Command and General Staff College Foundation News Spring 2021 - 14

- from page 13

Dangelantonio said that even as an online course, the oneon-one instructor, and weekly staff group interactions along
with the curriculum made AOC stand out in comparison to
his previous experiences.
In 2021 more than 1,200 officers will take the newly
revised, modular, online course in 16 to 20-person staff
groups focused on learning history, leadership, and largescale ground combat operations at the division and corps
levels. Instructors encourage students to collaborate
professionally to accomplish various assignments, exercises,
and practicums while serving in varied warfighting functions
and staff positions. Throughout the process, AOC students
collaborate, observe, teach and mentor each other under the
direction of their AOC instructor.
The real growth comes as students develop authentic
relationships with their teammates that help solidify
learning as they share individual experiences and develop
field grade competency while leading peers. Many officers
elect to take AOC later in their careers and thus ranks
within a staff groups can include new captain-promotable
up through post-battalion command lieutenant colonels.
These are relationships that will last throughout their
military careers.
Taking AOC online is not without its downsides. The
majority of DDE students are citizen-Soldiers who have
civilian careers in addition to the military requirements.
Online students learn to manage time and develop an

educational battle rhythm necessary to complete the
twelve-month course. AOC is not meant to overwhelm
students with work or consume all of their available time,
but conflicts undoubtedly occur throughout the school
year. Over the last year online AOC students were called
to support national emergency responses to wildfires,
hurricanes, civil disturbances, and COVID-19. In addition
to their family obligations and civilian work requirements
many also deployed, participated in warfighter exercises
or training center rotations, and continued monthly unit
training. Teammates routinely collaborated to overcome
these types of situations as agile and adaptive teams.
Instructors further have the leeway to work with students
individually and adjust deadlines when life happens.
" The course is structured for you to learn and succeed,
and the skills taught in the course will be invaluable in
your Army career, " said Dangelantonio. " If I signed up for
AOC during a deployment year, took the course during the
coronavirus pandemic and three hurricanes, you can too.
Take the plunge don't be afraid and enjoy it! "
DDE will continue moving forward in providing top-tier
learning experiences for our non-resident students like Maj.
Dangelantonio.
Lt. Col. Karen J. Dill is an Army Signal Officer and a graduate of the CGSC
Class of 2009. She is a 26-year career Signal Officer and currently serves as
an assistant professor for the Department of Distance Education's Advanced
Operations Course at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School in
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

For more information about DDE's Advanced Operations Course: https://usacac.army.mil/organizations/cace/cgsc/cgss/dde/AOC

FACULTY HIGHLIGHT

Dr. R. Wendell Stevens - Department of Distance Education

Dr. R. Wendell Stevens, Assistant Professor, CGSC Department of Distance Education
Advanced Operations Course developed the train-the-trainer Distance Learning Instructor Course
(DLIC) in order to elevate DDE online instruction and establish a Digitally Enhanced Learning
Community (DELC) within the Command and General Staff College. Due to COVID-19, DDE's
in-house course was in high-demand throughout Army University. Resident CGSS, TASS, Centers
of Excellence and Army University faculty sought out and receive this coveted instruction.

Lt. Col. Keven Miller, Director of Instruction for the Western Region of the
U.S., 97th Training Brigade (CGSOC/ILE), was recently presented with the
CGSC Golden Pen Award for his book Know Power, Know Responsibility.
In Know Power, Know Responsibility Miller clearly articulates the current
state of education, identifies opportunities, and asks the question: How do
we provide the necessary tools and lessons to our next generation of students?
Miller is a seasoned instructor with decades of teaching experience and a
lifetime of serving students in both civilian and military arenas. His Army
Reserve and National Guard students in (and outside) the classroom hold him
in high regard.

14 - CGSC FOUNDATION NEWS | www.cgscfoundation.org

PHOTOS COURTESY DDE

Lt. Col. Keven Miller - TASS

https://usacac.army.mil/organizations/cace/cgsc/cgss/dde/AOC http://www.cgscfoundation.org

Command and General Staff College Foundation News Spring 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Command and General Staff College Foundation News Spring 2021