Email   Print   Share By Staff Sgt. Bryanna Poulin, III Corps Public Affairs

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Kay Fleming, guidance counselor at the Fort Hood Education Center, speaks to a Soldier about the different degree options available. More than 200 Soldiers attended the NCO Military Evaluation Day Aug. 15. Staff Sgt. Bryanna Poulin, III Corps Public Affairs

The Fort Hood Education Center hosted an NCO Military Evaluation Day Aug 15. The event gave Soldiers the chance to talk to counselors about degree options and other resources available at the center. Staff Sgt. Bryanna Poulin, III Corps Public Affairs

Passing an Army Physical Fitness Test and qualifying on an assigned weapon are just two of many skills needed to advance in the Army. Equally important is pursuing a higher education, which, for some, will separate them from their peers.

“We’re in the 21st century, and an education is no longer an option if you want to excel,” Dave Walker, Education Services guidance counselor, said. “The Army recognizes the importance and makes education readily available for Soldiers.”

For the Soldiers at Fort Hood, the Education Center in the Education Services Division held a Noncommissioned Officer Military Evaluation Day Aug. 15, making Soldiers aware of opportunities available to them.

Whether a Soldier is looking to start college or advance in their Army career, the Education Center is the one-stop shop in achieving those goals, Walker said.

“Oftentimes, Soldiers don’t know the options available to them or the importance education is for their lives,” Walker said. “Today’s event gets Soldiers moving in the right step.”

Even though there are 628 courses offered at Fort Hood and 12,841 of the assigned Soldiers are enrolled in college classes, some Soldiers feel a higher education doesn’t apply to their career goals.

“Sometimes Soldiers plan on making the Army a career, so they put off their education. It’s important to always train for the uncertainty,” Kerry Sloan, a basic instructor at the Education Center, said. “Soldiers should realize anything can happen. The Army doesn’t guarantee longevity, and they should plan for what they would do if they were out of the Army tomorrow.”

Although the Army is one of the most significant investors in education, tuition is another worry for Soldiers.

“For active-duty Soldiers, the Army offers tuition assistance,” Walker said. “TA gives Soldiers money to pay for college.”

Despite the Army spending more than $156 million in TA, and with educational assistance programs, Soldiers may not know all of their entitlements.

“We hold sessions a few times a month breaking down the differences between the Montgomery and Post 9/11 GI Bill, which Soldiers are entitled to,” Walker said. “Some of the differences between the two programs are the MGIB pays Soldiers a fixed monthly rate, and Post 9/11 is a percentage, based on years a Soldier is on active duty.”

In addition to degree opportunities, the NCO Military Evaluation Day gave Soldiers information on increasing their scores on Army tests.

“A lot of Soldiers are coming in here to improve performance, job proficiency and raise their GT (general technical) scores for career advancement, but need help mastering functional areas,” Sloan said. “The Functional Academic Skills Training, or FAST, is a four- or eight-week on-duty program helping Soldiers in reading, mathematics and test taking skills. The FAST increases potential for completing college, technical, and other educational programs.”

Not having enough time is another reason Soldiers have difficulty in completing college classes.

“The Army is coming up with innovate ways for Soldiers to

pursue their educations,” Mike Engen, an education services officer, said. “If a Soldier can’t make it to a classroom, they can take classes online. Right now, 76 percent of Soldiers are taking courses through distance learning.”

Another option for Soldiers is unit-level training.

“If it doesn’t interfere with missions, we can also do unit-level training,” Engen said. “Leaders can schedule their unit to come in, and we can show them the resources available.”

The center can tailor schedules to meet units’ needs.

“Commanders have the option to have classes as part of their training schedule,” Engen said. “Whether it’s for sergeants’ time training or part of a duty day, we can accommodate units so every Soldier can use the services here.”