Education fair provides valuable info Published Oct. 15, 2015 By Ryan Stark Nucleus writer KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- With many Airmen looking to further their education, numerous on-base education organizations gathered at Kirtland's Education Center on Thursday to entice prospective students. The education fair allowed Airmen to talk with representatives of colleges and programs, including the University of New Mexico, the Community College of the Air Force, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Wayland Baptist University, the University of New Haven and others. Other programs like Troops to Teachers, a Department of Defense initiative that helps service members transition to careers in education, and the Kirtland Testing Center, a place where Airmen can take computer-based exams for college entrance, were also represented. Airman 1st Class Stephen Gardner of the 377th Weapons System Security Squadron was one of the Airmen visiting the education fair. He wanted to see if any of the options would help him learn more about aviation. "I saw this as a great step to further my education," he said. "I hadn't really taken any steps until now. Education is important outside the Air Force, and I want to set myself on that path." Melissa McCarthy of the University of New Mexico spoke with Gardner and many other Airmen who visited the fair. She said that, aside from the usual questions about degree programs and tuition, members of the military community have specific needs that colleges have to take into account. "They are such a mobile population," she said. "They need to know about transferring credits, how to continue their education if they're deployed. Mobility is always a question for them." McCarthy added that military members also ask how training they have received in the Air Force can be applied to programs of study. Aside from Thursday's education fair, Kirtland's education center houses resources mostly for active-duty Air Force members, but also for National Guard and Reserve members, dependents, civilians, Sandia National Laboratories employees and others in the base community. Six colleges have offices there. It is located in Building 20602 next to the headquarters for the 377th Air Base Wing, and is open on weekdays. For more information, call 846-9933.