McGUIRE AFB — Base officials are working with area colleges to offer courses on Middle Eastern cultures to Air Force personnel.
“With everything that is going on in the world these days, international communities are of great interest,” said Col. Rick Martin, commander of the 305th Air Mobility Wing. “The long-term goal of our education and training flight is to secure on-base programs that offer degrees in international studies.”
Martin said the project is the product of conversations between himself, presidents of the colleges and U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton, R-3rd of Mount Holly.
The base forged partnerships with Burlington County College and Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, and may work with Ocean County College in the future, Saxton said.
Martin said the two-year military-affairs program was developed using courses already available at the colleges and the main focus for now is Middle Eastern studies.
He said the courses did not meet the needs of officers, so they have been given the opportunity to learn a language over a six-month period using the Rosetta Stone computer learning software.
Martin said the program was introduced during the spring semester.
“This program is based on need and we anticipate the needs increasing,” Martin said. “We hope to continue this partnership with the local colleges indefinitely.”
Martin said he has gotten positive feedback from participants. Saxton said the curriculum is expected to grow over the next two years. Thomas Edison will host courses on African, Chinese and Middle Eastern cultures, as well as Eastern religions, Islam and other world religions.
He said BCC will offer classes on foreign languages, as well as comparative religion, Eastern philosophy, international relations, Islamic history, culture and art and modern East Asia.
“This curriculum also shows how local educational institutions can work together with our local bases that have international missions,” Saxton said. “The course credits can be applied to an airman’s efforts to earn a college degree. I applaud the colleges for their efforts.”
