Two sailors in a class of their own

CPO2 Sean (Robert) Wilcox (left) and CPO2 Andre Aubry at their Royal Roads University Convocation ceremony. CPO2 Wilcox graduated with a Master’s Degree in International Leadership and CPO2 Aubry with a Master’s in Leadership.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

Two sailors celebrated an academic feat last week when they graduated from Royal Roads University each with their Master’s Degree.

Donning their dress uniform with graduation cap and gown, the two Marine Technicians were the only Non-Commissioned Members (NCMs) in their graduating class at the June 12 Convocation Ceremony in the Royal Theatre.

Chief Petty Officer Second Class Andre Aubry, who works as a Career Manager at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, stepped up to the podium and received his diploma, a Master’s in Leadership. His classmate, CPO2 Robert (Sean) Wilcox, who works at DGMETM in Ottawa as a Naval Signature Management and Survivability Chief, was honoured twice: receiving his Master’s in International Leadership and the Royal Roads Founders Award for Leadership.

Both men were low key about the uniqueness of their accomplishment – a level of academic achievement normally achieved by Officers.

“We aren’t the first and nor will we be the last non-commissioned members in the Canadian Armed Forces to receive a master’s degree, but yes this is certainly rare,” said CPO2 Aubry, who has enjoyed a 20-year career in Canada’s military. “Working towards this [degree] has been an incredible benefit to my career, but also for my personal growth.”

Both indicated their road to higher learning came with a huge time commitment. Their programs each took approximately 30 months to complete on top of their full-time job requirements. Each sailor estimated spending between 30 to 40 hours a week attending lectures, studying, and writing assignments.

CPO2 Aubry says he is looking forward to applying what he learned, and the implementation of his thesis The Tactical to Strategic PO1/WO and CPO2/MWO of the CAF. His research looked at how to effectively transition senior NCMs from the tactical to the strategic level.

“The main purpose of my project was to follow up on the Strategic Employment Model [SEM],” wrote CPO2 Aubry in his thesis summary.

He added that “part of the implementation of this project will enable future senior NCMs a complete strategic outlook in order for them to make the best decisions for the organization and people they serve, and lead collaboratively.”

CPO2 Wilcox has been a CAF member for over 22 years and focused his studies on developing liaisons with foreign governments that included a residency project in Ecuador. His thesis Institutional Mentorship and How it Can Advance the Position of Women with the Profession of Arms was sponsored by Ecuador’s military.

“Accomplishing this program has opened my eyes to a global perspective [of the military] which falls in line with the strategic aspect of the forces versus the tactical aspect,” said CPO2 Maxwell. “It really means being able to see the forces as a whole and how we fit into the world instead of just how we fit into Canadian Forces Base Halifax or Esquimalt, for example.”

The Ecuadorian military has set out to achieve gender equity and therefore embraced the opportunity to work with CPO2 Wilcox. He spent a good chunk of his time in Ecuador touring military bases and academies and speaking about the increasing influence of women in Canada’s military, while learning about the gender inequities that exist in their society.

Pending CAF approval he hopes to return to Ecuador later this year, along with a team of Canadian military personnel who will form a working group that will work towards the establishment of a leadership institute.

To further that effort CPO2 Wilcox says he wants to continue his studies at Royal Roads. He is waiting on CAF approval and university funding that will enable him to work towards his PHD in International Leadership.