NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas -- Nearly 20 schools and organizations from the North Texas area were represented at the NAS Fort Worth JRB Education Fair 2019 at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas on June 8, 2019. The event was organized by the 301st Fighter Wing education office and was open to all military service members and their dependents to help them understand some of the resources available concerning higher education benefits. Here they could speak with community colleges, public and private institutions, and organizations, like the Texas Veterans Commission, who were available to explain benefits such as the Hazelwood Act and Montgomery G.I. Bill.
One of the event coordinators, Master Sgt. Traci Taylor 301FW Force Support Squadron education and training specialist, shared some of the motivating factors behind hosting this fair and how it helps ease some of the stressors that accompany earning a degree.
"It's important [to have these types of events] because it helps to provide our military members a gateway to success," said Taylor. "Some may have the desire to attend school, but have no idea how or where to start. Often times, these representative are able to walk the potential student through the process, or at the very least, put them in contact with a person who can facilitate the whole thing... that in itself is a huge deal!"
The over 75 attendees who took part in the fair are on their way to further their education with newly acquired education in hand. Not only do they walk away with something, but so does every group involved in this consolidated effort.
"Hosting an education fair has proved beneficial to the members, their families as well as the institutions themselves," Taylor said. "It allows our office an opportunity to foster relationships with schools throughout the community while allowing the institutions the opportunity to showcase the various programs they offer."
For those who missed out on the benefits this year, another opportunity is on the horizon as the 301FW education office is planning to host another educational fair around this time next year.