JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD--"The best part of my job is being able to help Soldiers get their education," said Jessica Partida, education services specialist at David L. Stone Education Center.
Service members and spouses on Joint Base Lewis-McChord have access to Stone Education Center, a 31,000 square foot facility where they can do anything from plan their future to advance their career.
Some of the services offered at the Stone Education Center include Basic Skills Education Program, career and education counseling, test proctoring, five on-post colleges and universities, and access to 19 off-post colleges and universities. The center provides access to a Technical Academic Research Center where there is currently no time-limit on any of the 70 computers available for studying, research or online classes. In addition, it holds a military occupational skills library where Soldiers can advance their careers through correspondence courses and can find a digital copy of any Army technical manual or pamphlet.
Stone Education Center also serves as a Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support College Level Examination Program test center where students can study a subject and take a college level test in order to gain credit for that course.
"We are a community asset and a valuable resource to Soldiers, squad leaders and commanders," said Kathleen Connolly, director of education services.
Every term, there are 50 in-classroom courses offered and Stone Education Center has over 21,000 new enrollments every year.
"We expect to see more [enrollments] this year with the recent redeployments," Connolly said.
Education is not the only service offered at Stone Education Center. The Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation operates a coffee shop and a book store where all of the proceeds go directly into JBLM MWR. Students can purchase their textbooks and school supplies at the bookstore and benefit their families.
"The reason we are here is to serve the Soldiers," Connolly said. "They are our primary mission."
Soldiers interested in school have a few options when it comes to paying for their education. They can use their Montgomery G.I., Bill or Post 9/11 G.I Bill benefits or tuition assistance to cover the costs of paying for college.
"You would be amazed at how many people don't know that they have these resources available to them," Partida said.
"The best place to go for information about the G.I. Bill is the website," Connolly said. "Or a Soldier can come in and talk to one of our counselors. They are well-versed in the G.I Bill benefits."
The Tuition Assistance program operates through a web-based service at GoArmyEd.com where Soldiers can register for classes, apply for tuition assistance and track their education.
Counselors at Stone Education Center can help guide service members on the right path toward their education and career advancement.
"We always talk about career goals first," Partida said. "I see a lot of younger Soldiers come in here and say 'I want to go to school,' and I help guide them."
The counselors can help narrow down interests and provide Soldiers, and family members, with an idea of what they are interested in and what choices are available to them.
"Our counselors are the heartbeat of the center," Connolly said. "They see people first, set the right tone and get everybody started on the right path to their education. They are a very critical part of who we are and what we do for Soldiers."
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