Photo By Monica Guthrie | Spc. Adela Rushing, left, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd...... read more read more
Pfc. Monica K. Smith, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – During deployment Soldiers can lose the discipline to do things they need to do, putting it off or on hold. However, Soldiers in 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment have found the discipline and resources to make education and career advancement a priority.
"The (general technical) improvement courses give the Soldiers the opportunity to better their GT score and many of them can then advance on in their career," said 2nd Lt. Robert Boles, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4-3rd Avn. Regt. "Some of them want to (apply to Officer Candidacy School and Warrant Officer School) and others want to re-class and need a GT score of 110 to go to certain (military occupation specialties). Some of them also have math college classes and this helps them to freshen up."
On Jan. 4, a diagnostic test was administered to gauge where Soldiers needed the most help. Beginning Jan. 7, the hour and a half-long course runs Monday through Thursday for three weeks starting each day at 4 p.m.
The course covers math and English with the math portion taught by Boles. He focuses on material typically learned in an Algebra I or Algebra II class and applies it to daily life. Spc. Adela Rushing, HHC, 4-3rd Avn. Regt., teaches the English portion, focusing on word knowledge and paragraph comprehension.
"My first sergeant approached me because it is widely known my major was secondary education with an emphasis in English," Rushing said. "I wasn't sure about teaching at first but I think it's really good that Soldiers take initiative to better themselves and I couldn't resist that."
Both instructors provide their Soldiers with homework to complete; math problems for Boles' class and vocabulary for Rushing.
Sgt. Salvador Saucedo, Company E, 4-3rd Avn. Regt., hopes this course will help him progress in his military career by improving his English.
"It's good learning this new vocabulary," Saucedo said. "I'm trying to learn as much as I can so I can be ready for the test. I want to raise my GT score so I can advance my military career, so I can go warrant. A lot of people have been out of school for a while so the instructors help with the things we don't use every day. The course helps prepare Soldiers."
Boles says the course would not exist without good leadership.
"We couldn't do this without the support of (Sgt. Maj. David Perkins) and (Lt. Col. Adrian Farrall)," Boles said. "We are very fortunate that we have leaders who actively engage the Soldiers so they can benefit."
Rushing agreed with the benefits the course provides for Soldiers
"Having an opportunity to work on education is important," Rushing said. "Even though we're deployed over here 15 months, improving the GT opens up more opportunities for the Soldiers."
| Date Taken: | 01.21.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.21.2008 08:43 |
| Story ID: | 15603 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 318 |
| Downloads: | 295 |
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