Photo By Pfc. Christopher McKenna | Pfc. Moses Jimenez helps Pfc. Nickei Mccurdy, both personnel assistance workers with...... read more read more
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By Pvt. Christopher McKenna
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – Rakkasan soldiers are continuing their education through the GoArmyEd.com portal while deployed.
"It's a good opportunity for Soldiers to enhance their career and achieve their future goals," said Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Eckwood, from Clarksville, Tenn., the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Equal Opportunity adviser and education non-commissioned officer. "Most importantly, it is a start for Soldiers planning to get out of the military early so they can have a start toward finishing their college (education)."
Soldiers are also taking advantage of programs to improve their general technical score and completing correspondent courses to earn promotion points.
"Many Soldiers don't realize that there are opportunities out there such as GoArmyEd, which will pay for up to $4,500 a fiscal year in college education," Eckwood said.
The $4,500 does not including Montgomery GI Bill benefits.
"I do this from experience," Eckwood said. "I am 26 hours away from achieving my bachelor's degree, most of which has been done through the Army."
College can be very demanding and may be difficult to squeeze into some schedules.
"For me it is not difficult, schedule wise," said Pfc. Moses Jimenez, a personnel assistant with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. The New York native is pursuing a degree in criminal justice. "My (supervisor) actually encouraged me to take courses."
Pfc. Nickei McCurdy, from Madford Ore., another personnel assistant with HHC, 3rd STB, is also pursuing a criminal justice degree. "I want to work with juvenile delinquents when I get out of the military."
McCurdy and Jimenez work together and say it is convenient that they share the same degree plan. Both enrolled in their first college courses during this deployment.
"If we need help with something, we can just ask each other," McCurdy said.
"There are hundreds of colleges offering many different degree programs," Eckwood said. "A person can go for their associate, their bachelor's, or even their master's. Right now, though, there are not any technical college options available."
Staff sergeants and below who want to take courses through the GoArmyEd portal must submit a statement of understanding signed by their company commander. Sergeants first class and above may sign their own statement of understanding.
| Date Taken: | 04.11.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2008 14:12 |
| Story ID: | 18519 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 152 |
| Downloads: | 109 |
This work, Rakkasan Soldiers continue education during deployment, by PFC Christopher McKenna, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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