Education open house unveils learning opportunities Published Jan. 12, 2010 By Steve Snyder and Gerry Zanzalari Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The U.S. military believes in fighting smart and encourages all hands to get as much training as possible. The importance of formal, technical or on-the-job education is continually emphasized. Organizations at JB MDL promote more and better education for a stronger military. Opportunities to advance dominated the first 2010 open house sponsored by Education Services and base schools on Jan. 7 at the McGuire Education Center. Magazines, pictures, pamphlets and other printed paraphernalia flooded the conference room. Participants talked to representatives of institutions with curriculums which could be considered academic smorgasbords. Burlington County College or BCC offers courses at the McGuire Education Center and at its Pemberton campus, Mt. Laurel campus, Mt. Holly Center, Willingboro Center, Bordentown Center, at Burlington City and at 12 area high schools. BCC sponsors two-year degree programs that emphasize career and academic degree specialties. Students can pursue majors in subjects as varied as Addictions Counseling, Business Technology, Computer Networking Support, Cooking and Baking, Elder Adult Companion Care, Fire Service, Food Service, Social Service, Fashion Design and others. BCC also offers certificates in Accounting, American Sign Language, Automotive Technology, Entrepreneurship, Geospatial Technology, Photography and Small Business. The Technical Studies AAS degree program allows up to 25 credit hours from a student's military training experience to be counted towards a degree. Airman 1st Class Michael Karam, 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron, said he was pleased to "find out that I've earned a lot of credits through my [military] job experience." Most of the institutions represented at the open house offer credit for job skills gained in the military. Thomas Edison State College offers a military degree completion program "ideal for the individual who needs 18 or more credits to earn a bachelor's degree, or nine or more credits for an associate degree and desires to use innovative instructional approaches rather than classroom-based courses," according to a brochure available at the college's table at the open house. Edison also offers a wide-ranging selection of both bachelor and associate degree programs. Courses which fit in with military degree completion include Administrative Studies, Applied Electronic Studies, Applied Health Studies, Mechanics and Maintenance, Occupational Studies, Applied Computer Studies, Aviation Support, Construction and Facility Support, Electrical/Mechanical Systems and Maintenance, Environmental, Safety and Security Technology and Respiratory Care. McGuire's Education Center is one of 23 onsite military locations utilizing Central Michigan University's worldwide online learning apparatus online. Students can pursue Masters of Arts degrees in Education or Administration. Courses involving aviation and aeronautics are the specialties of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's worldwide educational resources company which was represented at the open house. A Bachelor of Science degree program in Workforce Education and Development remains the pride and joy of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and 16 other sites around the country, including McGuire Education Center, which offers an accelerated format for completing classes. Graduates of SIU are well positioned to find jobs as Community College instructors, curriculum developers, and directors of human resources, trainers, managers and job counselors. The life of the mind appears to be a bustling enterprise at the McGuire Education Center.