC. The SNCOADEP and the SNCOACC are focused on providing the skills necessary for the gunnery sergeant to act as a “decision maker” and are designed to provide the skills necessary for senior leadership in a company level organization independently supervise processes and procedures, influence officers, and function in an operations center. Upon completion, gunnery sergeants will have the skills necessary to clearly articulate thoughts in both oral and written communication; influence command climate; be prepared to act as the senior enlisted advisor; understand the unit training management process and provide the commander input; understand MAGTF operations; understand basic unit deployment concepts, requirements, and methodology; and develop courses of action based on planning guidance.
 * 1st Sergeants Course: This course prepares recently promoted first sergeants or gunnery sergeants selected for first sergeant for the leadership and administrative challenges a first sergeant faces and facilitates transition to the 8999 MOS. This course provides basic instruction on the duties and responsibilities of a first sergeant, regardless of the Marine’s unit. Understanding these duties and responsibilities augments a first sergeant’s ability to advise, counsel, and interact with the unit’s commander, officers, SNCOs, and enlisted Marines to accomplish the unit’s mission. This course does not preclude a first sergeant from attending the First Sergeant/Master Sergeant Regional Seminar.
 * Master Sergeant / 1st Sergeant Seminar: Each regional SNCO Academy conducts an annual First Sergeant/Master Sergeant Regional Seminar. Marines should attend at least one of these seminars during their time in grade as a first sergeant/master sergeant; however, attendance is not a prerequisite for promotion to sergeant major/master gunnery sergeant. The President, MCU and Director, Enlisted PME, in coordination with the regional SNCO Academy Directors and the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, develop the agenda items for these seminars. After regional seminars have been completed, commanders are encouraged to sponsor local SNCO seminars as a means to disseminate the information from the regional seminars.
 * Master Gunnery Sergeant / Sergeant Major Symposium: The MCU at Quantico hosts an annual symposium for sergeants major/master gunnery sergeants. Marines are required to attend at least one of these symposia during their time in grade as sergeants major/ master gunnery sergeants. The Commandant and the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, in coordination with the President, MCU and the Director, Enlisted PME, develop the agenda items for this symposium.