FORT BENNING, Ga., (May 21, 2014) -- In exercising its goal of promoting lifelong learning, readiness and resilience, the Army Continuing Education System education center provides tutoring and testing for the Fort Benning community.
The tutoring takes place with the Basic Skills Education Program and the testing is provided by the Army Personnel Testing Center and the National Testing Center.
Ed Ray, BSEP instructor, said BSEP is also known as Functional Academic Skills Training and is a program that provides tutored sessions for Soldiers that helps raise General Technical and MOS scores for career advancement and re-enlistment.
"(The program) helps Soldiers master mathematical, reading and writing skills required by their Army jobs," said Hillary Bailey, education services specialist.
The program, Ray said, ranges between 20 and 60-plus days depending on a Soldier's GT score starting point.
"Our current mission is GT improvement because of very strong demand," Ray said.
Shannon Gardner, supervisory education services specialist, said while a Soldier is
on duty, BSEP is an opportunity for Soldiers to study and increase their education skills.
"Upon completion, Soldier's can re-take various Army personnel tests that can assist in changing MOS fields, applying for opportunities such as Officer Candidate School, Warrant Officer School, Green-to-Gold, the Physician Assistant program, personal educational goals and college readiness goals," she said.
To get started, Ray said, Soldiers can visit on a walk-in basis for a 35-minute briefing; no appointment is needed and enrollment can't be done over the phone.
The testing centers involve two focuses, said Gardner, the Army Personnel Testing Center and the National Testing Center.
Marvin Alston Jr., ACES test control officer, said Soldiers have several Army Personnel Tests that are available to them.
These tests include the Armed Forces Classification Test, Defense Language Aptitude Battery, Oral Proficiency Interview, Selection Instrument for Flight Training and the Defense Language Proficiency Test, he said.
Alston said to call for current language options for the Defense Language Proficiency Test.
"The National Testing Center (hosts) academic testing, which is available to anyone and is run by Troy University," Gardner said.
Alston said academic testing includes the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support exams.
The DANTES exams comprised of SAT, ACT, GED practice exams, The Adult Basic Education test, PearsonVue, CLEP, DSST, PRAXIS and others, he said.
Specifically, the SAT and ACT tests are only available for Soldiers, he said, and the GED practice exams are only available for Soldiers and Family members.
Alston said the last PRAXIS examination for paper-based testing at DoD DANTES test sites will be June.
Beginning in July, the computer-based exams will be administered through a secure system called Prometric, which will require travel to a location outside of the Columbus area. Those needing a proctored test must call for more information, he said.
"Testing is done on an appointment basis and can be scheduled over the phone or in person," Gardner said.
Gardener said ACES is the place to go.
"We're here on the installation," she said. "We have eight on-post schools working with us so that Soldiers and Families don't have to make that trip off post. They can get the same information right here in their own backyards."
Tutoring and testing locations
Located in Soldiers Plaza
• Education Center: Building 2602 - 706 545-7397
• BSEP Walk-in Briefings: Building 2634 - Mon-Fri, 9-11 a.m.
• Army Personnel Testing Center: Building 2614 - 706-545-8306 or 706-545-3708
• National Testing Center: Building 2610 - 706-660-2318.
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