One rarely has the chance to meet a bona fide visionary.  While Bill Gates and Steve Jobs maybe better known, I would put our founder, James P. Etter (Major, USMC, Ret.) in their illustrious company.  Almost 20 years ago, he had the vision to start a university  to serve thousands of U.S. Military members with relevance, convenience, and affordability at the forefront of his vision.  From a thought at a picnic table driven by Jim Etter’s passion and experience, AMU has grown to a multi-faceted university system serving more than 70,000 students – affordably expanding access to quality, higher education for tens of thousands of Americans.  The curriculum has advanced from a single Master’s degree in Military Studies to 79 degrees ranging from 19 Associates’ to 34 Bachelor’s to 26 Master’s. I would like your help in telling this story.

Over the next year, I would like to interview a few alumni who are willing to share their stories about either the experience of learning at AMU/APU or the opportunities through which they were able to apply the knowledge that they acquired to their career.  If you are an alum and interested in sharing a story or two, please e-mail me at presblog@apus.edu.  Thanks.

Today the United States Marines Corps is celebrating its 233rd birthday!  On this day in 1775, the Second Continental Congress established two battalions of soldiers to serve as the Continental Marines.

Before I provide you with the rest of the history of the Marine Corps, I need to disclose that our founder, Major James Etter, was an enlisted Marine in Vietnam and after attending college on the GI Bill after the war, became a Marine aviator.  He retired after twenty-six years of service.  When Jim founded American Military University, he solicited the assistance of General Al Gray, the twenty-ninth Commandant of the Marine Corps.  General Gray, a soldier’s soldier, not only provided guidance, but became a member of the AMU board, eventually the Board Chair, and continues to serve as a member of the Board today and as our Board Chairman, emeritus.  Writing about the Marines from information available on the web might trigger a call from either individual if I am not accurate, but I will attempt to get the facts right.

Read the rest of this entry »