Feature: Misawans take advantage of opportunities

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brad Sprague
  • 35th Fighter Wing public affairs
Education opportunities abound for many here at Misawa, and not just for those who wear the uniform. Both spouses and family members can further their education through several programs offered here. 

"There are many great programs available to family members here--you just need to be a military dependant with an identification card and college age to qualify under the Status of Forces Agreement," said Mr. Glenn Smith, flight chief, base training and education services here. 

One popular choice of civilian family members is the Spouse Tuition Assistance Program. "STAP, a grant for overseas Air Force spouses, gives them up to 50 percent off of their tuition," said Mr. Smith. "Two other scholarship programs at Misawa Air Base for dependants and spouses are the Misawa Officers' Spouses Club, and the Enlisted Community Organization." 

Since his arrival here in 2005, Mr. Smith has seen a significant increase in the amount of civilians taking advantage of the opportunities at the education center.
"Misawa leads PACAF in the number of enrollments in the University of Maryland and Central Texas College," he said. The enrollment is based on the number of people eligible at a base, and the percentage of that population that are taking classes. According to Mr. Smith, Misawa also leads the Pacific Air Forces Command for giving out the most money for STAP. 

"Because the education office is budgeted to spend so much money per term, when they run out of STAP money, the MOSC helps out to offer scholarships not only to Air Force spouses and dependants, but also to Navy spouses and dependants. They will give you up to 50 percent off of your tuition as well," Mr. Smith said. 

Based on enrollments, the most popular classes at Misawa are offered by the University of Maryland and Central Texas College. Troy University and the University of Phoenix also offer master's degree programs. New to Misawa Air Base is the Master of Business Administration program offered by the University of Phoenix. 

Mr. Smith said it takes about two years to get a school to offer a degree program on base because they have to get professors. "The Master of Business Administration program just started six months ago," he said. 

An increasingly popular choice of many to earn credits is through distance learning. Distance learning is all done online through Internet classes. "Distance learning has exploded," said Mr. Smith "Of the nearly $1.9 million spent on tuition assistance last fiscal year, over $1 million was spent on distance learning." 

He also pointed out that if there is a program students desire, for example, a bachelor's degree in education with the University of Maryland University College, and it's a UMUC program, it's possible to get it. "If they can get 10 people in a classroom they (UMUC) will send an instructor. They are required by contract," he said. 

Mr. Smith said if anyone has any questions about furthering their education, they are here to help guide them and give them a sense of direction because there are so many good opportunities out there.