Who I am...

As you can quickly determine from the title above, I am not a "traditional" teacher of Political Science. Like many of you I had to work my way through college and do the sometimes mundane, boring tasks necessary to succeed.

I served 27 years, 9 months and 11 days Active Federal Service, starting a a private rising to Staff Sergeant and then through the officer ranks from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel of Special Forces. Along the way the Government of the United States provided me opportunities to finish a college education, to attend language school twice, to participate in graduate school, and the Armed Forces Staff College . 

What these things mean to you is that you have to work and “Be All You Can Be!”—the old Army motto.

Academic Credentials:

   Degrees and Education:

•    M.S. in International Relations (Area Studies), Troy State University , 1987. [GPA 4.0]

•    Seminar, "Las Alternativas Políticas Argentinas en el Siglo XX," Universidad de Belgrano , 1989.

•    Alternative Certification Program, The University of Texas -- Pan American , 1995. [GPA 4.0]

•    Armed Forces Staff College, National Defense University , 1985

•    Bachelor of Science in Education (Social Studies - History). Moorhead State College , Moorhead Minnesota 1972.

•   Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center , Presidio of Monterey, CA, 1976-1977 and 1985.

Teaching Background:

• Instructor, South Texas College , 1999-Present

               == American and Texas Government I & II GOVT 2301, GOVT 2302

             == Internet Government Classes (GOVT 2301)

             == BTV and DVD Government Classes (GOVT 2301)

             == Web-Enhanced [Internet/DVD/Classroom] Government Classes         

• Teacher, Science Academy of South Texas, South Texas ISD, Mercedes, 1998-1999.

• Teacher, 5th Grade (Bilingual), Flores Elementary School, La Joya ISD, La Joya, 1995-1998.

• Department Head, Department of Military Science, South Dakota State University , 1992-1995.

• Chief Instructor, Strategy and Joint and Combined Operations, Department of Command and Staff, Escuela de las Americas , Fort Benning, GA 1985-1987.

• Chief Instructor, Comando Course and Patrolling Division, Department of Combat Operations, Escuela de las Americas, Fuerte Gulick, República de Panamá, 1977-1979.

• Military Trainer, various world-wide locations.

Learning Philosophy: We all can learn, if we work!  Be all you can be!  

Other Professional Experiences:

• Command of combat arms (Infantry and Special Forces) units from squad to battalion sized units.

• Latin American Area Specialist - Southern Cone (Specialized in Argentina).

• Chief of US Army Section, US Military Group, US Embassy Argentina 1987-1992.

• Professor of Military Science, South Dakota State University 1992-1995.

• Traveled, studied, and lived in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Panamá, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Spain, and Italy.  Assigned overseas in military service for over 12 years of 27 years 9 months and 11 days Active Federal Service.

HOW TO REACH ME:

E-mail Address: jberry@stcc.cc.tx.us
Telephone: (956) 447-6657