Forward Operating Base Kalsu offers Soldiers education opportunities

Photo By Bethany Huff | Staff Sgt. Roberto Villanueva, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 9th Engineer Battalion, retention noncommissioned officer and native of Hamlin, Texas, reviews his mathematics work during the Functional Academic Skills Training class at the Blackhawk Inn dining facility here March 30. The FAST class covers mathematics, vocabulary and word knowledge and helps Soldiers raise their general technical scores on the Armed Forces Classification Test.  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

04.02.2009

Story by Pfc. Bethany Huff 

Multi-National Division-Central

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Going to school is not usually on a Soldier's mind during a deployment. The Army Education Center here is looking to change that.

The center is currently offering two classes, Functional Academic Skills Training and the Leadership Enhancement Course. Students can also take online courses at the center, which is located right outside of the 172nd Infantry Brigade Tactical Operation Center.

The FAST class is a course designed to help Soldiers improve their General Technical score on the Armed Forces Classification Test for enlisted Soldiers that is equivalent to the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The 60-hour class is broken into four-hour sessions over three weeks and focuses on mathematics, vocabulary and word knowledge skills.

"I'm glad that I'm able to take this class because it will help me raise my GT score, which will help me to become a career counselor," said Staff Sgt. Roberto Villanueva, a retention non-commissioned officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 9th Engineer Battalion, and native of Hamlin, Texas.

The LEC class provides Soldiers the opportunity to improve their leadership skills to become better NCOs. The two-week course consists of two-hour sessions Monday through Friday and gives Soldiers who complete this course one accredited hour with Central Texas College.

FAST and LEC classes vary in times to accommodate Soldiers' schedules.

Soldiers with bachelor degrees instruct these courses after being authorized to teach by the education center coordinator.

"I feel that the students have responded well to the courses that are offered and I hope to continue teaching for the education center," said Capt. Steven N. Carter, 9th Engineer Bn. battle captain and native of Sandpoint, Idaho.

Soldiers who wish to take advantage of these classes must consult with their first-line supervisor to ensure mission cycles permit attendance. Once cleared by their chain of command, the Soldier's first sergeant can enroll them in the course through the education center coordinator.

The education center staff said they plan to increase the classes to include those that can be used toward undergraduate degrees.

"Ultimately, we would like to add weekend seminars and college classes to our program," said Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher J. Walton, the education center coordinator and 9th Eng. Bn. command sergeant major.

"By having the education center operational for Soldiers, they are offered an opportunity to build their career, gain promotion points, the ability to change their job and better their lives, both military and civilian," said the Hampton, Va. native.

• Date Taken: 04.02.2009
• Date Posted: 04.02.2009 03:15
• Story ID: 31894
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ