CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq — Deployed Soldiers can pursue academic enrichment and college degrees at the volunteer-run Education Service Center on Contingency Operating Base Adder.
Currently, the center can assist troops with registering for a GoArmyEd account, filing for tuition assistance, registering for college courses, proctoring, tutoring, providing an Education Center portal on the COB Adder webpage, and providing other outlets for exams the ed center does not offer.
"We’ll be offering more soon,” said Sgt. 1st Class Dana Jackson, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of COB Adder’s education center.” We’re currently working with University of Maryland University College Europe, Central Texas College, Touro University International TUI University and Bellevue University.”
Deployed with the 10th Combat Support Hospital based out of Fort Carson, Colo. Jackson’s primary duty is to serve as non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the Tactical Operations Center of the 10th CSH, but still makes the time to help fellow service members.
The majority of the ed center traffic is from troops trying to improve their general/technical score received on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery upon entering the military. Service members can take the Armed Forces Classification Test to increase their line scores. These scores determine a Soldier’s particular military occupational specialty. Increasing their scores allows them to apply for other positions and jobs they wish to pursue.
In past years, the Army needed to keep Soldiers focused on the mission — more on stabilizing the country and less emphasis on homework assignments. Now at a point when there’s stabilization in security, there is greater call for more education services.
Sgt. Vernon Carver, intelligence analyst from Fort White, Fla., deployed with 7th Engineer Battalion, and Senior Airman Anton Hinrichsen, security force specialist from Placerville, Calif., with 732nd Provost Marshal’s Office, both take advantage of what the center has to offer in addition to volunteering their time to help run the facility. “Having Soldiers willing to donate their time is vital,” said Jackson. “The education center wouldn’t be operational without them, so we’re always seeking volunteers to help with keeping the ed center open and also being instructors so we can offer college courses on COB Adder.”
Located across from the COB Adder’s main bus terminal, the center is in a prime location for service members to access the facility. There is a full-sized reception area, break room/quiet area for Soldiers to relax, classroom/testing room and a computer lab with workstations.
“With assistance from Eric Olson and SPAWAR commercial internet service, we now have 10 computers in the lab, with an additional six in the classroom and four in the reception area,” said Jackson.
The reception area computers are a convenient place to stop for Army National Guard Soldiers who want to sign up for GoArmyEd accounts and handle such hurdles as attaining tuition assistance. Those interested in taking advantage of the Post 9-11 GI Bill can gather the information on eligibility, transferability of benefits and more at the education center.
The center, opened Oct. 1 and is the first of its kind on Adder. Its aim is the continuing education for all deployed service members. Volunteers like Master Sgt. Harold Miller, deployed with 28th Combat Aviation Brigade, will head a math help group. These volunteers offer a wide range of course study.
“The facility will also help with re-certifying those Soldiers with language proficiencies, which can be difficult to do while deployed,” said Miller.
Aside from the Defense Language Aptitude Battery, the center offers the Test of Adult Basic Education, the Armed Forces Classification Test, Alternate Flight Aptitude Selection Test, Basic Math and Science Test and a typing test.
The center began from a bookshelf of several test preparation books that were given to Jackson by the 27th Brigade Support Battalion Test Control Officer.
“In order to keep the tests offered, someone had to take it over or COB Adder would have lost its capabilities,” recalled Jackson. “The old Convoy Briefing Center was our first location for study hall for the GT Improvement and giving exams which began in early June.”
Demand is up. In the first ten days since opening, the center has averaged 14 visitors per day - a spike from the average of three a day over the summer. Study halls are held every Tuesday and Thursday night starting at 6 p.m. “I am truly grateful just to be a part of it, whether it is assisting Soldiers in enrolling in GoArmyEd or tutoring with homework,” said 1st Lt. Charmaine Parker, an operations officer from San Antonio, Texas, deployed with 7th Engineer Battalion.
“The higher your educational attainment is, the better your chances are for creating opportunities for yourself,” added Parker, who will also instruct a business class offered through the center. “The importance of a college education is accentuated because of the opportunity to gain valuable resources that you carry with you for a lifetime.”
“The response has been great. Soldiers who show up are glad to see we’re here, we’re open and ready to serve with passion,” said Jackson. “They’re eager to start, whether it is a study hall session or an exam.”
