Airmen testing behind a blast barrier in Iraq

Published March 11, 2011
By Staff Sgt. R. Michael Longoria
9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force - Iraq

ALI AIR BASE, Iraq -- Airmen, Marines, Soldiers and Sailors are helping the Government of Iraq reach its goal of becoming a sovereign, stable and self-reliant country by training Iraqi forces but a senior NCO from Van, Texas, is ensuring those U.S. Service members reach their own goals as well.

Master Sgt. Tammy Lafferty, 407th Air Expeditionary Group Learning Resource Center superintendent, has assisted more than 400 customers and administered 225 tests Ali Air Base, Iraq, during her six month deployment.

"I'm here to support those supporting the real mission," Sergeant Lafferty said. "It's been a crazy deployment and I've meet a lot of people."

Deployed from Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, Sergeant Lafferty helps customers with everything from how to apply for tuition assistance to questions about the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill.

"I do whatever I can to help even if it is something as simple as answering a few questions," she said. "A lot of people want to pursue a higher level of education but are just unsure of how to get started or finish. It's important they get pointed in the right direction."

As a test administrator, a majority of her visitors come in to take exams and have earned more than 315 college credits toward their various degree programs. The learning resource center offers more than 30 CLEP Tests, Excelsior College Examinations and DANTES Subject Standardized Test.

"Most importantly, it gives people college credit for what they already know," Sergeant Lafferty said. "This can significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to them to get their degrees while on active-duty."

In addition to saving time, administering college exams saves the Department of Defense money. For example, last year a study showed that DANTES test saved the military $45 million in tuition assistance costs.

Sergeant Lafferty does not just help with off-duty education. The learning resource center also offers officer and enlisted professional military education services.

"Career progression doesn't stop when you get deployed," she said. "Without these services, individuals would have to wait six months or more to complete their courses."

As the only person working in the learning resource center, Sergeant Lafferty is available all the time to help everyone on base.

"They are not here for us, we are here for them," she said. "The mission drives their hours and we need to be here when they need us."

With the flexible hours, Sergeant Lafferty also helps any transient personnel moving through Ali Air Base.

"I have a Marine major who travels around southern Iraq and is in the process of completing his officer PME," she said. "Every time he stops here, he completes another test. He's been able to complete three of the seven tests so far."

Under her watchful eye, numerous people have reached closer to their education goals but one Airman stands out.

"When he found out he passed that last test, you could see the happiness in his eyes," she said. "He was bursting with excitement. He completed his Community College of the Air Force degree and his graduation ceremony is this spring."

While she has helped so many realize their dreams, as an inspiring teacher, Sergeant Lafferty has got to live out hers during this deployment.

"I've found my calling," she said. "I'm extremely comfortable with every aspect of this job and it's something that I really enjoy doing."