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Education opportunities open doors for deployed members

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Hanson
  • 407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
ALI BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  A 407th Expeditionary Services Squadron Education Center NCO here is helping servicemembers satisfy their educational and career developing needs one course at time despite being deployed and thousands of miles from home.

Tech. Sgt. Lisa Harris, a test control officer in the one-deep shop, has administered more than 400 exams and counseled more than 200 Airmen, Soldiers and coalition force members in the past four months. 

She has helped customers on Community College of the Air Force degrees, career development course testing, DANTES Subject Standardized tests, College Level Examination Program exams, and the Excelsior college exam program.

"After they have tested for the first time, it seems to spark an interest for them to continue with the process for some, and others to start online or traditional courses once they get back to homestation," she said. "They seem to establish an 'educational road map' for themselves for their return home."

"We have a 98 percent pass rate for the (professional military education) and CDC exams," Sergeant Harris said. She is also a proctor for at least 10 colleges.

As adjacent Contingency Operating Base Adder officials are in the process of establishing their own test control facility, more than 100 Soldiers and coalition forces members have turned to Sergeant Harris for their educational needs.

"Many of the counseling sessions have been with the Army personnel who did not have their own education center," Sergeant Harris said. "I was limited in what I could provide for them, but I helped to point them in the right direction."

Sergeant Harris understands the importance of education. 

"As Airmen go further up the ranks, education is one of the key ingredients that will set them apart from their peers. Education is no longer just a needed requirement to be successful on the outside," she said. "Getting a higher education while serving in the Air Force also brings benefits to the work centers, because the knowledge learned can be applied."

"If you want to earn some credits while being deployed, CLEP's are the way to go," said Tech. Sgt. Travis Hoogstraten, who is assigned to the 407th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron.

Sergeant Hoogstraten has taken 10 CLEPs while deployed. When he returns to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, he said he plans to continue his education with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

"Every Airman definitely needs to take advantage of furthering their education," said Tech. Sgt. Corine Collie, assigned to the 407th Air Expeditionary Group Financial Management. Working toward a bachelor of arts degree in administration of justice with a minor in financial management, she attends Wayland Baptist when not deployed from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. 

Being deployed didn't stop her from continuing her studies. She said it was important to keep the momentum going by taking an online course here and it has kept her busy.

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