The U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency, a subordinate agency of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, honored the 99th graduating class of the Medical Logistics Management Internship Program Dec. 13.

"We have five people sitting here that we are graduating today from the entire Army. That is significant, and I am so proud of the accomplishments of this team," said USAMMA Commander Col. Lynn Marm during her remarks at the ceremony.

The USAMMA has had a class of medical logisticians graduate with an overview of the support provided to the health care environment every year since 1967. The MLMIP provides mid-career medical logistics officers, warrant officers, noncommissioned officers and civilians advanced medical logistics training.

The MLMIP is a six-month program offered twice a year, beginning in January and July. The class is a mix of site visits to locations like FedEx and Walter Reed Army Medical Center and formal classroom instruction.

During a trip to the Defense Logistics Agency in Philadelphia this past August to tour and discuss the processes used to assess the medical materiel supply system at the Defense Supply Center, the interns had the unique opportunity to sign the inside of two flags that were being hand-sewn for the next U.S. president and vice president.

The MLMIP instructors focus on reinforcing the student's logistics foundation, adding another piece to their professional knowledge and skills, and expanding their network affiliations in the DOD and civilian health care environments. As a result, when the graduates leave the program they are equipped with the advanced training needed to succeed in an ever-changing military environment.

The interns' training encompassed all facets of advanced medical logistics, from focused logistics to supply chain management principles. The interns were exposed to modern Department of Defense and civilian health logistics business practices as well as non-medical industry exposure. This gave the interns knowledge to better support the health care team and improve the readiness of the force.

During his remarks as the class honor graduate, Capt. Nicholeus D. Harris voiced his appreciation of the USAMMA staff for their support.

"I've been in the Army for 19 years and the level of professionalism I encountered at the USAMMA is unmatched. Any time that one of us interns needed anything, all we had to do was ask, and any one of you would drop what you were doing to help us. We all so appreciated your support," said Harris.

The 99th MLMIP graduating class included: Harris, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Camerino Rojas, Sgt. 1st Class Clinton S. Knighten, Staff Sgt. Marques D. Washington and Staff Sgt. Aretha M. Curry.

"If there is any one thing that I hope interns that come through this program will achieve is that we will change the way that you think about problems," said Marm. "If coming through this course elevated your thinking, and I believe that it has, than we have been successful."

Since the program's establishment in 1967, the USAMMA has graduated more than 480 Army officers, 139 noncommissioned officers, 11 warrant officers, four Navy officers and four civilians.

For more information on the MLMIP, visit: http://www.usamma.amedd.army.mil/mlmip.cfm.