Cinderella Story- Camp Taji's education center goes from uneducated to educated

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Anderson | (left to right) Pvt. Melanie Credle, a Chocowinity, N.C., native, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, is able to sign up for a Go Army Ed account with the help of Sgt. Seth Griffin, a New Orleans native, and noncommissioned officer in charge of the Camp Taji education center, July 7. "I was tasked to set up the (SPAWAR) system in January and get the center operational," said Griffin. "There was nothing here; it could barely be called an education center," he continued.  

TAJI, IRAQ

07.14.2008

Story by Sgt. Jennifer Anderson 

1st Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade

By Sgt. Jennifer Schweizer
1st Sustainment Brigade

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Derelict and nearly empty, the Camp Taji education center could barely support service members and civilians with internet access let alone any type of educational needs; that is until the 1st Sustainment Brigade took command and control. With the help of twenty-four new SPAWAR computer systems, along with the three original computers, the education center now accommodates seven times the amount of people, previously serviced, with internet access and much more.

"I was tasked to set up the (SPAWAR) system in January and get the center operational," said Sgt. Seth Griffin, a New Orleans native, and noncommissioned officer in charge of the education center. "There was nothing here; it could barely be called an education center," he continued.

Placement of the new (computer) systems was only the beginning step in turning this, once ineffective, facility around. The education center can now provide service members who seek to improve their GT (general technical) score with the Armed Forces Classification Test. For those who wish to pursue a career as a warrant officer, they can take the Alternate Flight Aptitude Selection Test without leaving the forward operating base. In addition, (service members and civilians) have to opportunity to CLEP (college level examination program) college courses or use the DSST (DANTES subject standardized test) system for credit hours, using on site test proctors; which were not present before.

Together both Griffin and Sgt. Charles Benaza, a Los Angeles native, and test control officer for military exams, proctored over 230 Soldiers, Airman, and civilians attending colleges ranging from
Maryland to Central Texas College and helped over 90 Soldiers and Airman raise their GT score.

"We have come a long way; before we could not even hand out a study book," stated Benaza.

Currently equipped with over 250 study books offering a wide variety of subject areas from the AFCT to the SAT's (scholastic aptitude test), and even the LSAT (law school admissions test), college test proctors, and improvement classes, it can rightfully be called a place where all members of the Armed Forces can come to for self and professional growth, an education center.

• Date Taken: 07.14.2008
• Date Posted: 07.14.2008 10:04
• Story ID: 21456
• Location: TAJI, IQ