Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert L. Meeks, targeting officer, 41st Fires Brigade, said it took weeks of sun-up to sun-down work to bring his vision to life. Working with the outgoing U.K. forces’ education office and going to various division sections, Meeks was able to accumulate the tools necessary to fulfill a need which may have remained unrealized had he not made this his personal mission.
“This is for the Soldiers,” said the Baltimore native. “There was a need (for the center) and I wanted to make sure it happened.”
The three-building complex is located next to the post office and finance, in front of the Shining Star gift shop. There is an office, computer lab and testing center to afford service members on COB Basra every opportunity to advance their education.
Services at the education center include college enrollment, college classes, exam proctoring and tuition assistance, said Meeks, who administrates the center. Meeks earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is working on his master’s. He teaches criminal justice and military science courses here through Central Texas College and encourages Soldiers to take advantage of any and every educational program the Army offers.
“I do it for the Soldiers because I know how hard it is to get a degree while you’re deployed,” said Meeks. “If you’re going to spend so much time away from home, at least you can come out with something positive.”
Current college classes scheduled at the center include “Terrorism in the Middle East”, “Gangs in the Military” and “Investigation of Sexual Assault”. The center also offers the widely popular Functional Academic Skills Training course to improve Soldiers’ General Technical scores, which help in warrant officer candidacy and changing military occupational specialties.
The education center is currently looking for motivated service members to assist with the programs offered. Meeks is expecting to redeploy in approximately two weeks. He encourages anyone interested in helping to contact the center. Volunteers should have good research skills and be highly motivated. Meeks said a degree is not required to work at the education center, only “the desire to help Soldiers.”
“This is a job that has to be done because you like to do it,” explained Meeks. “It’s about Soldiers.”
With the doors to the education center now open for business, so too are the doors for the educational future of Soldiers in Basra.
The center is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Sundays.
