NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Mandatory Air Force and major command changes have altered some policies at the Nellis AFB Education Office.
The Education Office is no longer required to offer commissioning and GI bill briefings. The office will also no longer be proctoring exams.
“There have been some changes in education where Air Staff has come down and they want changes in the Education Office,” said Alice Patton, 99th Force Support Squadron chief of education and training.
Although commissioning briefings for will no longer be held, Patton said, the Education Office will still hold one-on-one counseling with anyone seeking information on commissioning programs.
“We’re to refer people to the website,” Patton said “However, we’re still going to have a GI Bill briefing every Thursday at 2 p.m., and we’re still going to talk to people one-on-one about their GI Bill opportunities. You can look at the website, but I still think it needs to be explained and people need to be helped when applying for their GI Bill. So, as long as we have the staff we’re still going to assist people with that briefing.”
Most policies are still in place for the Education Office including CLEP and DANTES testing and tuition assistance.
“TA was one benefit we were very unsure of, but for this year it’s still $4,500 a year up to $250 a credit hour,” Patton said. “I highly suggest people use it, because it could be adjusted in next year’s budget. We haven’t heard anything right now though.”
The Education Office is located on the third floor of FSS, building 20. Those interested in finding out more information can visit the Education Office during hours of operation, 0900-1500, Monday through Friday. However, for those with busy schedules that isn’t the only place to get education assistance.
“We have a policy here in the Ed Center to go where the warrior works,” Patton said. “It’s very important for us to get out, because a lot of times people can’t make it to us. They have busy schedules. People at the hospital are tied up with patients – flight line etc., and they cannot make it to us, so we go there. We will speak at commanders calls, flight meetings, and training days. I do a program called ‘Dinner and a Degree’, where I go out to the dining hall and I set up a table and talk education.”
