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TRANSITIONS
Preparing yourself for the unreal world when you leave the military By Jim Mahaffie
Navy Lt. Jessica Lee is a registered nurse at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and will be finished with her active duty service this fall. Lee is looking to the civilian sector for employment. Fortunately, she is highly qualified with her military nursing experience—a position in demand in the civilian job market—and she holds a degree from the University of Pennsylvania, as well. “Besides my education, degrees and certifications, the military has provided excellent clinical experiences which are most analyzed for future job and school applications,” said Lee. With those credentials, Lee expects a successful, smooth transition. But how important is a college degree to civilian employment? Lockheed Martin Corp. hires approximately 3,000 veterans each year, said Media Relations Specialist Donna Savarese. “For experienced professional positions, a bachelor’s degree is often required and an advanced degree is preferred,” she said. “For some of our engineering and information technology positions, we also require specific certifications because our government customer requires them.” The company also hires many hourly and skilled workers, Savarese added, where technical certifications are a must, such as in aviation and maintenance work. “The importance of a college or advanced degree for transitioning military is the same as for all of our potential employees. It depends on the requirements of the positions available at the time,” said Savarese. For the past 20 years, the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) has been in place on most military bases nationwide to help transition military personnel into the civilian workforce. As part of the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, the TAP was redesigned. Now known as Transition Goals Plans Success, or Transition GPS, the program helps separating service members successfully transition to the civilian workforce, start a business, or pursue training or higher education, according to military.com. Transition programs focus on participants bettering themselves and making themselves more marketable to civilian Fall 2013 • HIGHER EDUCATION & LIFELONG LEARNING
PHOTO BY MIKE DICICCO
Cpl. Michael Ramirez (top) and Cpl. Angelo Powers at Marine Corps Base Quantico participate in the Certified Logistics Technician pilot program, which helps supply and logistics Marines get civilian certification through the Manufacturing Skills Standard Council.
Transition programs focus on participants bettering themselves and making themselves more marketable to civilian employers. employers. In many cases, there’s no better way to do so than to have a college degree, said Gordon Nero, a civilian education services specialist with the Army Continuing Education System at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md. “If the Army was a high school, I’m the college counselor,” he said of his job. Before transitioning to become a civilian, Nero spent 24 years in the military, mostly as a career counselor, and today handles the education portion of
all transition briefings. “If your goals are higher education, we spend time together working on that,” said Nero. “The majority of my customers are college-bound students.” At Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Laurie Webb is a community readiness consultant and transition manager. She is also an Air Force retiree with 22 years of service, “so I understand the other side of the fence,” she said. “Education is a huge piece of tran-
sitions, and we push it hard,” said Webb. “One of the special tracks is a two-day additional class about going back to school and using their GI Bill benefits.” The Post-9/11 GI Bill offers various education benefit provisions for military members who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. Depending on your situation, according to the MyArmyBenefits website, provisions can include tuition and fees, housing, books and supplies, Yellow Ribbon Program payments, rural benefits, and transferability to eligible family, such as your spouse and children. Education is important, but it doesn’t have to be all about a college degree. “You can use your GI Bill benefits to get an advanced license in See TRANSITION continued on page 11
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Latest GI Bill changes to impact transfer of benefits By C.D. Carter
U.S. military service members who elect to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a dependent will be required to serve an additional four years, according to a military policy change enacted Aug. 1. Service members, before the GI Bill change, were able to transfer their government benefits to a spouse, for example, in exchange for zero to three years of additional military service, depending on when they became eligible for retirement and met the 20-year service mark, according to an Army News Service article. The transfer policy shift means that even service members who have a quarter century under their belt will incur the four years of additional service if GI Bill benefits are used by a dependent. In the case that a service
member serves additional time in the military in hopes of transferring GI Bill benefits to a family member, and is for some reason unable to serve that extra time, the member might be required to pay back the military benefits, according to the Army News Service. Officials from campuses in the Washington, D.C., area said the changes wouldn’t have a significant impact on the way schools administer GI Bill benefits or work with veterans. “This change is really not a change at all, as public law has established,” said Jim Sweizer, vice president of military programs at American Military University, which has an administrative office in Manassas, Va. “[The] Post-9/11 GI Bill provided for a four-year phase-in period of the transferability option to allow those close to retirement the opportunity to participate.” The change will not impact
METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION
military veterans, according to Sweizer, because they were never eligible to transfer GI Bill benefits to spouses and other family members. Robert Ludwig, assistant vice
president for media relations at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC), said the GI Bill shift would require some steps in educating those impacted.
“Very little will change in our handling GI Bill benefits,” he said. “We do expect, however, the need to provide military spouses with greater awareness of other sources of financial aid and support.” Ludwig said UMUC officials have not heard from service members with questions or concerns about the most recent changes to the transferability rules. Spouses who receive Post9/11 GI Bill benefits can use those benefits any time within 15 years of the service member’s retirement. Children of the service member must use the transferred benefits between 18 and 26 years of age, according to a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ fact sheet. Service members who wish to transfer their GI Bill benefits can visit www.gibill.va.gov.
COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS 9030 COMPRINT COURT GAITHERSBURG, MD 20877 Advertising Contacts Display Advertising
(301) 921-2800
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Higher Education & Lifelong Learning is published by Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of Defense, under exclusive written contract. Contents are not the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or the Department of Defense. Everything advertised in this supplement must be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. 1037729
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Factors to Consider When Choosing a School: A guide before using the GI Bill As an eligible service member, veteran, dependent, Guard member or reservist planning to use the GI Bill, you are a consumer about to make one of the most important decisions of your life. Would you buy a car before considering your needs or before checking available resources for ratings and prices? That’s why you owe it to yourself to thoroughly consider your needs before choosing a school or program. Making informed decisions about how to use your benefits and how they can best meet your needs means doing a little homework before classes start. Here are six important factors you should consider toward becoming an informed consumer of the GI Bill. What are your interests? How do you want to make a living? Choosing the right career means considering many important factors. The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) career search tool My Next Move for Veterans is one of the nation’s primary sources of occupational information. You can review information about careers for hundreds of standardized and industryspecific descriptors such as “Retail” and “Manufacturing.” DOL updates the tool by surveying a broad range of workers from each occupation. There is also a search engine to find careers similar to your military job and assessment instruments for workers and students looking to find or change careers. You might also want to research the projected demand for career fields. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook provides information on the expected job prospects for different types of jobs, the education needed, earnings, what workers do on the job and working conditions. For assessment, counseling, mentoring, tutoring and some academic instruction in pursuit of postsecondary education, check out the U.S. Department of Education’s Veterans Upward Bound Program. How much will I earn with a degree? Data shows that people who graduate with a bachelor’s degree on average earn about $500 more per week and are significantly more likely to be employed than someone with a high school diploma. Want more information on potential earnings? Take a look at PayScale.com. You’ve thought about a career, now what? Choosing the right school involves more than just completing the school’s Fall 2013 • HIGHER EDUCATION & LIFELONG LEARNING
application process. Make sure the school you attend meets your standards and expectations. In the military, you demonstrated the commitment, discipline and desire to succeed. These qualities are highly sought after by colleges and universities. Leverage those qualities and attend the school that best provides what you need and maximizes your investment. The Department of Education’s College Navigator is a great place to start researching schools. It’s a free tool for consumers to search and compare schools based on key indicators, such as degree or institution type. Would my professional field respect a degree from the university or college I’m considering? What’s the point of a degree if it doesn’t lead to employment? Employers have a good idea about which colleges and universities have good standing in their professional field and which don’t. Choosing the right school for your particular discipline is crucial. One thing employers look for is what kind of accreditations the school holds. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs. Accreditation is a recognized credential for schools and some programs. As stated by the U.S. Department of Education, the goal of accreditation is to ensure that the education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. Another helpful way to discover the respectability of a degree is to check the national ranking of the school and the program you’re considering. Visit the website for U.S. News & World Report, one of the leading college and program ranking sources, and discover which schools make the grade.
In the military, you demonstrated commitment, discipline and desire to succeed. These qualities are highly sought after by colleges and universities. schools or for military training: Your school should recognize your past courses/training and accept your transferred credit. Be vigilant in understanding whether your coursework will transfer to a new school; for example, when you transfer from an online institution to a public in-state school. Not all credit will be accepted, but finding an institution where this credit is best utilized toward degree requirements will help you make the most of your benefits. Check out the ACE Military Guide to find out what kind of credit you may receive for your military experience. • Campus and community service:
Look for access to mental health and medical support, disability services, academic accommodations, and available career services. • A strong veteran voice: Find an administration that listens to and involves veterans in veteran programs such as a school with a Student Veterans of America organization. • Central point of contact: Handson, in-person assistance with navigating the educational process makes the academic journey much more manageable. Schools that agree to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Principles of Excellence are obligated to have such a person for veterans. • Veteran-specific space: A designated location for student veterans offers a dependable and supportive environment where trust, support and camaraderie can be found and fostered in an academic environment. • Expanded housing options: Student veterans sometimes have unique housing preferences and needs; options should be explored. See SCHOOL continued on page 11
How well does the school support veterans? Does it have a dedicated program? Be careful about “Military/Veteran Friendly” claims and make sure your prospective school is friendly to your needs. There are objective sources to help you determine those needs. The American Council on Education (ACE) has developed a toolkit for how schools can create or enhance policies and programs to better serve veterans. It has examples of many successful programs that are available to you.
Other things to check for:
• Transfer of credits from other
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Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals (Graduate Private University) 6810 Deerpath Road, Suite 100 Elkridge, Maryland 21075 www.ep.jhu.edu
Important Numbers
Admission Phone: 410-516-2300 Financial Aid Phone: 410-516-8028 Military Programs Contact: Gail Rauenzahn
4 Need to Know Facts about this School: • Online Courses are Available! • The Top 5 graduate degrees offered are: Systems Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Environmental Engineering Science, and Management • Tuition Costs for the 2013-2014 academic year is $3,330 per course. Additional fees are a $75 application fee, $100 graduation fee, and $330 per course transfer credit fee. • JHU EP is a Yellow Ribbon Program participant. They offer six Yellow ribbon awards in the amount of $500.00 each.
Admission Requirements General admission requirements for master’s degree candidates and others seeking graduate status are as follows: 1. applicants must be in the last semester of undergraduate study or hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 2. Applicants must have earned a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (B or above) in the latter half of their studies or hold a graduate degree in a technical discipline. In considering applications to the Systems Engineering program, both academic record and experience will be considered. Students must complete the master’s degree within five years from the start of the first course in the program. Only one grade of C can count toward the master’s degree. Please note that the programs may also have additional admission requirements specific to the academic program of study. Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals offers Graduate Programs in the following disciplines: Applied and Computational Mathematics; Applied
Biomedical Engineering; Applied Physics; Bioinformatics; Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Civil Engineering; Computer Science; Cybersecurity; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Science, Environmental Planning and Management; Information Systems Engineering; Materials Science and Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Systems Engineering; and Technical Management.
Why is this Program the right choice for Military Members or Military Family Members? Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals (EP) offers flexible programs for active duty military professionals, veterans and family members. With ten degree programs available online, it is even easier to complete a graduate education with EP even if you and/or your family are stationed across the country or if you are deployed. EP’s on-site programs are designed with the working adult in mind. Courses are scheduled during weekday evenings and Saturdays. EP offers courses in eight convenient locations in the Baltimore/DC area and southern Maryland. Students learn from top engineers and applied scientists within the private and public sectors of their fields. Our faculty incorporate the latest trends and use their own work experience to make courses relevant and applicable to each student’s profession. 1038542 10
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welding,” said Parisa Fetherson, program manager for Personal and Professional Development programs at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Fetherson left the Marine Corps herself after 27 years, mostly as an education specialist, and is still using her GI Bill benefits today to pursue a master’s degree in education. “We push that idea to make sure people understand their GI Bill benefits are not only authorized for a college degree program, but also for all kinds of training, licenses, certifications and tests.” Fetherson said she gets an average of about 80 people in her transition readiness seminars, offered twice a month at Quantico, for both officers and enlisted personnel. There are different pathways for participants, which include pursuing a degree, as well as licenses and certifications, skill enhancement and more, she noted. Besides Transition GPS, Quantico’s Career Resource Management Center offers job search training, personal improvement workshops and individual counseling, according to Fetherson. There’s a national job bank and information and access to local and regional job fairs. The center also helps family
• Principles of Excellence participant: Be sure to review VA’s list of schools that agree to participate in the Principles of Excellence Program.
Fall 2013 • HIGHER EDUCATION & LIFELONG LEARNING
PHOTO BY AMEESHA FELTON
Marines listen and take notes in July at Marine Corps Base Quantico during a Transition Readiness Seminar workshop, designed to help military members, civilians and military spouses improve their resume and navigate the federal hiring process.
members search for jobs. This fall, the Transition Readiness Workshops and Classes calendar at Quantico includes help with federal resumes, searching for jobs through social media and at least one job fair, said Fetherson. “There’s a big influx of personnel reaching their service limits and getting ready to transition today,” said Fetherson. In her remarks to every transitioning class, she said she tells them this about education in the civilian sector: “Education cannot guarantee you a job, but it can prevent you from getting one.”
Financing your education Given your GI Bill education benefit level and choice of school, you may not need student loans. Depending upon your eligibility tier for GI Bill education benefits, your tuition and fees charges could be completely or mostly covered, depending upon your choice of a school or program. If you do take out any loans, make sure you fully understand capitalized interest and the repayment terms or you may become heavily indebted. Other questions to ask yourself: • What is a reasonable amount to pay for my degree? • What is my interest rate and when do I have to start paying the loan back? • Will I make enough money to repay my student loan debt? According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the U.S. Department of Education, there are currently more than 38 million student loan borrowers with over $1.1 trillion in outstanding debt, surpassing credit card debt. If you assume
a large amount of student loan debt, you may not qualify for home or auto loans and may have to delay saving for retirement, starting a family or starting a business. A guide to help you determine how much college will cost and help you through the application process is CFPB’s Paying for College tool. If you must take out loans to pay for school, consider a Federal Direct Loan from the U.S. Department of Education; repayment terms are generally more flexible and there are greater consumer protections. Check the online tools available through the Department of Education at studentaid.ed.gov and the Department of Education’s Financial Aid Shopping Sheet. Choosing the right school is the first step in not only readjusting to civilian life, but to succeeding in civilian life. The GI Bill is a great program and you’ve already earned it. Use your benefits wisely, finish school and become the leader in the civilian world you have already demonstrated you can be in the military. An August publication of the Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Admission Requirements Apply to the college at www.germanna.edu, complete the Virginia Community College System Virginia Placement Test (VPT) for English and Mathematics or provide evidence of equivalent level course-work from another college/university. Complete requirements and checklists are available at: http://www.germanna.edu/Admissions
Germanna Community College
2130 Germanna Hwy, Locust Grove, VA 22508 www.germanna.edu
Important Numbers
Admission Phone: 540-891-3000 Military Programs Contact: Robert Dixon Military Programs Phone: 540-834-1927 Military Programs Email: vservices@germanna.edu
5 Need to Know Facts about this School: • Online Courses are Available! • The Top 5 Majors offered are: Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Arts & Sciences, Certificate programs, and Career Studies Certificate programs. • Germanna offers credit toward your course of study for previous work experience. • Tuition Costs for the 2013-2014 academic year is $139.00/ credit and $1668/ 12 credits full time. • Also, Germanna offers special tuition rates for military, spouses and their children.
Special Military Tuition Rate Requirements Honorably discharged veterans residing in Virginia and attending Germanna Community College are provided in-state tuition rates by submission of their DD214. The majority of active duty service members and their families are afforded in-state tuition upon submission of additional documentation. The school offers some special tuition rates for out-of-state military and contract classes. See our web-site for specific information on tuition and fees and additional information regarding qualification for in-state tuition and domicile determination
Why is this Program the right choice for Military Members or Military Family Members? Germanna offers dedicated advising, counseling and support to our veterans and family members. Our Veteran Services staff is available in our full-time Veterans Center to help you with your transition, starting or re-starting your education, program and class selection, application for federal and state education benefits, and for general information and referral to help you be successful. Our Associate Degrees, Certificates and Career Studies Certificates programs are approved by the VA for the GI Bill and military services Tuition Assistance (TA). Many of our Workforce and non-credit professional certificates are also approved for VA benefits.
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Need to Know Facts about this School: • The Top 5 Programs offered are: 1. Aerospace & Defense MBA (ADMBA) program 2. Non-degree, executive education programs in supply chain management, leadership, Lean for MRO (Lean Green Belt and Black Belt programs available) 3. A&D Business Strategy and Management 4. Global Supply Chain Management (Certification available) 5. Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) and Vested Outsourcing • ADMBA tuition costs for the 2014 academic year: $64,000 for the class starting in January 2014; Four Points Sheraton Cumberland House is $89/night
ADMBA.utk.edu Address: 1000 Volunteer Blvd; 603 Haslam Business Building Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-4160
Admission Phone: 865-974-0173 Military Programs Contact: Janice Reid 865-974-0173 jreid7@utk.edu
Unfortunately, we do not offer credit for work experience. Also, we are not a Servicemember Opportunity College member at this time. However, we are a Yellow Ribbon program participant.
Admission Requirements Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree (any discipline) from an accredited university and strong employer recommendations. Minimum GPA is 2.7, but waiver requests are considered. The ADMBA does not require a GRE or GMAT exam for well-qualified applicants. Prefer students with at least 5 years of experience in some sector of the A&D industry (class average is 25 years).
Why is this School the Right Choice for Military or Family Members Business education and training programs tailored for professionals in the A&D industry offer students a chance to learn and strengthen business knowledge by studying it in a familiar context. By attracting high-potential leaders from all across the industry, the program fosters unrivaled student-to-student learning and networking.
Academics
We are ranked among the nation’s top public universities, and we’re on an aggressive path to join our peers in the country’s Top 25. 01040355
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A modular, executive-format schedule allows students to participate from anywhere. By attending five, one-week residence periods held every other month and participating in 20 internet-based, distancelearning sessions, participating students complete a prestigious MBA program in just 12 months – while continuing to work. The ADMBA includes an A&D Industry Immersion Experience. Students and faculty spend a week learning about globalization and the business opportunities and business challenges it presents for the A&D sector. The program concludes with a week-long, competitive business simulation “war game” between teams of ADMBA students. 13
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Online Program Available Top 5 Majors
2105 J.M. Patterson Building College Park, MD 20742 www.advancedengineering.umd.edu Admission Phone: 301-405-7200 Military Programs Neela Balkissoon Phone: 301-405-7200 Email: oaee@umd.edu
Other Locations Southern Maryland Higher Education Center (serving Naval Air Station Patuxent River) 44219 Airport Drive California, MD 20619 HEAT Center (serving Aberdeen Proving Ground) 1201 Technology Drive Aberdeen, MD 21001 Universities at Shady Grove (serving DC Metro, Montgomery County) 9630 Gudelsky Drive Rockville, MD 20619
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Admission Requirements:
The Clark School of Engineering offers graduate programs designed for working engineers and technical professionals to complete their degree part-time on campus, at regional education sites in Maryland, or 100% online. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a closely related discipline with a 3.0 GPA for full admission. Provisional admission may be available for those with a slightly lower GPA. Three professional letters of recommendation are required. There are different prerequisite course requirements depending upon the academic option.
What makes this school the right choice for a member of the military, veteran, and/or family member?
The University of Maryland, Clark School of Engineering is a top ranked graduate school with academic options specifically designed for the working engineer. Courses provide you the opportunity to update your knowledge and advance your career opportunities. Our state-of-the-art distance delivery methods provide an exceptional learning environment where students have access to their course materials, faculty and other students. In addition to traditional engineering programs (aerospace, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical) the Clark School of Engineering offers multi-disciplinary programs in bioengineering, cybersecurity engineering, energetic concepts, environmental engineering, fire protection engineering, nuclear engineering, project management, reliability engineering, sustainable energy engineering, and systems engineering. These high demand programs allow our engineers to do more and go further with a degree from the University of Maryland.
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University of Maryland, A. James Clark School of Engineering
• Project Management • Cybersecurity Engineering • Fire Protection Engineering • Systems Engineering • Electrical & Computer Engineering
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