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FORT HOOD, Texas — The Fort Hood Education Services Division provides a variety of educational resources and services for Soldiers, but they also offer a comprehensive educational support system that serves not just military personnel, but their families — including high school students.
The goal is to ensure the military community is aware of the many resources available to them and to make higher education accessible to everyone who pursues it, explained Kiersten Sheahan, chief of counseling, Fort Hood ESD.
“The ESD believes it’s important to support Soldiers and family members because we feel that anyone who wants to pursue higher education should be given the opportunity to do so,” she said. “We believe in the power of education and have seen the doors it can open for military families, so we want to share our knowledge and ensure that everyone who walks through our door knows how to find quality, affordable higher education programs that lead to meaningful employment and what funding options they have available to them.”
ESD prides itself on helping Soldiers attain their education goals, but they are just as dedicated to assisting high school students from the start of their higher education journey through graduation. Sheahan explained ESD accomplishes this goal in a few different ways.
“First, we offer a College 101 brief that is open to Soldiers, spouses and high school seniors. The College 101 brief is designed to help first-time college students create a career goal and an education plan and learn about different funding options, such as scholarships, federal financial aid, the GI Bill and Tuition Assistance (TA),” she explained. “The College 101 brief also breaks down basic college information to help our customers feel more comfortable and confident as they embark on their higher education journey.
“We also offer an annual College, Credentialing and Career Fair that Soldiers, spouses and high school seniors can attend as well as a graduation recognition ceremony that is open to any member of the Fort Hood community who has recently completed a college degree,” she added. “Finally, we offer one-on-one education counseling to Soldiers, spouses and high school seniors and can assist Soldiers who want to transfer their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to their family members.”
Stephanie Green, a Casualty and Mortuary Affairs specialist, Fort Hood Directorate of Human Resources, and military spouse, is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in human resources from the University of Maryland.
She expressed the services ESD offers are vital for supporting and encouraging educational success among military members and their families.
“This division is essential not only for Soldiers but also for their spouses who wish to obtain a college degree or certifications. I have relied on their support to find direction and navigate administrative challenges. They have made what could be a stressful process smooth and respectful,” Green said.
One of the main obstacles Soldiers and family members face when pursuing higher education is lack of knowledge, Sheahan said.
“Many of our customers are first-generation college students, and they don’t know how to begin the process of enrolling in higher education, so we help our customers through a series of informational briefs and one-on-one counseling to ensure they have the tools necessary to create a career goal and an education plan,” she said.
“Another obstacle Soldiers and family members face is funding, so ESD works hard to ensure the military community is aware of all the funding resources and benefits available to them,” she added.
Sheahan emphasized the aim is to increase knowledge of services and resources and let the community know ESD “serves more than just Soldiers.”
“(We help) our customers learn more about the world of higher education and support them throughout their educational journey from showing them how to apply to college to cheering them on as they walk in our annual graduation recognition ceremony,” she said. “A higher education can open so many doors and create so many new opportunities which in turn, can improve a military family’s qualify of life.”
| Date Taken: | 09.25.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.26.2025 09:47 |
| Story ID: | 549274 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 11 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Not just for Soldiers: Fort Hood ESD provides support for high school students, by Janecze Wright, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
