Marines, sailors complete ‘major milestone'

It took Cpl. Christopher Kelleher 10 years and one deployment, but he is finally a college graduate.

More than 100 graduates walked across the stage at the 14th annual Commanding Officer's Graduation Ceremony Friday morning, where they received degrees from Coastal Carolina Community College, Campbell University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Boston University, Webster University and University of Phoenix.

Kelleher, who received his bachelor's degree in business and marketing from the University of Phoenix, went to college for two years after high school before realizing it wasn't for him. He worked in the civilian world for three years before enlisting in the Marine Corps.

"It just takes me a while to get done," said Kelleher, who is with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 at Cherry Point, after the ceremony.

Through Camp Lejeune's Lifelong Learning Branch, service members are able to seek higher education during off-duty hours. This year, 512 Marines and sailors have earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from seven different colleges.

The number, however, is less than half of the number of graduates honored at previous ceremonies due to deployments, said Col. Richard P. Flatau, commanding officer of Camp Lejeune.

According to Flatau, it's also taking longer for the Marines and sailors to receive their degrees "because of their challenging deployment schedules," he said.

Despite that, "Marines and sailors are still enrolled and enrolling in degree programs," Flatau said.

Friday's ceremony was a "major milestone" for the graduates, who consisted of Marines, sailors and spouses, said Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

"Most work full time, most have families, most have deployed or have spouses that have deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa," he said.

"It is not easy and you have done it," he told the graduates before they crossed the stage where six university banners hung.

While Kelleher agrees that the road is not easy, he also knows it's one worth taking.

"With tuition assistance, with the GI Bill, with everything the Marine Corps gives you, if you don't get a degree, you're stupid," he said before returning to his friends and family.

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Contact military reporter Amanda Hickey at 910-219-8461 or ahickey@freedomenc.com. Visit the Lejeune Deployed blog at http://lejeunedeployed.freedomblogging.com