AMU Lifestyle Military Veterans

Why Education Matters – Part III

Vince Patton, Ed.D.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, USCG Retired

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

Part III of the three part series

So – to fight boredom during my underway time, and to pretty much stay out of my chief’s constant torment of verbal abuse, I began taking USAFI courses. I got into it, and really enjoyed it. My communications officer always checked on me and continued to encourage me in taking my courses. Whenever I finished a lesson or module, the communications officer would make a big deal of it in front of the entire Operations Department, and eventually got the commanding officer and executive officer to join in with his personal cheerleading sessions. It was actually quite embarrassing to me, as I couldn’t figure out why they are making a big deal out me, when others on the ship were also taking USAFI courses.

Well, I found out why the reason for making such a fuss over my academic achievements. It turned out, my chief was not too happy about all this hoopla over me. In fact whenever a test score or graded paper would come back from USAFI, the communications officer, joined in by the CO and XO would call me in front of the crew during afternoon muster, and have everyone cheer when my grade was read. Out the corner of my eye, I see my chief having what looked like he was going through a convulsion, with all his physical antics and swear words. I soon realized, “Hey, the chief is getting pissed off about all of this!” So, what did I do … it became my motivation to continue on with my studies. The better the grade, the more animated my chief got. This was fun! It was far better than the awful thoughts I had in my mind about what I wished I could have done to him. But, seeing him get all uptight about my college studies, well to borrow the credit card commercial’s tag line – “Priceless.”

In my three year tour on DALLAS, I had amassed 63 college semester hours, through a combination of USAFI courses and CLEP exams. I was an average high school student, hovering around a 2.5 or so, but in my college studies, my lowest grade was a B, and my CLEP exam scores were in the higher grade percentile range. It became my start to my academic success. Through the course of my Coast Guard career, I continued on with my education, earning my B.A. in Communications from Pacific College, M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University at Chicago, and an Ed.D. from The American University. All of these degrees were achieved while I was on active duty. Only my doctorate degree was achieved as a fulltime student due to my being selected to a Coast Guard graduate school program. At the time I became the first enlisted member of any military service to be selected to a graduate school program, which typically is set aside only for officers.

Without question, I credit my success of my 30 year military service to education. Not only was able to reach the senior-ranking enlisted position becoming the 8th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (a goal that I had established in boot camp), but the opportunity to be part of major personnel actions that occurred during my military service, from development of the Coast Guard’s Enlisted Evaluation System, co-authoring the Women in the Coast Guard Study, co-developer of the Coast Guard Work-Life Program, and the Senior Enlisted Needs Assessment.

My education may not have changed the world, as Nelson Mandela’s quote states … but it changed my world, and yes indeed it was a powerful weapon that was used against adversity!

That’s my story an I’m sticking to it!

About the Author
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Patton retired from the U.S. Coast Guard 1 November 2002, after serving 30 years of active duty. He became the first African American selected as the service’s senior-most enlisted ranking position as the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard in 1998. His career included staff and operational assignments both afloat and ashore throughout the United States, and a joint military service assignment in Cuba and Haiti.

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