KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- German Physicist Albert Einstein once said, "Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think."
U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz Army Education Centers would like to encourage and inspire people to train their minds during American Education Week, Nov. 13-17.
"American Education Week provides Army Education Centers the opportunity to reach out to the whole military community and assist community members with post-secondary education information and some less stressful paths to take when applying for schools and financial aid," said Sharon Washington, USAG RP Education Services specialist. "It also affords Army educators an avenue to reach specific groups, such as the military spouses."
Army Education Centers will conduct workshops throughout the week to encourage people to reach their educational goals, she said.
"Every student or prospective student will need to know the ins and outs of being a first-time college student or a returning student. Students need money to fund their education and need to know how to find and secure those funds," Washington said. "These workshops will walk participants through the process, while answering questions and addressing student concerns every step of the way."
This year's AEW observance will include a special workshop for military spouses with topics, including school applications, requests for scholarships, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, applying for scholarships and information on benefit transfers from the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Forever GI Bill.
For active-duty servicemembers, not only is there a focus on using GoArmyEd Tuition Assistance funding, but there is a College 101 Workshop, centering on first-time college students. The workshop will include a question-and-answer session, where members can ask questions and discuss certain concerns in an open-forum. People will also have the opportunity to attend financial, scholarship and FAFSA workshops. University of Maryland University College-Europe team members will facilitate a financial aid workshop and will feature presenters from their headquarters as well.
Sgt. 1st Class Terry Wright, an air traffic control specialist with the U.S. Army Aeronautical Services Detachment Europe, recently received a Master's of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University, Orange Beach, Alabama, and credits the Army Education Center for helping attain his degree.
"The Army Education Center guided me through the process of finding my college of choice by using the GO ARMY ED VIA tool (https://www.goarmyed.com)," Wright said. "With it, I put in my career goals and it directed me to the schools that were best suited to my needs."
His educational plan was to become an all-around expert in his career field.
"While obtaining this degree, I concurrently completed a three-year-long journey in obtaining my CP-12 (Safety and Occupational Health) Professional Certificate through the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center," Wright said. "I am currently studying to achieve a Certified Safety Professional certification from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. A master's-level of study in human factors is most likely my next degree."
Working full time and going to school wasn't easy, Wright said, but two years later he reached his academic goal.
"The difficulty of obtaining this degree mostly came along with the challenges of my job, since we are a small detachment of three green suiters and two civilians -- unit requirements and customer requests must be met," he explained. "Work combined with having a family (married with a 17 year-old-son) meant study time was prioritized in a manner where it's the first thing to be done in the morning and the last to be done at night."
Wright's efforts paid off, and his family couldn't be prouder.
"My family is extremely proud of me, especially my wife. She knows the time and effort put forth to see the day of completion," said the 24-year senior NCO. "It makes me feel accomplished in the fact that I started something that is bigger than me and completed it. I see this as being an example for others, especially my family members, to set out and accomplish what you start."
What advice does Wright have for others pursuing their college degrees?
"First, create an achievable goal. Second, pick a date of completion and third, handwrite a reverse plan of milestones to achieve," he recommended. "There is power to the written word, never underestimate it."
The Education Services Centers are on hand to answer questions and provide education counseling assistance to servicemembers and family members at Rhine Ordnance Barracks from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, and at Kleber Kaserne from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Centers are closed on weekends and federal holidays. Centers also provide unit and Family Readiness Group briefings on education services and educational opportunities. The staff is available to conduct briefings and workshops for FRG meetings, unit sized or larger military briefings to include workshops and special events.
American Education Week activities in the Rheinland-Pfalz include:
Military Spouses' Education Workshop
10 to 11:30 a.m., Nov. 14, at Rhine-Ordnance Barracks, Bldg. 286, Room 1
A Veterans Administration representative will also be on hand to answer questions regarding the use of the GI Bill programs and transfer of benefits to family members.
GoArmyEd 101, Tuition Assistance and Financial Aid
Nov. 14 from 9 to 10 a.m. and 2 to 3 p.m., at Rhine-Ordnance Barracks, Bldg. 286, Room 1
Nov. 14 from 12:30 to 2 p.m., at Rhine-Ordnance Barracks, Bldg. 286, Room 1 (GoArmy Ed and Tuition Assistance only)
Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Sembach, Bldg. 109
Financial Assistance Workshops
Nov. 15 at Rhine-Ordnance Barracks, Bldg. 286, Room 1
Morning workshop for spouses at 11 a.m.
Afternoon workshop for servicemembers at 2 p.m.
College 101 and Q&A
Nov. 16 from 12:30 to 2 p.m., at Rhine-Ordnance Barracks, Bldg. 286, Room 1
Education Round-Table Discussion and Q&A
Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Rhine-Ordnance Barracks, Bldg. 286, Room 1
"Additionally, we will have table and booths set up throughout the Rheinland-Pfalz to include Baumholder and Smith Barracks during the AEW observance," Washington said. "We are always ready and excited to assist our community family with going to school or going back to school."
For more information about AEW or educational opportunities, contact USAG RP Army Education Centers:
Baumholder Army Education Center, Bldg. 8332
DSN: 531-3180
Commercial: 0611-143-531-3180
Landstuhl Army Education Center, Bldg. 3722
DSN: 541-1200
Commercial: 0611-143-541-1200
Rhine Ordnance Barracks Army Education Center, Bldg. 288
DSN: 493-2588
Commercial: 0631-3406-2588
Kleber Kaserne, Bldg. 3245, Room 207 and 208
DSN: 541-1012
Commercial: 06111-4354-11012
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