Press Releases - Education4Military.com

Green Property Advisor

2009-01-15T09:43:00.000-08:00

Allied schools recently launched GPA (Green Property Advisor) designation for those who enrolled in any of the Real Estate, Appraisal, Property Management, or Home Inspection Courses. Your civilian career in the construction, real estate or property management industry will benefit from "speaking green."

Click here for more information about Green property advisor designation.

Allied Schools Sends Care Packages to the Troops

2008-04-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

Laguna Hills, Calif. - April 14, 2008 - American service members deployed across the globe will soon get a taste of home as they receive care packages courtesy of a California-based military school online.

Allied Schools recently collaborated with the non-profit organization Operation Military Pride, which has been helping to send care packages to deployed-service members since 1995.

Allied Schools sent out over 300 care packages containing in-demand items like sun screen, lip balm, beef jerky, Ibuprofen, breakfast cereal and hot sauce - products that service members in countries like Iraq have found to be especially helpful and comforting.

The care packages were filled and boxed up by Allied Schools' staff at their Southern California headquarters in mid-March and then sent overseas. Service members receiving the care packages will also have the opportunity to win a laptop computer each month until June.

"We've been fortunate to enroll over 10,000 service members in the last four years," said George Achenbach, president, Allied Schools. "The care packages are our way of saying 'thank you' to the men and women who serve this nation."

Allied Schools is a popular choice for active-duty service members because they can attend class from an overseas deployment simply by logging onto a computer; Allied offers both military and civilian students career training in the medical field, business and real estate. Allied also offers military education program that aid for military spouses in the form of no-charge training.

Allied's Military Family Scholarship Program offers education benefits for military spouses: when service members enrolls at Allied using Tuition Assistance , their spouse or dependent trains at no charge. The hope is that no-charge career training will lead to jobs for military spouses.

To learn more about Allied Schools or military benefits, visit www.education4military.com or call (888) 501-5221 to speak with an admissions representative.

Family Education Key Part of Army Family Covenant

2008-02-13T15:32:00.000-08:00

Laguna Hills, Calif. - Feb. 20, 2008 - If Soldiers are to continue defending the United States during a time of war, then it's time the country stepped in and helped Army families.

This was the message of Army leaders when they signed The Army Family Covenant last fall during a ceremony at Fort Knox. The written commitment promises support, resources and services to Army families during this unprecedented all-volunteer war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Army understands that some Soldiers separate from the Army because their spouses have experienced difficulties in key areas like career, military spouse education and childcare. It seems clear when the needs of the Army family are met, Soldiers get the support they need to carry out their mission.

One of the five major pledges of the covenant is "expanding education and employment opportunities for family members." Army spouses, for some time, have had to deal with a host of barriers to career and education opportunities: moving from installation to installation, the inability to make long-term commitments to employers, loss of in-state tuition rates and undependable child care resources.

One way that Army spouses can take advantage of new educational resources promised in the Army Family Covenant is military distance learning. As long as Army spouses have access to a computer and Internet access, they can train for a new career completely online in many cases. And with unpredictable Army work schedules, military online education means that Army spouses can study wherever and whenever they want. Additionally, if the family is transferred to an out-of-state duty station, the issue of in-state, out-of-state tuition rates is no longer a concern.

The Army Family Covenant also proposes "ensuring excellence in schools, youth services and child care." For Army spouses who want to work outside the home, this is an important pledge, allowing them to feel confident that their children are well taken care during the day. Spouses are encouraged go to their base's military education center and learn what military spouse tuition resources are available from both the Army and private schools.

In the end, Sheila Casey, wife of Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., summed up the risk facing the Army if spouses and children are not properly cared for: "You lose the family, you lose the Soldier."

Education and Career Resources for Army Spouses

2008-02-13T15:25:00.000-08:00

Laguna Hills, Calif. - Feb. 15, 2008 - A few years back a much-heralded study by the Rand Corp revealed the difficulties facing military spouses when it came to employment and education opportunities. The 2004 report noted, in particular, that Army spouses were three times more likely than civilian spouses to be unemployed.

Military spouses told researchers that a lack of childcare, military work schedules and narrow course offerings at the base military education center were significant barriers to their career goals. And though the Department of the Defense and the Army are still working to address these issues - it's important to note the programs in place that Army spouses can access today to reach their professional goals.

Army spouses living stateside are eligible for a special military assistance program, known as Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SEAP), which is need-based military spouse education assistance to active-duty Army spouses. The program helps Army spouses get career training so they can compete in the job market. SEAP offers up to $2,500 per academic year. Spouses assigned with active-duty Soldiers in Europe, Korea, Japan or Okinawa, are eligible for education money through the Army's Spouse Education Assistance Program (EAP). This program provides Army spouses with an educational grant of up to $350 per term, which is important spouse military tuition assistance.

Many distance education schools also offer military spouse scholarships. Distance education programs enable Army spouses with children to stay home with their children and study whenever and wherever they have time; they also offer spouses a wide variety of civilian course offerings. Military distance learning programs allow an Army spouse to continue with a course, even when the family is faced with a move to a duty station in another state.

To help Army spouses address pressing child care needs, the Army has also created the Child and Youth Services program, which provides 2,800 child care centers for Army children worldwide. This program, among other things, is aimed at allowing more Army spouses to enter the workforce; the Army helps out by sharing part of the cost. In an effort to help Army families while operational tempos and deployments are at such a high level, the Child and Youth Services program ensures that there is child care available early in the morning, later at night, on weekends and even 24 hours a day if necessary.

Military Distance Learning Aids Airmen Spouses

2008-02-13T14:57:00.000-08:00

Laguna Hills, Calif. - Feb. 11, 2008 - The challenges and stresses associated with longer and more frequent deployments are no secret to Air Force families.

For some Airmen and their families, there is the particular challenge of troubled finances as dollars are stretched and pennies are pinched. And while Airmen have been taking advantage military online correspondence courses to take both military and civilian courses for some time, many Airmen spouse advantage of this option to train for career while staying on-base in the U.S.

Many spouses are aware of the Air Force's Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP), which provides partial military tuition assistance for Airmen spouses who live overseas with an active-duty Airmen. This is important tuition assistance for military spouses, but it limits the education to on-base offerings, and excludes spouses who remain in America.

What is currently transforming career training in America - from university degrees to certificate programs - is distance (online) learning, which allows students to study from anywhere in the world as long as they have a computer and an Internet connection. One of the great advantages of online military spouse education – even those caring for young children - is that many schools offer vocational training that preparers them for a career in months, not years. This means that while Airmen are away on a 12-month deployment, their spouses to complete career training, get hired and then begin earning an income even before their Airmen spouse returns home. And with military online education, this can all be done without ever leaving base housing.

The medical field is a growth industry now served by areas like medical transcription, medical coding and medical billing. The Department of Labor projects that jobs in the medical industry will grow at a rate of 27% through 2014, which means a steady paycheck for workers in this field. Medical transcription, for one, is a career that suits the military life of ever-changing duty stations.

Medical transcriptionists interpret oral dictation from doctors and other health care professionals into clear, accurate information for a patient's medical record. Increasingly, this work is being done outside of medical facilities. These days many medical transcriptionists work from home as contractors or even as proprietors of their own transcription businesses. Home-based medical careers help Airmen spouses, because they can maintain their income even when the Air Force moves the family from one duty station to another.

Many accredited online military distance learning schools offer discounts to spouses of active-duty military personnel. And when the military service member is already a student, schools will often offer a military spouse an even larger discount. For many Air Force families, quick career training and a second income will help ease the stress and pressures associated with repeated deployments. Airmen and their spouses are encouraged to plan for their family's financial success prior to deployments.

To learn more about military distance learning programs and military spouse education, please visit Allied Schools at www.education4military.com or call (888) 501-5221 to speak with a military admissions representative.

New Regs Will Help Marines' Military to Civilian Transition

2007-09-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

Laguna Hills, Calif. - Sept. 14, 2007 - Marines are still sorting out the 36 new regs Commandant Gen. James Conway put into effect this summer. Leathernecks are now saying goodbye to their horseshoe flattops, nonissued bags and the practice of walking and talking while using a cell phone.

Marines close to their separation date should realize that grooming standards aren't just something to endure until they leave the Corps; but a sound guide that will also help them during their civilian job hunt and beyond.

There's a lot in the new regs that will help Marines look sharp for a job interview and also when they hire on with a civilian company. And in a civilian world that is increasingly more and more slack, former Marines will stand out as professional and serious applicants.

There's certainly nothing wrong with sporting a "high and tight" to a job interview, but a horseshoe flattop or teardrop is too extreme in the civilian world. The Corps has also done away with male Marines wearing earrings when they're in their civvies - former Marines should follow this rule during their military to civilian transition.

The new Marine grooming standards address the so-called "gangsta" look by requiring Marines to use a belt when wearing trousers with belt loops, as well as mandating that they remove platinum or gold dental caps worn for decorative reasons. Former Marines should stick to these regs when trying to secure a job in a professional environment.

Marines need to remember that when going on a civilian job interview, appearance is hugely important. A Marine reg haircut with a dark suit, white shirt and a conservative red tie will signal your respect for the interview process. Some civilians think it is acceptable to wear business casual dress (chinos, button down shirt, no tie, no jacket) for an interview, but they are seriously mistaken.

If Marines can embrace the new regs, they'll not only have a smoother time in the Corps, but also give themselves an advantage when they start their civilian job hunt. Investigate the Marines' transition assistance programs for more information.

To learn more about civilian education courses, Marine Corps program tuition assistance and military career transition issues, visit Allied Schools at www.education4military.com or call (888) 501-5221 to speak with a military admissions representative.

Allied Schools Receives Veterans Affairs' Honor

2007-09-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

Laguna Hills, Calif. - Sept. 11, 2007 - Allied Schools was recently honored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) for meeting the DVA's high compliance standards with respect to record keeping. Allied Schools is approved for veterans training and offers military distance learning courses in real estate, the medical field and business.

Allied's Karen Wenzel, director of education for military, accepted the "Zero Deficiency Award" on behalf of Allied this past July at the Conference of Veterans Education Specialists in Spokane, Wash. Wenzel helps veterans use their military education benefits for career training.

"This award is a tremendous honor," said George Achenbach, president, Allied Schools. "We feel privileged to have been able to help thousands of veterans and active-duty service members take military correspondence courses."

This rare DVA recognition resulted from an on-site inspection of veterans' records at Allied Schools' Laguna Hills, Calif., headquarters. The DVA examined records for the years 2004 to 2007, finding that Allied paid outstanding attention to detail with respect to veterans' certification issues and record keeping.

Achenbach pointed out that Wenzel is uniquely qualified to serve veterans that come to Allied for training, because she herself is a veteran. Wenzel served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an executive officer in Virginia, as well on the Inspector General's (IG) staff in Washington D.C. Her Marine career also included duty in California as a base education officer and a credentialed high school teacher, among other things.

To learn more about military online education and military tuition assistance, please visit Allied Schools at www.education4military.com or call (888) 501-5221 to speak with a military admissions representative.

Speak a Second Language? Watch it Boost Your Career Prospects

2007-08-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

Laguna Hills, Calif. - Aug. 20, 2007 - A 2005 Army study revealed that approximately 15% of its enlisted soldiers were of either Hispanic or Asian descent. The same study noted that from 1995 to 2005 the percentage of Hispanic soldiers serving in the active-duty Army more than doubled.

It's probably a fair bet that some of these soldiers are the children of immigrants and grew up speaking their parent's native language. And much the same can probably be said for members of the Marine Corp, Navy, Air Force, Army National Guard and Coast Guard.

It's common to remark that the military is a reflection of the society it defends, and the most recent U.S. Census Bureau reported that an estimated 11% of Americans speak a second language fluently. Military service members who speak and write two languages can help their transition from the military by marketing themselves to employers who operate in diverse communities.

Careers that may require work with immigrant communities, like those in the medical field, benefit greatly from bilingual skills. Today many medical offices and hospitals serve communities whose residents speak only Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, or any number of immigrant languages. A Medical Administrative Assistant or Medical Biller who can speak Spanish, for example, will be a very useful employee.

The same goes for careers in the real estate industry. Real estate agents, real estate appraisers and home inspectors that can serve the members of a specific ethnic group, are assets to clients, customers, homebuyers, brokers or whomever they do business with. Spanish-speaking military personnel who go on to be licensed contractors can use their skills in the home building industry

Bilingual service members need to promote their language abilities to potential employers. Because many service members grew up speaking both English, and their parent's native language, they don't recognize its importance. This is a mistake. It is a marketable skill and should be listed on resumes and mentioned in job interviews.

Service members can use their military tuition assistance programs to help pay for up to 100% of tuition and fees for military distance learning courses in real estate, the medical field and business. Service personnel should take advantage of this military education benefit to beef up on their career skills and prepare for their military to civilian transition.

Veterans Favor Home-Based Businesses

2007-08-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

Laguna Hills, Calif. - Aug. 17, 2007 - The U.S. Census Bureau recently released data indicating that more than half of veteran-owned businesses are home-based operations. The study also revealed that veterans tend to be better educated than their non-veteran peers.

The government reported there are three million veteran business owners in the U.S., with 51.8% of them operating home-based businesses. It was also revealed that veteran business owners, at the time of acquiring the business, were more likely to have a college degree than their civilian counterparts.

With thousands of service members making their military transition to civilian life each year, the census findings will help shed light on their economic impact.

George Achenbach, for one, is not surprised by the findings. He is president and C.E.O. of Allied Schools, which provides online distance learning for military, both active-duty and veterans, along with courses for civilians.

"We're seeing more and more service members taking online military courses that can lead to a home-based business," he said. "Active-duty military members know it's a tough job market. By the time they separate from the service and become veterans, they want to be ready to earn a living."

Achenbach noted that some of his school's military distance learning courses can lead to home-based careers. He gave courses like medical transcription, home inspection, contractor license and principles of small business management as examples.

The education level of veterans is no surprise, considering they can take advantage of military education benefits like the GI Bill and US Military Tuition Assistance. Somewhat less known than the GI Bill, US Military Tuition Assistance (or Federal Tuition Assistance) allows active-duty military members to take with up to 100% of their tuition paid by the government.

Details of the U.S. Census Bureau survey can be seen by visiting the Bureau's website at www.census.gov/csd/sbo/veteran2002.htm

U.S. Military Tuition Assistance for Guard Soldiers

2007-08-21T08:55:00.001-07:00

Laguna Hills, Calif. - Aug. 15, 2007 - Army National Guard (ARNG) soldiers are now sent on longer and more frequent deployments, and the stress these tours puts on a soldier's civilian career and educational plans is often considerable. ARNG soldiers serving repeated tours in Iraq, for example, might give up on the thought of further schooling until they separate from the ARNG or receive assurances that the frequency of foreign deployments will begin to slow down.

Two important military education benefits work hand-in-hand to help ARNG soldiers pursue civilian career training while they continue to serve their country. The first resource, made possible by the Internet, is online military distance learning. For Guard soldiers, this shouldn't be confused with the National Guard's distance learning network, which allows soldiers to complete military occupation skills qualification (MOSQ) training in their home states. Instead, military online education means that ARNG soldiers can take a 100% online civilian education course in something like real estate appraisal or home inspection, even while they're serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. All that is required is a computer and an Internet connection.

This option is proving popular with many Guard soldiers who are trying to both, serve their country, and also ensure they will have the enhanced skills military to civilian transition when their deployment ends. A 2005 Department of the Army demographic study reported that 52% of ARNG soldiers were married and 42% of them had children. Assuming these figures to be similar for 2007, it means that many ARNG soldiers have families to care for, and no cost career-training is something that will give these soldiers a leg up in the competitive civilian job market.

And how are enlisted Guard soldiers supposed to find money for civilian job training? The good news is that they don't have to, because Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) will pay up to 100% of an ARNG soldier's tuition and fees for distance education. Guard soldiers are advised, however, to apply as early in the fiscal year as they can; applications for FTA are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis and funds may run out.

Guard soldiers are in an enviable position because the Army National Guard is the only service branch that normally allows soldiers to draw from both the GI Bill and FTA simultaneously. This may allow Guard soldiers to cover their education costs and obtain military assistance funding for expenses while taking courses. It's not uncommon for ARNG soldiers to use it in conjunction with the GI Bill and Kicker Programs for maximum coverage.

Sadly, despite federal efforts to promote FTA benefits to ARNG soldiers, many Guard soldiers are either not aware of this military education benefit, or they choose not to enroll. To take advantage of FTA, an ARNG soldier should contact an accredited online school, enroll in a military distance learning course, fill out an Army National Guard Tuition Assistance form and then authorize it through his servicing education center or by his school's representative.

ARNG soldiers benefit from 100% online military distance learning courses because there is usually no set time schedule for finishing a course. And this is an extremely important consideration, because the operational tempo of many Guard units is at a fever pitch these days. With online courses, the completion of readings, assignments and tests are entirely up to the individual Guard soldier. Many online schools also feature live student support so soldiers can e-mail or call education support representatives. Guard soldiers can learn more about Federal Tuition Assistance at the National Guard's Virtual Armory site www.virtualarmory.com/education/

U.S. Service Members Take Military Online Courses

2007-08-20T15:57:00.000-07:00

Laguna Hills, Calif. - Aug. 10, 2007 - As conflict continues around the globe, many U.S. military personnel find themselves on longer, and often repeated, deployments overseas while serving their country. Many have begun to consider post-military job training, and some have even chosen to take military continuing education online as they serve.

Military distance learning, or online schooling, has become an increasingly popular choice for U.S. servicemen and women, as it requires only a laptop and an Internet connection, services that even combat soldiers can access. "Military correspondence courses online offer service members a way to start taking courses in real estate, the medical field or business, no matter where in the world they're stationed," said George Achenbach, CEO, Allied Schools, the nation's largest vocational distance education school.

Achenbach explained that Allied Schools works with all branches of the military and accepts 100% Military Tuition Assistance for most programs. "Whether someone's in the Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Navy, Army or Coast Guard, they can use tuition assistance for military to pay for their career training," he added. "It's a great opportunity for those who have given so much to their country."

Corporal Eric Storrie, U.S Marine Corps, has taken advantage of his branch's transition assistance program to take real estate and home inspection courses from Allied Schools. And despite a schedule that has taken him in and out of Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations around the world he finds time to study. Corporal Storrie explained that the busy, and sometimes dangerous life of a Marine, doesn't prevent him from furthering his educational goals. "During lunch break, after work, in the airport and even in the mountains of Afghanistan, Allied's flexible and well-structured courses helped me pass."

"The real key to military distance learning classes is that military personnel can train as they serve," Achenbach said. "And Allied Schools will even provide a laptop computer at no cost if the serviceman or woman needs that."

First Lieutenant Sonya Moore, US Army, has her sights set on being a business owner some day. She took advantage of US Army tuition assistance and got her small business training online with Allied Schools and hopes to become a music promoter. "Online military distance learning has helped because it has allowed me the opportunity to learn at my own pace," said First Lieutenant Moore. "The military education benefit provided me with 100% Tuition Assistance and helped me get started."

Allied Schools is a Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) affiliated school. DANTES is a Department of Defense organization created to help service members pursue educational goals through non-traditional means during active military duty.