Accessing Higher Education workshop is Nov. 17-18 Published Nov. 13, 2015 By Senior Airman Jake Eckhardt 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Many new Airmen or servicemembers might not know where to look when starting their journey toward earning a degree. The first place any aspiring scholar should visit is their base Education Center, where the team hosts events and workshops to light the way for Scott members. A two-day Accessing Higher Education Workshop will be held Nov. 17-18 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Education Center to help those who need it. The seminar focuses on choosing a degree, selecting a college, getting the maximum benefit from tuition assistance, and applying for federal aid and scholarships. To register for the seminar, please email 375fss.education@us.af.mil. Another way to navigate through educational options might be doing a little homework one's self. Tommie Collins, 375th Force Support Squadron education services specialist, believes the education starts before taking any college class. Knowing what field one wants to study is equally important. There are websites to make researching the right career easier. These websites are: www.bls.gov/ooh www.careeronestop.org www.mynextmove.org College Navigator, College Scorecard and TA Decide are good tools to then research different schools. The team at the Education Center also knows that learning how to manage projects, tasks and life is an essential component of a successful life, and learning how to accomplish a degree is the first test. It is made more achievable through the opportunities the Air Force offers. Tuition Assistance is the most commonly used educational benefit. It allows the servicemember to use up to $4,500 toward one associate, bachelor's and master's degree per fiscal year. Servicemembers can also earn certifications based on their AFSC through the Air Force COOL program, take CLEP or DSST exams for college credits, get free tutoring from www.tutor.com/military, take online academic skills courses from www.petersons.com/dantes, or take two free culture courses through Air University. Air Force members' technical school garners credits used toward a CCAF degree and often earns credits toward a civilian college degree. Roland Smith, 375th FSS education manager, said, "Education is a process that enables a person to take simple and complex problems and break them down into manageable portions. The educated military member channels into some of our best people for positions that oversee America's future."