SOCKS offers spouses marketable skills

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Aviano military spouses are improving their computer skills and career development thanks to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Spouse On-line Computer Knowledge and Skills program.

Since its introduction to the base about two years ago, participation has more than quadrupled, going from 20 participants to about 100.

The program offers more than 200 courses ranging from Microsoft to Adobe and is designed to assist spouses of active duty members in pursuing online computer skills training that will in turn make them more marketable in the job world and provide more opportunities, said Susan Wilinski, Airman and Family Readiness Center SOCKS program coordinator.

"Aviano is a tough base for spouses because of the scarcity of job opportunities," she said. "While spouses are here though, they can take advantage of educational opportunities such as this to keep their skills up-to-date and acquire new ones.

"The computer skills participants learn while in SOCKS, can help prepare them for their next job or degree program. Participants can add certificates to their resumes, discuss them during job interviews and use them to prove their computer skills."

Jeanni Ciotola, wife of Tech. Sgt. Anthony Ciotola, 31st Force Support Squadron, has been enrolled in SOCKS since October 2008 and has since obtained 116 certifications through the program to include Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Reader and Information Security.

She is currently working on Microsoft Office 2003 and 2007 certifications, which include Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, Front Page and Project Professional.

"SOCKS is very easy," she said. "You log on to the Skill Soft Web site, pick a subject that you want to learn about and follow the online instructions. You listen to the program, answer questions along the way and at the end you take a test to earn your certificate."

Ms. Ciotola encourages active duty spouses to take advantage of this USAFE-funded opportunity.

"These classes are not very long and I've learned a lot," she said. "Each class is broken down into categories. Everyone enrolled should do at least one a day as they will be beneficial down the road. When I'm finished with SOCKS, I will be able to list my certifications on my resume. I'm very happy I enrolled."

Participants with a computer and internet access, can take the SOCKS courses in the comfort of their own home 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said Ms. Wilinski.

"SOCKS offers spouses the ultimate educational flexibility," she said. "You can take a class at your convenience and stop in the middle if the phone rings or for whatever reason and continue where you left off when you can."

The Airman and Family Readiness Center, library and community center also have computers available for spouses to use at their convenience.

The SOCKS program is only open to spouses of active duty members who are not making a permanent change of station move within the next six months, unless it is to another USAFE base. Spouses located at geographically separated units attached to Aviano, such as Camp Darby, are also eligible for the program.

Department of Defense civilian and contractor spouses are not eligible. Spouses who are reservists or civilian employees who have a common access card are also not eligible, as they can access such classes through the Air Force portal, said Ms. Wilinski.

This year's program is available through Oct. 31.

For more information on the SOCKS program or to register, call 632-5407.