FORT BENNING, Ga., (May 7, 2014) -- If you want to continue your education and don't know where to begin, then start at the Army Continuing Education System education center where Soldiers and Families have unlimited access to all the current information and policies.
"At the education center, we help Soldiers use their education benefits that they get through the Army as well as explore their education goals and options," said Hillary Bailey, education services specialist. "We educate and work with them on getting started with college, discovering degree programs and more. Our goal is to provide opportunities that will enhance their job performance and skill qualifications both for their future, as well as the Army's future leaders."
Bailey said though the main focus is Soldiers, their services offer information to military Families, retirees and civilians who are pursuing their educational goals.
"Why not stop in to get information about making your path clearer?" said Shannon Gardner, supervisory education services specialist. "Think of it like a GPS system."
The education center is beneficial in navigating the maze toward higher education learning, she said.
"It is the heart of getting started with post-secondary education," Gardner said. "Soldiers have access to up to $4,000 worth of tuition assistance that they can use every year to pay for tuition costs in going to college."
Gardner said a Soldier "must" be a user of the GoArmyEd system to use the tuition assistance benefit.
"GoArmyEd is the system in which Soldiers apply for their tuition assistance," she said. "It tracks their education goal and records progress in their chosen degree, tuition costs and amount, grade point averages and more."
The GoArmyEd program can be accessed from any public computer and as an application on any smartphone, Gardner said.
"However, there are some specific sites that are CAC driven, such as the Joint Services Transcript site, Veterans' Online Application site to apply for GI Bill benefits and the GI Bill transferability site," she said.
Staff Sgt. Jacob Rutledge of D Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, said he visited the education center to get started with his schooling.
"I have been in the Army for nearly 10 years and haven't started on college yet," he said. "I think it's about time I do that, so when I get out of the Army I have options."
Bailey said the education center provides several services - the main services include counseling, testing, the Basic Skills Education Program and post-secondary programs.
"On a daily basis, education counselors work with Soldiers on getting set up for and using their TA through the GoArmyEd portal, in-processing, out-processing, GI Bill questions, financial aid opportunities, local and non-local college information, degree plan options and more," she said.
Gardner said when it comes to testing, there are two focuses: the Army Personnel Testing Center and the National Testing Center.
"The Army Personnel tests are mainly available for Soldiers," she said. "The National Testing Center, which (hosts) academic testing, is available for anyone.
Testing is done on an appointment basis and can be scheduled over the phone or in person."
Bailey said BSEP provides tutored sessions and courses vary in length depending on the developmental level of the Soldier.
"(The program) helps Soldiers master mathematical, reading and writing skills required by their Army jobs," she said.
Gardner said while a Soldier is on duty, BSEP is an opportunity for Soldiers to study and increase their education skills.
"Upon completion, Soldiers 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.
Run by the ACES management team, Gardner said, post-secondary programs work with the colleges that are allowed to operate and visit the installation.
Bailey said the eight on-post schools provide specific degree programs and services that Soldiers are most interested in.
"(These schools) have regular operating hours on post and dedicated staff to work specifically with Soldiers in getting enrolled, credit and going to class," Gardner said.
The visiting colleges are given space, Bailey said, in which they visit frequently depending on their local Soldier student population.
"On any given day, the education center hosts two to three visiting colleges a day," she said.
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