RETENTION THROUGH INNOVATION: THE BLENDED EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Army is actively seeking innovative programs and ideas to address the recruitment and retention challenges it faces. One such idea is the newly designed Blended Education Program (BEP) at the U.S. Army War College. The BEP is a hybrid program that combines the best aspects of the residential program, including staff rides to Gettysburg, Washington D.C., and New York City, with the remote flexibility of the distance education program, all within a 10-month academic year. It aims to help retain talented senior officers who wish to remain at their current duty stations while furthering their professional military education. Carl Benander, an AY24 BEP graduate, and Dr. Mark Duckenfield, the director of the program, joined podcast editor Ron Granieri to discuss the program's early successes and lessons learned. The BEP offers a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning, allowing students to interact with each other and their instructors in real time. Although still in its early stages, the BEP has been a success so far and is expected to continue and grow in the future. For more information about the Blended Education Program at the U.S. Army War College contact the director of the program, Dr. Mark Duckenfield [email protected]