European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 16, 1973, Darmstadt, Hesse                              What the services offer soldiering and schooling by Bill Walker staff writer Schweinfurt is a West German town of nearly 70,000 including 5,800 american soldiers and 3,000 dependents. Soldiering with emphasis on in the Field training is the chief business of the eight battalions stationed Here. But education opportunities Are not  Serviceman who wants to raise his formal education level take a vocational course or perhaps begin to learn a foreign language finds much available. I d say what we be got to offer the serv iceman in educational programs com pares favourably with any american City of the same size explained Raymond Mcavoy education advisor at Ledward Barracks in Schweinfurt. Mcavoy has since been moved to Mainz the servicemen aided by Mcavoy s Edu cation Center include 1,300 who do not have a High school diploma and 2,500 More with less than two years of College. About 4/0 of the men Are enlisted. I the education programs offered at Schweinfurt Range from beginning English language programs for those who have difficulty with the language through graduate courses. In Between Are numerous academic and vocational courses open to servicemen free or at nominal costs. Mcavoy said a big problem for com Manders occurs when a Soldier who cannot speak English enters a unit. It takes the time of two servicemen one an inter Preter when such a situation occurs Mcavoy explained. The language course aids the service Man to catch up on English in a nine week session. Usually 12 to 15 soldiers Are enrolled. About 60 take the course each year. Mcavoy noted that quite often the servicemen have an excellent educational background but that they do not speak or write English and consequently have difficulty with any army assignment. For the Serviceman who has had some High school and wants to get his diploma the education Center offers two alternatives. The Serviceman May take tests and obtain the High school equivalency diploma through the Center. About 350 men got an equivalency diploma through the program last year. Interested servicemen can also take prep courses. This pre discharge Educa Tion program offers the Serviceman the Opportunity to obtain a High school diploma Over 200 servicemen Are enrolled in prep courses during the summer sessions. Those who successfully Complete the work receive Nuernberg High school diplomas. Mcavoy noted that one problem for soldiers in units like those at Schweinfurt is Field training. With eight battalions Here he said at any Given time we could have five in the  to adapt to these conditions Mcavoy has altered the course schedules. We be arranged to have a teacher ready when troops return from the Field. Earlier there was difficulty because troops had to leave in the Middle of courses or would miss part of the courses because of Field  servicemen May receive As much As one year of College credit through the College level examination program Clep offered free of charge by the Center. The Clep tests Are administered by the testing specialist for the Center and up to 30 hours of College credit can be earned without taking a course. Mcavoy noted that the student must know the subject matter. It s no Giveaway he cautioned. On the College level the University of Maryland offers courses in educational counselling general math business Law introduction to sociology and world literature. Mcavoy said the College programs Are pointed mainly at the 2,500 soldiers who have a High school diploma but less than two years of College. All senior cos realize that they should have at least a two year equivalency if they expect to Advance Mcavoy said. About 100 servicemen Are currently enrolled in the Maryland courses. Mcavoy explained that dependents at tend the courses on a space available basis and added that it s my policy to try and open every course to  on the graduate level the University of Southern California offers courses leading to a masters in education and Boston University has a masters in business administration program. In the vocational area which educators often Call hands on programs there is less variety locally but there Are opportunities. Central Texas College holds a Basic air conditioning class for servicemen who is Cole education advisor Raymond Mcavoy Field training was a problem. Want to learn a skill before discharge. With funds from the veterans administration retired army sergeant Erlen Penrod handles the Basic course. Penrod whose army service was in refrigeration and air conditioning said the 20 students taking his six week course would be qualified to be air conditioner servicemen when they finished. One of Penrod s students spec. 4 William jeans of Shannon miss., said he hoped to get a part time Job in air conditioning repair after completing the course. Spec. 4 Gerald Mcdonald said he hoped to make enough Money in his spare time to provide for his family while he attended College. Mcdonald is from Eagle Mere a. Central Texas classes Are normally eight hours a Day monday through Friday for six weeks. Mcavoy added that under project transition Many servicemen Are training in various jobs in the area. We have men in the Post office education Center working As meat cutters Auto mechanics just about any Type of Job you can think  numerous correspondence courses Are also open to servicemen who want to pursue a vocational education or academic subject other than those offered at the Cen Ter. The United states armed forces Institute Musafi and Musafi s participating colleges and universities correspondence school plan offer hundreds of correspondence courses at bargain rates. See separate Story on Musafi. The Quality and variety of serv ices offered by the education Center de pends in Large part upon the command support Mcavoy explained. We re fortunate in that our brigade commander col. David Peters and sup act com Mander it. Col. Charles l. Dillon have been outstanding in backing us up he said. Peters completed his tour of duty at Schweinfurt. For servicemen not sure about what they want to do whether to remain in serv ice or to pursue a career outside the Mili tary the Center offers . Education Counselor Karen Fay said the Counselor attempt to learn As much As possible about the Serviceman his inter ests his ambitions etc., before aiding him with counselling. For the military Man who does not know where he stands with his education the enter conducts extensive testing. Mcavoy said Over 3,000 tests were Given to service men at the Center last year. An added Benefit of the education Center at Schweinfurt is a military occupational specially mos Library which the soldiers use in preparing for mos testing. The total education picture which includes on Post and the Musafi and participating schools programs appears varied enough to meet the needs of a military facility with a highly Mobile military popu lation. Mcavoy noted that the reason we re Here is to Aid the Serviceman and what Ever he needs to further his education we will do our Best to try and provide  from 8th Grade to diplomas Scole army sgt. . Kenneth Aubrey by Bill Walker staff writer Kenneth l. Aubrey entered the army with an eighth Grade education. With lots of personal initiative and the help of study programs offered through local education centers sgt. . Aubrey now is closing in on a College degree. Aubrey senior career Counselor for the 1st brigade 3rd inf div at Schweinfurt Germany says the education programs offered at military installations have put him on the Road to achieving his education goals. I was drafted into the army in 1955," Aubrey explained. In 1956 while serving at Valley forge army Hospital in Phoenixville pa., Aubrey received his ged High school equivalency diploma through the local education office. After four years in civilian life and a management internship with a commercial firm Aubrey rejoined the army. During the last 12 years he has been working to fill the gaps in his education. While stationed for five years As a Recruiter in Denver he took math English and communications courses through the United states armed forces Institute Musafi. He also attended a Community College i Denver earning six credits. Aubrey who came to Schweinfurt in May of 1972, has earned Over 40 credits while serving with the 3rd inf div. His total is now Over 50 College credits. Aubrey plans to Complete his education at Northern Colorado University with the help of the army s operation Bootstrap program. After service he wants to teach in an elementary school. The handwriting is on the Wall said Aubrey explaining his concept of continuing education for service men. If the senior no wants to go any fur ther he has got to get at least two years  the Indianapolis born sergeant says he made the decision several years ago to surpass the recommended two years and get his College degree. He Hopes to finish by 1976 but is giving himself an extra year. Aubrey was careful to note he is luckier than some servicemen because his assign ment gives him free time in the evening to attend classes. It s a lot easier for me to take courses than the Guy who has got a lot of Fiel duty Aubrey noted. But the education Center has course schedules set up that makes taking courses possible even for the Guy who spends most of his time on Field Maneu vers he added. Ii Page a 4 the stars and stripes Friday november 16, 1973