The U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency, a subordinate agency of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, honored its 101st graduating class of the Medical Logistics Management Internship Program during a ceremony at Fort Detrick, Maryland, Dec. 15.

USAMMA Commander Col. Lynn Marm provided opening remarks and reminded the graduates of their valuable role in Army readiness. "The Army must be ready, and to do this we need leaders who can think that way," said Marm. "We must ensure that our Soldiers are always in a position of greater advantage over the enemy... and the first advantage that we can give our Soldiers are these great leaders."

The Defense Health Agency's Chief of Medical Logistics Col. Andrew Centineo served as the guest speaker and highlighted the variety of experiences the interns gained during their training program at USAMMA. The MLMIP attendees visited government and private sector organizations to learn logistics best practices, materiel acquisition and management techniques.

"I would challenge you to take the opportunities you saw others doing and apply that to what we do, not only as Army logistics but as defense logistics in support of the Military Health System," said Centineo.

The U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency graduates six students from its Medical Logistics Management Internship Program Dec. 15. Graduates include (back row, left to right) Capt. Jesus Loayza, Maj. Sigrid Harrison, Staff Sgt. Jose Morales, Capt. Joshua Singleton, Maj. Leticia Gonzalez, and Staff Sgt. Diego Mosquera. Also pictured are (front row, left to right) MLMIP Program Manager LaTrish Jones, USAMMA Commander Col. Lynn Marm, and USAMMA Deputy Commander for Support Lt. Col. Peter Ramos. (Photo by Ellen Crown, USAMMA Public Affairs)

The MLMIP program, which began in 1967, is designed to develop and strengthen the skills of mid-career medical logistics officers, warrant officers, noncommissioned officers and civilians. Since its inception, the MLMIP has graduated 488 Army officers, 143 noncommissioned officers, 11 warrant officers, four Navy officers and four civilians. The newest graduates include:

• Maj. Sigrid Harrison
• Maj. Leticia Gonzalez
• Capt. Joshua Singleton
• Capt. Jesus Loayza
• Staff Sgt. Diego Mosquera
• Staff Sgt. Jose Morales

Class 101 is the last group that will graduate from the current six-month program, as USAMMA moves to modernize MLMIP. In August 2018, the MLMIP will become an 11-month training program consisting of six months of didactic training and five months of internship at USAMMA, followed by a two-year utilization assignment. Graduates from the new MLMIP are expected to excel in operational and strategic logistics positions in the joint and inter-agency environment.

"It is up to us now to apply and share all the knowledge we have gained," said Loayza, the distinguished honor graduate of MLMIP class 101. "This graduation is just the end of one chapter and the beginning of another."