FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. – The first-ever Post Retention Resource Fair held May 3 at Murr Community Center brought installation and community partners together to increase Soldiers’ awareness of career planning resources.
“The idea of the fair today was to get all installation resources together in one room for Soldiers to come through and see what’s available,” said Sgt. 1st Class Alexander Kajfasz, active component senior career counselor. “Soldiers may not be aware of assistance that is offered by organizations, education and agencies.”
All resources are available to National Guard, Reserve and active component Soldiers, Kajfasz emphasized. “We are here to help Soldiers put forth the best possible plan to succeed.”
Personnel from the Education Center offered information on education, tuition assistance and credentialing opportunities.
“Soldiers being retained in the Army are allowed education benefits,” said Erin Beam, chief of Education Services.
Credentialing, in particular, is a retention incentive, she said.
“Soldiers use credentialing to get nationally-recognized certifications and licensures,” Beam said. “This not only advances proof of expertise in their military careers, it prepares them for transitioning to a civilian career.”
Soldiers can pick up new certifications as their career progresses because credential funding renews every fiscal year.
“Locally, Arizona State University is an approved vendor for credentialing assistance,” Beam said. “When Soldiers opt for face-to-face certification classes, they are available through ASU.”
Cochise College and Wayland Baptist University are in the process of becoming credentialing assistance vendors, she said.
“All three institutions offer degree programs with tuition assistance,” Beam added.
In addition to academic, military career and employment resources, the retention fair also provided information about recreation and community programs.
“We provide opportunities for single soldiers,” said Staff Sgt. Corey Wenning, president of the Fort Huachuca Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS). “What that entails is recreation, quality of life services, life skills, and community and volunteer services.”
Wenning and Spc. Alexsis Smith, both assigned to Headquarters & Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Garrison, volunteer for BOSS and participated in the resource fair.
The motive behind this resource fair was to retain Soldiers in the Army through new military career options and education, and employ transitioning military personnel through multiple local avenues, including Reserve and National Guard service.
# # #
Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM)/9th Army Signal Command and more than 48 supported tenants representing a diverse, multiservice population. Our unique environment encompasses 946 square miles of restricted airspace and 2,500 square miles of protected electronic ranges, key components to the national defense mission.
Located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, about 15 miles north of the border with Mexico, Fort Huachuca is an Army installation with a rich frontier history. Established in 1877, the Fort was declared a national landmark in 1976.
We are the Army’s Home. Learn more at https://home.army.mil/huachuca/.
Social Sharing