Minnesota Legion College – The American Legion Department of Minnesota

Fill out this form to apply for Legion College

Legion College is planned for April

CAMP RIPLEY — Denise Milton, chairwoman of the Department of Minnesota Training Committee, announced that Legion College is scheduled for April at Camp Ripley.

“It is for any Legion member,” she said, “who wishes to improve their knowledge of the Legion or improve their leadership skills. It is not aimed at so-called elite members.”

The first graduates of Minnesota American Legion College pose for a class photo on Oct. 18 at Camp Ripley. Front row from left are William Gordon of St. Michael Post 567, Jamie Woods of Minneapolis Post 291, Joe Tappainer of Apple Valley Post 1776. Second row from left are Leslie Kruft of Park Rapids Post 212, Karen O’Bar of Bertha Post 336, Bruce Braun of Grand Rapids Post 60, David Manson of Spicer Post 545, Pam Krill of Fairmont Post 36, Mary Hanson of Austin Spam Post 570, Dale Wellik of Kasson Post 333, Garylee Davenport of Spicer Post 545 and Gary H. Olson of Moorhead Post 21. Back row from left are James Olson of Mankato Post 11, Donald Claveau Jr. of Duluth Post 28, Randy Olson of Winnebago Post 82, Ken Gibson Jr. of Rosetown Post 542, David Dahl of St. Paul Post 8, Lane Stunkel of St. Paul Arcade-Phalen Post 577, Wade Larson of Minneapolis Gopher Post 440 and Carla Tappainer of Apple Valley Post 1776.

The Department of Minnesota Legion College graduated its first class in October 2020. The training was originally slated for May 2020 but delayed because of COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time.

The next Legion College begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 8, in the Education and Training Center at Camp Ripley and ends at noon Sunday, April 11. Tuition is $200 and covers class materials and housing. Students stay right at the center.

The prerequisites are having finished the online Legion Boot Camp through the National website, legion.org, and bring a laptop computer.

Milton said Legion College will have a limit of 20 people, just so the Legion College Committee can get the hang of things the first time out. Ultimately, she hopes there will be classes for beginners, intermediates and advanced.

The deadline to apply is March 12. The application for Legion College is found on the Department of Minnesota website, mnlegion.org, under “Programs.” Applicants can email or postal mail it in.

Milton be reached via email at kuuky@hotmail.com and via postal mail at:
P.O. Box L
Bagley, MN 56621

She said applicants will receive notice by Sept. 21 of whether they were accepted. She said anyone who sent in an application before the original April 15 deadline remain under consideration and do not need to re-apply.

The Legion College Committee is a subcommittee of the Department’s Training Committee. The other subcommittee is the MyLegion.org Committee.

About Legion College

Legion College enhances knowledge and appreciation of The American Legion and teaches the core values and contributions of the organization, its Auxiliary, Sons of The American Legion and many subordinate programs. It prepares Legionnaires for leadership positions in Posts, Districts, Counties and Departments through education, development and motivation. The curriculum challenges student leaders to think critically and creatively about issues confronting the Legion.