Higher standards in learning for those held to higher standards

Photo By Cpl. Christopher Johns | Sgt. Lance Joames, a radio operator with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 and a Summerdale, N.J., native, asks a question to Amanda Etter, an education specialist with the education center aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 1. The center holds an education fair every three months for college representatives to come and present opportunities to potential students.  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CA, UNITED STATES

03.01.2012

Story by Pfc. Christopher Johns 

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. - Getting an education while working full time can be daunting to anyone, but there are educational services on base that make balancing the two an easier process.

People like Warren Schmitt, the education officer with the station education center and a St. Louis native, with the education center are available to make this monstrous task seem like a no brainer.

“We offer a multitude of services here for active-duty service members and family members,” said Schmitt. “We have two academic counselors who work on helping [service members] determine what programs and degrees fit [their] needs the best.”

We also work with tuition assistance funding, which provides up to 4,500 dollars per fiscal year, added Schmitt.

With tuition assistance comes help finding the school that maximizes educational potential for the individual student.

“We have three schools represented on base with permanent offices, and then we have a list of about 25 institutions that visit once or twice a month for about two hours at a time,” said Schmitt.

Miramar Community College and Central Texas College offer associates degree programs, while National University offers bachelors and masters degree programs.

With these colleges comes the distance learning program, which allows Marines to use computers and CDs to complete classes and courses while aboard stations or deployed.

The education center also gives service members and families the opportunity to take tests that require certified proctors, such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test and American College Testing. For active duty service members, the center offers the Defense Language Proficiency Test and the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.

Even though service members move frequently, there is still hope to get an education.

“Although Marines and spouses choose to do their part serving their country instead of seeking higher education we allow them the chance to get an education,” said Vivianne CruzCancel, the personal and professional development program manager with the education center.

Potential students are also encouraged to partake of briefs that explain the advantages and disadvantages of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and the Montgomery G.I. Bill on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information on education benefits, visit the education center located inside The Hub, where personal and professional growth is paramount.

• Date Taken: 03.01.2012
• Date Posted: 03.02.2012 17:40
• Story ID: 84658
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CA, US