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JUNE 1, 2012 WINGSPREADPAGE 5Education center staff helps Airmen get college degreesBy Airman 1st Class Lincoln KorverJoint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs“When you’re active duty, you get tuition assistance, so whywouldn’t you want to take advantage of that? Any way youlook at it, with education, you can’t go wrong.”Along with housing and subsistence allowance, oneof the most advantageous benefits the military offersto all of its members is free education continuation.Through avenues like tuition assistance, CollegeLevel Examination Program testing, the GI Bill, nightschool and online classes, as long as service membershave the drive to get a college degree, the militaryhas the resources to help them get it done.Whenever people have questions about the programsoffered through the military, they can get informationat the Joint Base San Antonio-RandolphEducation Center.The Education Center offers formal, enlisted andcivilian training, as well as promotion testing and academiccounseling, Laurie Murphy, Randolph EducationCenter Chief of education and training, said.“I like taking care of people,” she said. “I like takingcare of the Air Force, its mission, the Airman and allof my employees. I like doing things that help peopledevelop their skills so when they are in the Air Force,they will be successful, or if they choose to get out,they’ll be successful doing something else.”A lot of times, it can be easy for people to get inthe mindset of thinking that furthering their educationisn’t something that is important.For those planning on staying in the Air Force,they must have a Community College of the Air Forcedegree before they can make the senior board, Murphysaid. The Air Force has really worked on tyingeducation to promotion.Regardless of that, education is something thathelps develop people in their career, she said; that iswhat makes people well-rounded.A lot of schools have shifted to more military-friendlyprograms that take into consideration moving todifferent locations, deployments and temporary-dutyassignments, Gay Close, Randolph Education Centereducation specialist, said.“When you’re active duty, you get tuition assistance,so why wouldn’t you want to take advantageGay CloseRandolph Education Center education specialistof that?” she said. “Any way you look at it, with education,you can’t go wrong.”Whether or not the military demands that peoplego to college, when service members get their degree,it is a testament – especially to young Airman – thatit’s possible and important.“As an NCO, you want to set the example for yourAirmen,” Murphy said. “So if you’re not developingyourself in your academics and education, then whatdoes that say to your Airmen who you are supposedto be mentoring?”It’s important for service members to be educatedso they can have a successful future when they getout of the military, Close said.“Education is a huge advantage,” she said. “It’s apositive thing any way you look at it.”To submit a news or sports brieffor publication in the Wingspread,email all information to 502ABW.pa.wingspread@us.af.mil.NCOs ‘make their mark’ during professional development courseBy Senior Airman Precious YettJoint Base San Antonio Public AffairsOnce a month, a group of non-commissioned officersparticipate in four days of mentorship, teambuilding, resource and financial management, andmorale building.The NCO Professional Enhancement Seminar, designedto augment and enhance supervisory andleadership skills, is held monthly at Joint Base SanAntonio-Randolph and Lackland, but NCOs assignedto any base within JBSA may attend either seminar.Topics covered in the course are aimed at personaland professional development and include areas suchas motivation, counseling, military writing and theenlisted force structure. The NCOs who attend theRandolph seminar also receive a tour of the Taj Mahaland the Health and Wellness Center.“NCO PES is designed to target NCOs who completedAirman Leadership School at least three yearsprior and have not attended the NCO Academy,” MasterSgt. Terri Harmon, 902nd Force Support Squadronbase career adviser said. “Career assistanceadvisers plan and facilitate the class, while seniorNCOs from across the installation volunteer to briefvarious topics. The senior NCOs involvement in theJBSA professional development program is the keyto its success.”The NCO PES is a reinforcement of the standards,Code of Conduct and regulations of the Air Force.“The NCO PES was a great course; I really enjoyedit,” Staff Sgt. Roberto Conde, Air Force RecruitingService enlisted accessions, said. “There were a lot ofgreat senior NCOs who provided very useful informationthrough a variety of briefings. My favorite briefingcovered financial information; however, interactingand discussing the topics briefed with my peersfrom other units from JBSA also made the coursewell worth attending. It was great to find out whatkind of things other Airmen around the Air Forceare doing.”The program has about 60 NCOs attend per year.At the end of the week, a critique is given to accessthe virtues of the course.“NCO PES is a fast-paced four-day seminar designedto improve supervisory skills, increase selfconfidenceand encourage ethical and exemplaryleadership behavior,” Staff Sgt. Joel Alvior, Fort SamHouston Basic Medical Technician Corpsman Programinstructor, said. “All technical and staff sergeantsseeking to increase their leadership skillsshould attend.”To register, visit https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/community/views/home.aspx?Filter=oo-ED-AE-15.