The Air Force Education With Industry Program – Medical (MEWI) has been a mutually beneficial endeavor between the U.S. Air Force Medical Service and healthcare industry for many years. Each year, a small number of officers (mostly MSC, NC, BSC) are enrolled in MEWI. The program consists of a ten-month fellowship in a civilian institution/company. During this time, the student will be exposed to the industry’s organizational structure, management methods, and technology and will be immersed in the day-to-day challenges of management. The objective is to develop management qualities and technical leadership abilities in these select officers to enable them to be more effective during their Air Force careers. The industry benefits as well from this endeavor by developing a cadre of officers within the Air Force who have an in-depth understanding of industry’s objectives, problems, and mode of operations. Upon program completion, graduates are assigned to Air Force duty consistent with the education. Participants incur a 3-to-1 year service commitment in return for the training.
Typically, the student begins the MEWI program with a short top-level overview of the company. The next four weeks are spent understanding all of the significant functional areas within the organization. The core of the program commences after the orientation with the student entering the "work" phase. In this phase, the student works with company middle management to solve company problems and achieve company objectives. In essence, the student becomes a company employee experiencing the same responsibilities, opportunities, and frustrations that the company middle managers encounter. It is in this environment that the MEWI payoff is realized. This learning by doing drives home the understanding of the corporate environment.
Each company appoints an employee, known as the company coordinator, to assist the student in the transition from the Air Force operational environment to the corporate world. The coordinator establishes the company's program, introduces the student to the company, and guides the student through the experiences that will ensue through the ten-month period.
Student performance is measured through the evaluation of three reports that are required during the program. These reports address not only the activities engaged in and the learning objectives achieved, but also require the student to identify issues of concern between government and industry. The student is tasked to analyze these issues in-depth and to propose possible solutions. A training report is written at the end of the program that describes the student’s experience and comments on performance.
Program Manager:
enem.mewi@afit.edu
DSN: 785-5824 Ext. 3030
Comm: (937)255-5824 Ext. 3030
Fax DSN: 785-5371
Fax Comm: (937)255-5371
Assistant Program Manager:
enem.mewi@afit.edu
DSN: 785-5824 Ext. 3020
Comm: (937)255-5824 Ext. 3020
Fax DSN: 785-5371
Fax Comm: (937)255-5371
Mailing Address:
AFIT/ENEM
ATTN: (PM's Name here)
2950 Hobson Way
Wright-Patt AFB, OH 45433-7765