Ask Hezekiah Collins about online learning, and he will say that it has revolutionized the education process for Airmen, or for that matter, any military member. Collins is the base training manager for Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. His job is to make sure enlisted Airmen receive the training and education they need to take the next step. That step could be fulfilling required assignments to earn a Community College of the Air Force associate degree to advance their career, or enrolling in another college or university to pursue a more personal education aspiration.

For Collins, getting an education is not strictly all business. An active student himself, he proudly said, "I am completing degrees from two schools. "I'm getting a bachelor's degree from Colorado Christian University in organization management and Christian leadership and another undergraduate degree in liberal arts from Excelsior College," he said. When Collins was in Colorado, he attended classes at "in seat" locations, but now that he works in Washington, D.C., he uses online learning.

Collins believes that online learning has expanded the educational options for Airmen. When he was active duty, he had enrolled in five or six different colleges. "Everytime I was assigned to a different military base, I'd have to switch my college enrollment," he said. Now, with online learning, no matter where he is physically located, he can remain enrolled at the same school via distance-learning programs. This flexibility in enrollment benefits the deploying or newly-stationed Airmen.

Webster University is one of three schools that offer on-site education classes at Bolling AFB. Central Texas College (CTC) and the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) are the other two. Sophia Sylvester, a departmental associate for Webster University, said, "We are here for anyone who wants to pursue an educational degree." Like the other on-site schools, and numerous colleges around the United States, the university offers a wide variety of online courses, as well.

UMUC lead the way in offering courses at overseas locations, with many schools quickly following. CTC Site Director Carl Mojta said in order to more easily accommodate an Airman's unexpected deployment assignment, many of the programs can be accessed online at one of its many learning sites throughout the states and the world.

"UMUC has earned a worldwide reputation for excellence as a comprehensive virtual university, and through a combination of classroom and distance-learning formats, provides educational opportunities for lifelong learning to students [everywhere] around the world," according to literature provided by UMUC Team Associate Megan Champ. Sylvester added that a deployed member can switch from classroom courses to similar ones online at Webster University toward their desired degree.

Training and Military Testing Chief Larry Hawkins at Bolling AFB said figuring out how to use the computer was his biggest challenge. When he was active-duty enlisted, he had enrolled in at least six or seven undergraduate schools. "I knew the answer, I just had to figure out a way to use the computer correctly to [convey] my answer to the others," he said. Hawkins avidly supports educational opportunities that allow an Airman to start his study in one state, move due to military necessity, and still have the ability to enroll in courses and receive a degree from the same university.

Jason Bland is an active-duty lieutenant in the Air Force, who is currently enrolled in a master's degree program in international relations with Troy University. He only takes classes online. To Bland, online learning is convenient, and he posts assignments -- within the course deadline -- when it works with his military schedule. With no scheduling conflict, he can concentrate on his studies, and still focus his full attention to his various tasks during the military duty day. "Of course having this degree will enhance my military career, but I also enrolled in the program because I love to learn," said Bland, adding that he especially enjoys learning about history.

Carmille Switzer also participates in online study. Switzer is a Department of Defense employee enrolled at Touro University International (TUI) in business administration. "It allows me to be in class, but still be near my [young] children," she said. Switzer loves that accessing the classes through the Internet is easy; she simply finds her designated class forum online, enters a password and posts her answers.

Switzer's professors maintain "online office hours," where she can post a question and receive a response within minutes. Assignments are generously spaced apart, giving her ample time to conduct research, write, and submit answers. With the online program, she can also control her educational development and see her grades ahead of time. "I like the program, and I like knowing my grade," Switzer said.

Collins echoes Switzer's emphasis on the convenience of taking online classes. "The fact that I can attend school at times that are convenient to me, plus I can save time from [driving in traffic and save gas money too] appealed to me," said Collins, who added that the education center made sure his credits could be transferred to almost any school since his schools are regionally-accredited.

Collins said the education center personnel at Bolling AFB have been extremely helpful as he pursued his educational studies. Bland and Switzer agree. Collins said he looks for friendliness, helpfulness, and a knowledgeable understanding of a person's educational goals among the education center personnel.

Collins gradually became aware of the importance of a school's accreditation status. If a school does not have accreditation, federal funds cannot be released to the school, and a military student cannot use tuition assistance or GI Bill educational benefits toward its programs. Collins receives vocational rehabilitation assistance toward his education, so before he commits to enrollment at any school, he checks for accreditation, he said. "Tuition assistance is $4,500 a year," Collins said, and it will not be wasted on unrecognized schools and their learning programs.

According to Hawkins, "everyone should be aware of accreditation status." Hawkins warns that sending money to a non-accredited school may lead to a suspect diploma that actual educational institutions will not recognize. "This worthless piece of paper and 25 cents will get you a bus ride" [to nowhere fast], said Collins.

Schools that acquire regionally-recognized accreditation may be preferable to those with nationally-recognized accreditation status. According to Hawkins, educational institutes with regionally-recognized accreditation have to meet higher standards than those with nationally-recognized accreditation.

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