Education Fair ’07 shows academic fanatics where to go Published Nov. 7, 2007 By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- In conjunction with the nationally-celebrated 86th annual American Education Week, representatives from eight local college-level organizations will be at the base exchange lobby Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The education fair allows the Base Training and Education Services flight an opportunity to provide face-to-face advice and point potential students to a school that meets their educational goals. "The Air Force provides tuition assistance to every active-duty servicemember," said Michael Keith, a BTES guidance counselor. "In addition, this flight shows Department of Defense civilians and family members all sorts of opportunities that are out there - from CLEP and DANTES testing to distance education to commissioning programs." This opportunity to meet directly with several different schools all in one place is often the thing that pushes a potential student to become an actual student, he said. Representatives from McMurry University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, two schools which actually bring professors onto Dyess to teach noontime and evening classes, agreed that working with the base has been a win-win relationship. Alana Sims, the associate director of academic support for ERAU, said an average of 12 undergraduate and three graduate classes are taught each semester. "Embry-Riddle is here to provide active-duty members, veterans and spouses (especially former active-duty), with military credit hours they can transfer into academic programs," she said. Their programs are open to civilians as well. Embry-Riddle offer classes that count toward credit for the Community College of the Air Force associates degree and roll into a bachelor's degree. "It's a great benefit to active-duty members to pursue the CCAF degree and then continue with associates, bachelors or masters degrees, or even officers service school," Ms. Sims said. The value of students' learning experiences is greatly enhanced by the fact that ERAU professors must have specific academic qualifications as well as real-world experience." The university's faculty must have professional experience to teach as well as academic credentials, which is valuable because real-world experiences can maximize the learning opportunity, she said. Many of them are retirees who have settled in the local area and have access to the base. "This is an excellent opportunity," Mr. Keith said. "With a little time and effort, and maybe a little bit of money for books, you can get almost any degree you want through the Air Force and local schools." And the education here isn't just geared toward young people, Mr. Keith said. "Many people who are getting close to the end of their service commitment find that they really need an education to make it in 'the outside world,'" he said. Although all these opportunities exist, many of the people who are eligible for tuition assistance don't use it, he said. "I hope and pray that they're able to take advantage of every bit of the benefits they're entitled to," Mr. Keith continued. "I'm so proud of what the men and women in uniform do for us every day. The BTES flight may not be fighting the war on terror, but we're doing everything we can to support your great actions."