Every year Military Sealift Command (MSC) selects and sponsors one senior civil service mariner (CIVMAR) to the U.S. Naval War College for a year as a full-time student. In June, a six-year MSC chief mate, Todd R. Kutkiewicz, will be graduating from the War College with a graduate degree.

The U.S. Naval War College is a professional, graduate-level educational and research institution, which prepares leaders for the challenges of operational and strategic level leadership during their careers as decision makers and problem solvers. Students earn joint professional military education credit and a master's degree in national security and strategic studies.

According to Kutkiewicz, "the War College was an excellent opportunity to prepare myself for command and leadership as an aspiring MSC master, and the best option to earn a master's degree from an esteemed academic institution."

"During my year at the War College, I represented MSC as a CIVMAR, serving as an ambassador for CIVMARs. Most of my classmates had never even met a merchant mariner, much less understood how MSC contributes to the Department of Defense and national security," said Kutkiewicz. "Through interaction with classmates and faculty, my contributions served to raise awareness for the silent and often misunderstood U.S. merchant marine."

Like many of MSC's CIVMARS, Kutkiewicz is a U.S naval reservist.

"I am lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Strategic Sealift Officer (SSO) Program," said Kutkiewicz. "I earned joint professional military education credit for attending the War College, so my Navy Reserve career did benefit from this experience. The SSO Program is unable to sponsor its members to attend for the year in residence, so being able to capitalize on this MSC opportunity as a reservist made the experience that much more rewarding."

Kutkiewicz's year at the War College consisted of three semesters of study.

"The three core subject areas covered during the school year were national security affairs, strategy and warfare, and joint maritime operations," said Kutkiewicz. "Depending on the curriculum requirements for each semester, students are expected to read on average 500 pages per week, write regular papers and take exams. Average student class and study time is 50 to 60 hours per week."

The electives track supplements the core curriculum, allowing each student to pursue a more specialized area of study.

"Needless to say, it is a rigorous, yet incredibly rewarding year, requiring significant time management skills," added Kutkiewicz. "I grew through the year from studying history and naval theory, researching and writing, lessons taught by the professors and lectures, and the academic discussion between students in seminar."

"It is amazing for me to think back to August 2016 and when I started as a new student at the War College," said Kutkiewicz. "I knew so little about the inter-workings of our government, the national strategy and policy decision-making process, about the many wars of our nation, and about joint military operations. I am now a more effective writer, well read and informed, can speak with more authority, and am more confident in myself today."

Some of Kutkiewicz's highlights during his time as a student at the U.S. Navy War College included winning the President's Cup Sailing Trophy, meeting the chief of naval operations, and taking his wife to the winter ball at the Rosecliff Mansion.

"The War College was an opportunity for all students to take time and pause for a moment to reflect on our careers," said Kutkiewicz. "I had the opportunity to spend quality time with my family, all while preparing for greater responsibility and the challenges that follow. Having been afforded the opportunity to spend a year in Newport, Rhode Island with my wife and newborn baby, in and of itself was priceless."

Kutkiewicz is eager to apply the knowledge and experience gained at the U.S. Navy War College once he returns to MSC's fleet.

"Military Sealift Command works very close with the U.S. Navy and all other services to provide logistics support, conduct special missions, and supply combat forces around the globe," said Kutkiewicz. "The education I have received will allow me to better understand and communicate with the military across the joint services to meet the needs of the customer and assure continued support to our warfighters."

"As tensions rise around the world, my understanding and appreciation of the threat environment and power competition will allow me to make more informed decisions and support the command's effort to remain proactive in solutions to meet the emerging security challenges," said Kutkiewicz.

Kutkiewicz offered advice for CIVMARS who are interested in pursuing further education at the U.S. Navy War College.

"The U.S. Naval War College is recommended for any CIVMAR aspiring to serve as a senior leader within Military Sealift Command or a higher office within the federal government," said Kutkiewicz. "It is also important that any CIVMAR interested in attending have a sincere interest and appreciation for the U.S. Navy, its history, missions, and its future."

According to Kutkiewicz, the U.S. War College is a good fit for mid-career CIVMAR officers with approximately 12-16 years of experience, who have already earned an undergraduate degree and are preparing for command of a ship.

"For those CIVMARS considering attending the U.S. Navy War College, it is helpful to have a mentor guide you through the process," said Kutkiewicz. "I was thankful to have Capt.n Bob Wiley, Rob Foor, and Vic Martino to call on, all War College alumni who were able to guide me along the way."

As a U.S. Navy War College graduate, Kutkiewicz hopes to become the master of one of MSC's expeditionary fast transport ships or dry cargo, ammunition ships.

"The finest men and women officers from every branch of our armed forces and government agencies were selected by their services to attend the War College," according to Kutkiewicz. "I had the honor and privilege to get to know many of these folks, spend time in class and study with them, and even develop lasting friendships with some."

"My classmates include Navy and Coast Guard ship captains and fighter pilots, intelligence officers, Army Rangers and special forces, a border patrol agent, a Navy SEAL, former Marine One pilot, Air Force [remote piloted aircraft] pilots, and international naval officers from around the world. I can truly say these people are what made my time at the War College special and memorable above all else," concluded Kutkiewicz.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Military Sealift Command, visit www.navy.mil/.