Excitement builds as Soldiers talk about the newest education program in U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr's Warrior University. Courses began in March and were a big hit with Soldiers. The new program is structured to allow Soldiers to take college courses during the duty day. In addition, the courses are open to other members of USAG Grafenwoehr who wish to pursue their postsecondary education.
Unit commanders are aware of the importance of supporting education for Soldiers. Allowing Soldiers to take courses during duty hours is a well-deserved opportunity for those returning from a deployment and provides a venue for them to refocus on their educational goals.
Spc. Rex Taylor, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, sees the program's potential.
"Warrior University is an amazing opportunity to get college credit during the duty day," Taylor said. "I hope they offer it again during our nontraining cycles."
To date, approximately 130 Soldiers have registered for Warrior University courses.
Brig. Gen. Steven Salazar, commanding general, Joint Multinational Training Command, saw the need for the Warrior University Program shortly after his arrival in Grafenwoehr and asked the education center to put together a program to optimize opportunities for Soldiers to continue their education.
"I remember being a young private at Fort Lewis, Washington, in 1976 and taking college courses during duty hours during what was then referred to as the red cycle," Salazar said.
He equated the red and green cycles of the '70s to the Army Force Generation Cycle, which allows Soldiers reset time following a long deployment.
JMTC's Command Sgt. Maj. Darieus ZaGara added: "Warrior University is an outstanding opportunity for our Soldiers to improve their station in the Army. The advances in technology, coupled with the complex environment in which they serve both on and off the battlefield, demand higher education. Higher education not only prepares them for their future, it empowers them to operate in this very demanding profession."
The education center coordinates with both University of Maryland University College and Central Texas College to provide academic and vocational-technical courses to students enrolled in Warrior University in the USAG Grafenwoehr footprint. Salazar expects the Warrior University concept to spread to other garrisons in Europe that are looking for creative ways to support Soldier education, especially for Soldiers returning from an extended deployment who have not had the opportunity to pursue their education.
"Warrior University is more than training; it provides our Soldiers with the education they need to fight in today's uncertain environments," said Col. Chris Sorenson, commander, U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr.
As Army tuition covers course costs, the only out-of-pocket expenses incurred by students are books and any one-time matriculation fee that may be charged by the university.
"This is a win-win," said Shelley Caywood, education services specialist at the Grafenwoehr Education Center. "Soldiers develop the critical and creative thinking skills that are so important to the Army's mission and at the same time set themselves up for success after the Army."
For more information about this program, contact your local education center.
Editor's Note: Laura Peck is the garrison education services officer for the Army Continuing Education System.
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