Several colleges, universities, and educational support programs took part in Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bethesda’s 7th Annual Navy College Education Fair May 15 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC).
NSA Bethesda hosted the fair on the 40th anniversary of the inception of tuition assistance in the United States Navy, and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Vice Adm. William F. Moran proclaimed May 14 as “Voluntary Education Assistance Day.”
“Active duty service members can use their tuition assistance benefit to pursue an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree while they’re on active duty,” Elizabeth Baker, director of Navy College Bethesda, said. “Each of the services has counselors to assist the service members in picking a school that will help them reach their goals, so we have this event to bring everyone together.”
Baker said the event is open to anyone, and for the first time this year, was co-sponsored by WRNMMC hospital education and training, led by Col. Joy Napper.
“This opportunity is critical for the professional development of our civilian and medical staff. We need to bring the resources to them instead of having them shop online to get it,” Napper said. “It’s all about bridging those career pathways.”
NSA Bethesda Commander Capt. David A. Bitonti believes providing an opportunity to achieve an education is a significant retention tool for today’s military.
“This is really important to me personally and as a commanding officer because our most important and critical resources are people,” Bitonti said. “Anything we can do to support them is mission for all of us.”
Full Sail University military liaison Ray Sands welcomed the opportunity to educate the military population about the Orlando, Fla., school and its programs.
“What we’ve found is our military students are some of our best students,” Sands said. “They’re a little more mature, they’ve had a lot of worldly experiences, they know how to commit to things, and they do extremely well.”
Bobby Teagle, a retired Marine Corps master gunnery sergeant and manager of the military outreach program for Ashford University, agreed with Sands. As an active duty service member Teagle attended Ashford University, graduating in 2010. When he retired in 2013, he didn’t have to look hard to find a civilian job – the university actually called him and offered him a position.
“Getting an education is huge, especially out in the civilian world, and getting that education before you leave the military is a tremendous plus because now you’re bringing out to the industry military experience with education as a background,” Teagle said.
Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Joel Smith took time to attend the education fair in the hopes of finding information about getting a master’s degree in physical therapy. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native currently works with Wounded Warriors at WRNMMC, but said he wants to stay open to other options. Either way, he thinks education is important.
“I want to better myself while I’m here,” Smith said. “Any education is absolutely beneficial to your military career.”
For more information about tuition assistance or to speak with an education adviser, please call the Navy College Bethesda office at 301-295-2014 or visit www.navycollege.navy.mil.