Redesigning Enlisted Professional Military Education for the 21st Century and Beyond
Abstract
This qualitative research study with phenomenological interviews was conducted to
identify curriculum and instructional methods /theories, common to civilian universities of
higher learning, that are missing from today’s Marine Corps Enlisted Professional Military
Education (PME) programs. Through research, this study was able to identify multiple areas in
need of improvement, specifically with regard to meaningful curriculum and contemporary
instructional methods and educational theories. It was also discovered that the Marine Corps is
actively working to close the gap between the quality of education found in universities and
those found in Enlisted PME Programs. Through phenomenological interviews, this study was
able to share some of the personal lived experiences career Staff Non-Commissioned Officers
have had while attending Enlisted PME. These participant interviews serve as a testament to the
quality of education they believe they are receiving. The interviews explore the practicality and
time constraints associated with attending PME courses. The interviews also examine whether
or not these programs are advantageous to Marines’ specific occupational specialties or if they
are preparing them for the rigors of civilian institutions of higher learning.
Citation
Switzer, Wayne Alexander (2020). Redesigning Enlisted Professional Military Education for the 21st Century and Beyond. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /191883.