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Education goals within reach for deployed Airmen

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brian Davidson
  • 447th Air Expeditionary Group
SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq --  When asked why they want to join the Air Force, one of the top reasons men and women give their recruiters is the education benefits. Likewise, according to Air Force Climate Surveys, education is also the top reason Airmen reenlist. For those who take their personal and professional education seriously, being deployed does not stand in the way of their goals.

The Air Force offers education progression opportunities world-wide, and for Airmen deployed to Sather Air Base, those opportunities include a comprehensive testing program.

"Everyone can accomplish Professional Military Education requirements as well as make strides towards personal academic goals," said Master Sgt. Jennifer Ewing, 447th Air Expeditionary Group test control officer. "Anyone working on their PME and taking distance education college courses can stay on-track with the testing program offered at almost all deployed locations."

Air Command and Staff College, Air War College, Squadron Officers School, Career Development Courses and the Senior NCO Academy Course 14 are just a few examples of the PME programs Sergeant Ewing provides testing services for.

"Many people don't know that they can also earn credits while deployed with the College-Level Examination Program and Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support tests as well as complete exam requirements for their on-line and distance education courses," Sergeant Ewing said. "Even people who are not currently enrolled in PME or college courses can enroll, complete course studies and test while they are deployed."

Sergeant Ewing recommends that Airmen register with a college that's available at their home duty station that offers a curriculum and an on-line program that fits their education needs. She also explains that tuition assistance for those classes is accomplished through their home-base education office or through the Virtual Education Center on the Air Force Portal, and she is available to help anyone who is unfamiliar with the tuition assistance program.

The education and testing office is located behind the Sather post office, and offers a quiet testing environment for Airmen, Soldiers and Defense Department civilians.

CLEP tests are available in the five basic college areas and include English composition, humanities, math, natural science, social science and history. CLEP tests offer between three and 12 semester hours each depending on the college. Tests in foreign languages are also available through the CLEP program.

DANTES offers a series of tests for academic credit for college-level knowledge. "These DANTES subject standardized tests are essentially course achievement tests," Sergeant Ewing said. "They are based on text books that are commonly used for college courses with the same titles as the tests." These tests are available in subject areas including business, English, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, math and foreign languages.

The appropriate study material required for both CLEP and DANTES exams is also available.

"These tests, in addition to your PME, are a great way to get your Community College of the Air Force degree," She said. "You can test weekly, and even if you took just one test every two weeks you can earn about 24 credits throughout a standard deployment."

As an example of what can be accomplished, Sergeant Ewing said that during the last Air and Space Expeditionary Forces rotation, one Airman took, and passed, 17 college level tests.

Sergeant Ewing also provides testing services for students in non-traditional college courses that require formal testing. Students requiring these tests should talk with her as soon as possible so the appropriate arrangements can be made.

"The expeditionary nature of our active duty and Air Reserve component partners makes it incumbent upon us to provide these educational opportunities for our Airmen," said Col. David Pavey, 447th Air Expeditionary Group commander. "Sometimes focusing on coursework is easier when deployed because there are less personal distractions. Many times, especially with PME, we get to study the very international issues we are participating in daily."