ACES Newsletter - MAY 16

MAY 31, 2016

ACES NEWS

ENLISTMENT TO ENROLLMENT GOING TO SCHOOL IN THE ARMY

USAG BAVARIA

page 1

VOL. 1, ISSUE 2

MEET THE STAFF DEE, EDUCATION COUNSELOR page 4

COUNSELOR CORNER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT SCHOOL ANSWERED page 6

ENLISTMENT TO ENROLLMENT

Photo by Lorain Ambrocio

Service Members, Family can pursue education with local Ed Centers The alarm clock warbled on the nightstand, its glowing red numbers pranced to the methodic beep beep beep! 0530 made the room glow eerily, illuminating Army PT shirts and last night’s biology homework, which had scattered from the bedsheets to the tiled floor. Turning the alarm off and the bedside lamp on, he gathered his study sheets to prepare for the quiz one last time before heading off to his company’s four-mile run.

MAY 31, 2016

ACES NEWS

In a 2011 study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 98 percent of Active Duty military personnel had at least a high school diploma, compared to the U.S. civilian population with only 86.7 percent of people aged 25 or older who had at least a high school diploma.

VOL. 1, ISSUE 2

Monthly Tips for:

FAFSA

The number of newer enlistees earning degrees before joining the Military continues to rise, along with the number of Active Duty personnel who are pursuing higher degrees while enlisted.

However, Service Members may not know of all of the educational resources they can use to help them obtain a higher education while being enlisted, and still maintain their loyalty of duty to the nation.

According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, the requested budget for military funding in 2017 is $182.3 billion, a 4.9 percent increase from the 2016 enacted level. More than $14 million of that funding will go toward education benefits.

Service Members and their Families can use these education benefits to help offset the costs of pursuing their degree or exploring career options.

One education benefit available to Service Members is Tuition Assistance. This can be used during Active Duty time, which pays for $250 per credit hour up to 16 credit hours per fiscal school year. TA can be used for any degree, but Service Members must stay vigilant about passing their classes, or they will have to pay back the money should they fail a class.

Green-to-Gold is another education benefit that is just for Service Members. This program gives Service Members the opportunity to obtain a bachelor’s degree, or a two-year graduate degree, and also earn a commission as an Army Officer.

Under the Department of Defense, the Defense Activity for NonTraditional Education Support program offers multiple tests, such as CLEP, ACT, SAT, or DSST, which allows the Soldier to obtain college and career training credits with his/her passing scores.

There are also Army Personnel Tests, such as the DLPT or AFCT, that the Service Member can take and with a qualifying score can earn promotion points or credit hours that can go toward his/her degree.

Service Members are encouraged to visit their local education center site to inquire about any testing.

The most common education benefit for Service Members is the GI Bill, which helps to pay up to 36 months of higher education, provides a set housing allowance depending on the location of the

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, can help Service Members, Family Members, or Civilians offset the costs of tuition if eligible. The online application determines eligibility through the number of household dependents and total household income. For more information, visit fafsa.ed.gov.

MAY 31, 2016

ACES NEWS

VOL. 1, ISSUE 2

school, and covers other fees such as a yearly book stipend. Service Members are encouraged to use their GI Bill after they have been honorably discharged (or discharged from a service-related disability).

“According to the For Family Members and Civilians, educational resources are just as plentiful.

Department of Service Members who have been Active Duty Military for at least six years can Veteran Affairs, the transfer part or all of their GI Bill to their Dependents and will incur a fourrequested budget year addition of service upon doing so. for military funding Federal aid is also available to Military Spouses and their Dependents, and in 2017 is $182.3 Civilians who would like to pursue their degree. Before registering for classes, billion, a 4.9 they can apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. If eligible, percent increase Spouses and their Dependents, and Civilians can receive Pell Grants and an from [2016].” allotment of aid based on family income and other factors.

Spouses may also apply for the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Program, which is geared toward earning a license, certification, or associate’s degree in a portable field and occupation, such as legal work, animal services, information technology, and others.

Beyond resources, patience and time are also recommended when going to school and living a Military lifestyle. Homework and exams may seem daunting with everything else spiraling around, but there is no deadline when it comes to earning a degree of a lifetime.

Photo by Lorain Ambrocio

VISIT YOUR LOCAL ED CENTER TODAY!

Grafenwoehr: Tower Barracks, Bldg. 538 & 549

DSN: 475-7239

Hohenfels: Hohenfels, Bldg. 351

DSN: 466-2259

Vilseck: Rose Barracks, Bldg. 223

DSN: 476-7239

Garmisch: Artillery Kaserne, Bldg. 203

DSN: 440-3560

MAY 31, 2016

ACES NEWS

VOL. 1, ISSUE 2

Meet the Staff - Dee Bybee, Education Counselor, Rose Barracks

During her 40 years of marriage with her husband, retired Army, Dee Bybee has moved at least 21 times and has no intention of settling down.

Dee has held various occupations with each duty station—whether it was teaching piano in California, coordinating finances for a dental practice in Oregon, directing operations for an independent record label in Chino Hills, or volunteering at her children’s schools in Baumholder, Germany—and became a jack of all trades.

Photo courtesy of Dee Bybee

Dee earned her Bachelor’s of Science in sociology from Cameron University in Lawton, Okla., and later went for her Master’s of Business Administration at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, Colo.

In 2009, she found herself in Vilseck, Germany with the initial plans of volunteering wherever she could to utilize her degrees.

“I saw the posting for this position and thought it would be intriguing,” Dee said. “At first look, it may appear that working as an education counselor does not connect with my Master’s degree. However, since my focus in graduate school was in human resource management, they actually do align.”

Being the education counselor, Dee has since developed a passion toward education, and sees her position as an opportunity to ignite the fire within Soldiers.

“I have really loved working with the Soldiers, and this is probably the most satisfying job I have ever had…”

- Dee Bybee

“I have really loved working with the Soldiers, and this is probably the most satisfying job I have ever had—aside from seeing piano students excel,” she said.

Dee's plan for her next change of duty station with her husband, who is now a civilian worker, will be to look for other education centers that she can work at with the college or university.

“I find immense satisfaction in working in the education field,” she said. “In helping students plan a good direction to reach their goals, I would like to continue with that.”

You can reach Dee Bybee at DSN 476-2653 or at diane.c.bybee.ctr@mail.mil.

MAY 31, 2016

ACES NEWS

VOL. 1, ISSUE 2

USAG Bavaria celebrates 2016 graduates On 06 May, the Rose Barracks Education Center, along with the University of Maryland University College-Europe, Central Texas College, University of Oklahoma, and seven off-post schools honored 29 graduates at the Annual College Graduation Recognition Ceremony. The community gathered to commemorate success, motivate continued learning, and revel in accomplishments.

Photos by PFC Emily Houdershieldt, Visual Information Specialist

 

Neil Bair, Bavaria Site Director, honors Patricia Sanderson, Advanced Programs Professor at the University of Oklahoma, for the Excellence in Teaching Award.

Gary Kindred, Dean of CTC Europe Campus, honors SPC Juan Rose.

SPC Juan Rose (left), SPC Jimmie Durand, SSG April Scott, and Samantha Johnston pledge allegiance to the American flag as part of the welcome ceremony.

M. Kathleen Connolly, Education Services Officer, honors SFC Emily Green.

Kelly Wilmeth, Vice President and Director of UMUC-Europe, honors PFC Temitope Fafore.

MAY 25, 2016

ACES NEWS

Counselor Corner As your education counselor, I am here to assist you with any questions you may have about going to school or money for school, whether that means using tuition assistance, the GI Bill, scholarships, or financial aid. I would also love to help with issues regarding GoArmyEd, the VIA tool in GoArmyEd, and your Joint Services Transcripts. Each newsletter, I will be answering a commonly asked question I hear from service members who stop by my office.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SITE ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION TODAY!

Hohenfels Education Services Specialist: 466-2668 Testing: 466-4040 Counselor: 466-2882 Army Learning Center: 466-4105 UMUC: 466-4106 ERAU: 466-4139

CTC: 466-3140 OU: 476-3605

Grafenwoehr Education Services Officer: 475-3394 Army Learning Center: 475-7239 UMUC: 475-5226 CTC: 475-8314 ERAU: 475-6702

VOL. 1, ISSUE 2

TODAY’S QUESTION IS:

APO 4G

Counselor I’m an officer, and I want to keep going to school, but I’m not sure how to pay for it.

Hey! No problem, I can help :) What degree are you wanting to get?

Master’s Perfect! Go to GoArmyEd to activate your account, then set up your degree & school using VIA. After that, log in to GAE again & you can sign up for classes!

I heard you have to stay in longer tho, is that true?

OU: 475-6702

Vilseck Education Services Officer: 476-2626 Testing (APT): 476-3290 Counselor: 476-2463 Testing (DANTES): 476-3136 Army Learning Center: 476-2457 National Testing Center: 476-2825 UMUC: 476-2462 CTC: 476-2362 ERAU: 476-3605 OU: 476-2069

Yes, you are correct! You’ll get a 2 yr ADSO & that starts when the last class you used TA for ends. I hope that helps!

Garmisch Education Services Specialist: 466-2668 Testing/Counselor: 440-3560 UMUC: 440-3633 ERAU: 476-3605

www.bavaria.army.mil/edcenter

09:45

Yes, it does, I’ll make it work out.

Thx! Delivered

CTC: 476-2362 OU: 476-2069

USAG Bavaria Education Centers

N. Lorain Ambrocio 2016

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