Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) began their second semester of Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) classes Jan. 28.
More than 300 Sailors enrolled in NCPACE to further their educational goals and earn college credits while deployed at sea.
This semester, NCPACE is offering math, history, English, psychology, and business courses to Stennis Sailors.
“NCPACE courses will increase a Sailors’ overall knowledge, and it will allow them to be better equipped while in the Navy,” said Ensign Jarrod Hamby, Stennis’ educational service officer.
The NCPACE teachers aboard Stennis have taught Sailors at sea before and understand the challenges that come with it.
“We are understanding people, and we know that Sailors have other responsibilities along with the class,” said Patrick Jewett, an NCPACE English professor .
Having teachers aboard the ship allows Sailors to interact and learn on a more personal level.
“I know they offer more classes through the self-paced program, but I do a lot better learning in a classroom with a teacher there in person,” said Seaman Deirdra Tooker, from Stennis’ Deck Department . “I am taking a basic class now and plan on taking more when we get home from deployment.”
The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, consisting of Stennis, Carrier Air Wing 9, Destroyer Squadron 21, and guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) are forward deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility to strengthen regional partnerships, sustain maritime security, and support combatant commander requirements for assets in the area.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, January 30, 2013; Image: US Navy