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Shaw schools offer opportunities to service members

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicole Sikorski
  • 20th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Being an exceptional service member in the military is not only meeting the expectations of leadership during work hours, but also volunteering and going above and beyond in all aspects of your career. For many Airmen, Soldiers, civilians and military family members, that involves pursuing an education which is made possible here at Shaw by the on-base schools.

The base education center provided over $3.3 million per college in 2012 to military members and civilians striving to further their careers and attain a college degree. These schools include Saint Leo University, Webster University, Central Carolina Technical College, Embry Riddle University, and the University of South Carolina Sumter.

Schools here provide monetary support for Community College of the Air Force graduations, Airman Leadership School graduations, and also quarterly and annual award ceremonies on base.

In 2012, dedicated counselors such as Ricky Boyd, USC Sumter counselor, completed 4,678 enrollments for Airmen, Soldiers, civilians and family members at Shaw.

"We are here to support our students," said Boyd. "What the student wants to major in is paramount to us. As time has changed, education has become essential to making that well-rounded military member for promotion. You need a CCAF degree in order for promotion."

As well as providing convenience in educational resources, the on-base schools provide a cost-efficient option for service members.

"We provide an affordable pathway for military members and their dependents to reach their educational goals," said Jim Shrift, CCT counselor.

According to Boyd, the on-base schools play not only an important role in giving military members the option to excel in the area of academics, but also build a strong relationship with the local community.

"This is a community," said Boyd. "We have become part of the base, and the base has become part of us. We work with individuals when things come up such as deployments and a permanent change of station. We try and make sure that we accommodate them as best as possible."

Many of the on-base counselors are retired military and can understand the challenges that juxtapose receiving an education and being an active-duty member.

"Quite often, we help people who are deployed through online courses," said Shrift. "If they need to test, and need a proctor, we will have a senior non-commissioned officer administer it for them, and we arrange that before they leave. We also offer them assistance through email."

The on-base schools, such as USC Sumter, have provided Airmen and Soldiers with help towards promotion, according to Senior Airman Ashley Casto, 609th Air Operations Center, Detachment 1, air tasking order technician.

"They have provided me the opportunity to work school around my job (which) gives me the ability to work on my degree in my free time," said Casto. "It has enabled me to work on my CCAF, which in turned helped me garner bullets to put towards my package for Senior Airman below-the-zone."