By Army Sgt. Brandon McCarty
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti -- Having trouble taking online courses? Need a more intimate setting for learning? Not sure where to turn for answers to an education plan? Fear not, Central Texas College and University of Maryland University College are in Djibouti to help.
Representatives from both colleges are offering "face-to-face" college courses, support services and seminars in the library, between the Green Beans coffee shop and the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) buildings at Camp Lemonier. The program aims to help service members with their dreams of higher education.
"(CTC's) ultimate goal is to put troops on the road to graduation," said Julia Sibilla, associate dean of CTC from the southern region/Mediterranean/downrange, at the recent college fair in the Bob Hope Dining Facility.
"(UMUC) has entire degree plans," said Stephanie Anderson, executive office administrator/director's office/downrange office from UMUC. "Instead of playing video games and spending hours at the cantina, service members can move toward finishing their higher education."
CTC is offering Criminal Justice, Drug Recognition for Law Enforcement, Crime in America and Terrorism as a Strategy for Insurgency classes. UMUC offers courses on Macroeconomics, Introduction to Computer Systems and College Mathematics. Term One classes begin Aug. 20 and early registration starts July 30.
"(These classes) are the best thing to happen on Camp Lemonier for service members," said Chief Petty Officer Margaret Greer, education services officer. "The more knowledge you have, the more powerful you are."
For those service members who need help managing their finances or would like to sharpen their computer skills, UMUC offers seminars in personal investment, word processing and spreadsheets.
"Taking classes and wanting to improve academically while deployed, shows that service members are motivated toward a better future for themselves," said Sibilla.
UMUC will have instructors flown in to teach, while CTC will use local teachers. Both colleges are also seeking instructors knowledgeable in criminal justice, medical procedures, English, science and math. The instructors must have an associate degree or higher to teach.
A personal approach, access to instructors without using e-mail and classes that are eight-weeks long, may just equal success.