European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 16, 1973, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By the special projects team this Story completes the fourth and final instalment of the stars and stripes special report correspondence schools and the military  the stories of the past three Days and those in today s report have at tempted to explain the correspond ence school business in Europe an estimated $2 million a year opera Tion in the military Community. The report covered sales practices hints and advice on Low Cost options to commercial courses and statistical information about the firms Selling correspondence courses to the military Market in Europe. In Case you missed the first three Days of the report Here is a summary of some of the important Points american servicemen in Europe provide an approximately $2 million a year Market for correspondence schools. The correspondence school method of studying is popular with american servicemen and Veter ans around the world. The veterans administration has paid out Well Over $200 million for commercial Home studies courses in the past two fiscal years. The key to Selling the . Mili tary in Europe is getting on base and into military housing areas. And despite restrictions by the Mil itary salesmen find it easy to get on Many installations. Some salesmen Are masque Rading As education advisers or education Counselor. While some May offer advice about education their primary motive is to sell a course and earn a commission. Some education advisers Are apparently doing Little to get the message out about the educational opportunities offered by the Educa Tion Center. As one Pentagon offi Cial said Many education advisers Are no damned Good pro forma they re form filler outer. These have been in Europe too  the attitude of education advisers about commercial correspondence schools ranges from passive tolerance to fiery opposition. The veterans administration does not approve any Home study course. It is not an accrediting Agency. It Only foots the Bill for study programs. Six commercial correspond ence school firms have salesmen registered in Europe. They Are Cleveland Institute of electronics Elba educational systems inc., International correspondence schools Lasalle Extension univer sity Mcgraw Hill inc., and Ricky careers. Other firms sell in Europe without salesmen through the use of advertising reply cards. You Don t have to go far to find correspondence school advertise ments. They Are everywhere including company Day rooms in Headquarters buildings in some education offices and in Many snack bars and cafeterias. Special interest magazines and comic books popular among servicemen Are chock full of correspondence school advertisements and the widely distributed movie schedules normally carry ads for correspondence school courses. At least one Salesman was found to be Selling courses for two correspondence school firms de spite Bascom regulations against such sales practices. Fifty salesmen Are registered with the Bascom commercial solicitation office to sell correspond ence school courses in Europe. But interviews with students indicate that salesmen for other firms have been Selling during the past year although they Are not registered with the commercial solicitation of fice. Veterans administration rules require that a prospective correspondence school student receive counselling from an education and / Courtesy  commission v. Vilser Counselor or education specialist. Despite this requirement education advisers say some Stu dents have been told by salesmen riot to go to the education office. Salesmen have told Many Stu dents that the learn by mail method is an easy Way of learning. One company s advertising tells Stu dents to forget All they know about Ordinary school its course is like a fascinating Hobby. However Edu cation advisers Point out that the correspondence school method re quires As much work and some times More than1 classroom instruction a Serviceman who signs up for a course and then cancels the course May be eligible for a refund. The amount is determined by the portion of the course remaining and the sum already paid. Servicemen Are eligible to take numerous education tests and receive unlimited counselling free at the local education Center. These highlights of the past four Days stories Are Only a Small part of the information included in the 32 pages of correspondence schools and the military  if you missed some of the earlier instalments of the report and would like to obtain them write projects editor stars and stripes Apo 09175. Page a 8 the stars and stripes Friday november 16, 1973