Sgt. Maj. Doug H. Garloch
prepares for his graduation ceremony June 8 at Hocking College
in Nelsonville, Ohio. Garloch earned an associate’s degree in
business administration and military science through the Ohio
Army National Guard and Hocking College Distance Learning
Network.
Sgt. Maj. Doug H.
Garloch (left) and retired Sgt. Maj. Charles O. Jackson wait
outside an auditorium minutes before their June 8 graduation
ceremony from Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio. The two
earned associate’s degrees in business administration and
military science through the Ohio Army National Guard and
Hocking College Distance Learning Network.
Sgt. Maj. Doug H.
Garloch (center) is joined by his daughter and son-in-law
outside the Hocking College auditorium June 8 after receiving
his associate’s degree in business administration and military
science through the Ohio Army National Guard and Hocking College
Distance Learning Network. |
|
Story and photos by Spc. Diego
J. Robles, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
NELSONVILLE, Ohio—On a hot Sunday afternoon in the Hocking
College auditorium, Sgt. Maj. Doug H. Garloch and retired Sgt.
Maj. Charles O. Jackson, did something that nobody had done
before them. The two Ohio Army National Guard senior
noncommissioned officers became the first students from the
school’s College at Work program to walk with their fellow
students during graduation.
Garloch, of the 204th Engineer Detachment, and Jackson, former
noncommissioned officer in charge of the Akron-Canton Recruiting
Center, graduated June 8 with associate’s degrees in business
administration and military science. They earned the degrees
mainly through military experience they already possessed.
“This program is only possible because of the outstanding
leadership of (Hocking College development director) Paul
Harper, and the vision of the Ohio Army National Guard,” said
Command Sgt. Maj. William L. Gilliam, Ohio’s top enlisted
Soldier. “Every serving NCO needs a degree to be competitive in
both the civilian and military worlds.”
Gilliam, the state command sergeant major, is one of the
program’s first graduates, now numbering about a half dozen. He
said the program, accessed primarily through the Internet, is
extremely user-friendly and gives NCOs another way to lead by
example and pave the way for other enlisted Soldiers.
Harper described Hocking College as a technical school on the
forefront of cooperation with the military.
“The Army has the largest field of trained technicians in the
world—they are a perfect match for us,” Harper said.
The College at Work program is currently compatible with Army
recruiters and sergeants major because of their extensive
experience and the administrative nature of their jobs. The
program, part of the Ohio National Guard Distance Learning
Network, requires participants to earn at least 15 credit hours
from Hocking College.
Garloch took four classes online—at no personal
expense—completing his degree in about six months. He now plans
to apply it toward a bachelor’s degree.
“It’s an easy and painless procedure that makes good use of our
previous military experience,” Garloch said.
Jackson had to take more classes in order to graduate but
finished with a 4.0 grade-point average. He too took all classes
online and said the program is a great opportunity for
Guardmembers to turn all their experience into a degree.
Retired Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Belcher of the Ohio Army National
Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion also had an integral
part in getting the program off the ground. Although College at
Work officially started in the summer of 2001, the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks altered people’s priorities, he said.
“People deserve credit for their achievements and it was crucial
for us to get this going. I am very proud to have been a part of
this program and the advancement of any Soldier’s education, in
the military or outside of it,” Belcher said.
Hocking College has a long-standing relationship with the Ohio
National Guard. When annual scholarships were first awarded more
than 30 years ago, 15 were awarded to Hocking College students
pursuing careers in the military. This was the precursor to the
100 percent tuition-paid Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program
and subsequently, College at Work.
Gilliam says the next phase will include degrees for first
sergeants eligible for promotion. Ideally, after completing the
First Sergeant Course, Soldiers would enroll in Hocking College
and then receive an associate’s degree upon completion of the
U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.
Although the program currently focuses on sergeants major and
recruiters because of their high level of administrative
training, it is open to all Soldiers of any educational level or
background.
“My push is to the senior NCOs so they can lead by example and
make this Army stronger,” Gilliam said.
For more information on the program, call 1-877-HOCKING,
extension 7020, or go to http://www.hocking.edu/enrollment-information/college_at_work/index.htm. |
