MacDill AFB Education Center helping Team MacDill get educated

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Patrice Clarke
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Whether you're working on that math class for the Community College of the Air Force degree or trying to fight through your research paper for English Lit, don't despair, you don't have to fight that battle alone. There are resources available right here for all Team MacDill members in the form of the Base Education Center.

The education center is the one-stop shop for all education related subjects, from certificate programs to CCAF degrees, from tuition assistance to CLEP tests.

"I help everyone on their pathway to the future," said Kathren Rodriguez, Guidance Counselor and education specialist at the Education Center. "There are so many education opportunities out there that students can take advantage of. We really are the one stop shop for education needs."

The education center has many programs available to help Team MacDill members reach their education goals.

One program is the testing program offered by Saint Leo University. The school is now a National Testing Center for CLEP and DANTES test.

"Having Saint Leo as a national test center saves military members about a month in time," said Cindy Carr, Force Development Flight Chief. "Before, when a member took a CLEP or DANTES test that member would have to wait about a month before receiving their test scores. Now that member gets that information right after they finish the test. They no longer have to wait to continue on their education pathway."

The education center also offers new class selections. One of the schools affiliated with the education center offer Middle East studies courses. The classes offered include Cultures of the Muslim world, Modern Middle East and Politics and Economics of the Middle East. "These classes can be taken as a certificate program or offered as a minor," said Ms. Carr.

If being on the other side of the classroom moves you, the Troops to Teachers program is also offered here.

"We take the program here one step further by offering the ability to look at requirements for all states. Now students can start preparing for their transition out of the military into teaching whether that leads them to teaching in Florida or teaching in Texas," said Ms. Carr.

The education center is also another source for information. The education center host monthly 'Lunch and Learn' seminars on a variety of topics. The topics range from Veterans Assistance benefits to the ins and outs of tuition assistance.

"We are the hub of education information," said Ms. Carr. "We can tell you the latest education news."

With all the changes coming in the future concerning the GI Bill and Veterans benefits Ms. Carr stresses Team MacDill members to check the proper channels when getting information concerning the new bill.
"The new bill was signed by the president but the final with all of the stipulations won't be out for months," said Ms. Carr. "There is a lot of information and rumors floating around and none of it is concrete yet. When information comes available the education center will be the first to get it out to Team MacDill."

In the mean time, Ms. Carr recommends members go to the www.gibill.va.gov and check that site regularly for information.

For all information concerning the education center, Team MacDill members should read the monthly education center newsletter which goes out to first sergeants, chiefs and commanders. Base members wishing to get the newsletter directly should send an email requesting they be added to the distribution list to education-02@macdill.af.mil or located on the global address list under 6 AMW/DPE.

It doesn't matter if you are fighting through math or flying through psychology, the base education center has all the tools you need to make your education goals a reality.