AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Wyvern Warriors have until May 31, 2016, to participate in the on-going CLEP-a-thon competition, hosted by the 31st Force Support Squadron Education and Training Center.
A CLEP-a-thon is a competition put on by education centers throughout the Air Force to help promote College Level Examination Program exams and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests.
These free exams allow Airmen to earn credit hours toward a Community College of the Air Force Associate Degree or bachelor degree, by “testing out” of courses in more than 30 subjects. The tests are a time-saving alternative to traditional or online classes because it allows Airmen to prove their knowledge on a subject instead of attending the class.
“It’s basically a way to get the word out there,” said Ashley Wolter, University of Maryland program and national test center coordinator. “Not a lot of people know you can take these exams for [college] credits, we try to draw more people in so they know the option is there.”
When Airmen decided to join the Air Force education benefits like the Post 9/11 GI Bill could be one of the deciding factors. Perusing a degree is easy to put on the backburner when dealing with long work hours, low manning, volunteering and taking care of one’s self and family. Wolter and other Education and Training Center employees hope that, in addition to promoting the availability of these tests, the CLEP-a-thon will encourage Team Aviano to take advantage of the myriad of education opportunities available to them.
As part of the CLEP-a-thon promotions, Airmen who fail a DSST or CLEP exam during the CLEP-a-thon receive a voucher for a free retake. Usually, military members who fail a DSST pay $100 to retest. However the vouchers, valid until August 1, 2016, allow Airmen to retest for a $20 administration fee. Also, awards will be given out at the end of the competition to the squadron with the highest participation rate, the squadron with the highest percentage of passed tests and for the individual top performer.
CLEPS and DSST exams are not limited too military members. Shannan Hughes, 31st Force Support Squadron education services specialist, hopes the CLEP-a-thon will also spread the programs awareness to non-military members. Contractors who are U.S. citizens and all command sponsored dependents can take a CLEP or DSST for $100.
“Sometimes parents don’t know that high schoolers can come in and test for college credit,” said Hughes. “Often they are taking classes that are not far below college level, so if they study just a little more they can earn up to six credits for classes they are already taking.”
Whether starting a journey toward a degree or looking to quickly knock out a few classes, the resources Airmen can find at the 31st Force Support Squadron Education and Training Center can help them achieve their educational goals. For more information, contact the education and training center at DSN 632-5330.