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Sandstorms, Power Outages — Even Wartime — No Match for Deployed Marines Studying Together Toward Online Degrees With American Military University

PR Newswire - July 14, 2004

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- What's keeping you from returning to college? Family obligations? Time? Money?

A group of Marines deployed here, about 112 miles west of Baghdad, face all that and more -- including the demands of war, power outages, sandstorms and sometimes crowded living quarters with as many as eight roommates.

Despite these tremendous obstacles, 25 Marines in the Air Traffic Control Detachment Alpha (part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing) are pursuing college degrees through American Military University (AMU). AMU is a distance learning institution based in Charles Town, W.Va. ( http://www.apus.edu/amu ).

"Being deployed to a combat zone is what we do," says Staff Sgt. Tom Draffen. "But my goal to obtain a degree doesn't go away when I deploy. Now, I don't have to postpone it when I travel 8,000 miles around the world."

Draffen enrolled at AMU last August to pursue dual bachelor's degrees in environmental studies and history. He began his studies at his home base, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. Because the coursework is completely online, Draffen missed only 12 days of studies when he was deployed. His professors rescheduled his classes to keep him current.

It didn't take long before several of Draffen's fellow Marines enrolled, too. Some, like Sgt. Mark Rausch, are just starting college. Rausch is pursuing a degree in military history. He and others were looking for a better way to spend downtime around their eight to 12-hour air traffic control watches. Several of the Marines enrolled in the same courses to ensure a study partner. Some are even pursuing advanced degrees. Staff Sgt. Stephen Dykhouse, for example, is close to earning his bachelor's degree with plans to continue toward a master's in homeland defense.

"Studying here keeps my mind engaged," says Dykhouse. "Plus, it means I can spend more time with my family when I get back to the states."

Many "attend" classes using laptops they brought from home. Others log in for classes in the air traffic control vans or the unit's Internet access points. They study around their work schedules and when it's convenient, regardless of time of day or night. Because courses begin every month, students can enroll when they're ready.

Undergraduate book grants are provided to qualified students and shipped free anywhere in the world, with AMU picking up the tab. "AMU allows us to remove all the excuses for furthering our education," says Draffen.

The Marines believe that, in the process, they are gaining even more than their college degrees.

"Doing homework and preparing for tests while ensuring the safety of my country is challenging to say the least," says Cpl. Joseph Klimes, who is starting his very first college courses. "But the added knowledge and confidence this instills is pretty phenomenal."

Draffen concurs: "Being a student makes us better Marines. We are better able to understand why we are fighting and what we are fighting for."

American Military University (AMU) - the first of American Public University System's three institutions (AMU, American Public University and American Community College) - was founded in 1993. Today, American Public University System is one of the largest distance learning higher education providers to the armed forces. It serves more than 11,000 students in 50 states and more than 100 countries, delivering 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Visit http://www.apus.edu/ to learn more.

Website: http://www.apus.edu http://www.apus.edu/amu

CONTACT: Beth LaGuardia of American Public University System, +1-703-396-6421, blaguardia@apus.edu , or Carolyn Russell of C. Russell & Company Public Relations, +1-316-932-9000, crussell@crussellandco.com

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- What's keeping you from returning to college? Family obligations? Time? Money?

A group of Marines deployed here, about 112 miles west of Baghdad, face all that and more -- including the demands of war, power outages, sandstorms and sometimes crowded living quarters with as many as eight roommates.

Despite these tremendous obstacles, 25 Marines in the Air Traffic Control Detachment Alpha (part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing) are pursuing college degrees through American Military University (AMU). AMU is a distance learning institution based in Charles Town, W.Va. ( http://www.apus.edu/amu ).

"Being deployed to a combat zone is what we do," says Staff Sgt. Tom Draffen. "But my goal to obtain a degree doesn't go away when I deploy. Now, I don't have to postpone it when I travel 8,000 miles around the world."

Draffen enrolled at AMU last August to pursue dual bachelor's degrees in environmental studies and history. He began his studies at his home base, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. Because the coursework is completely online, Draffen missed only 12 days of studies when he was deployed. His professors rescheduled his classes to keep him current.

It didn't take long before several of Draffen's fellow Marines enrolled, too. Some, like Sgt. Mark Rausch, are just starting college. Rausch is pursuing a degree in military history. He and others were looking for a better way to spend downtime around their eight to 12-hour air traffic control watches. Several of the Marines enrolled in the same courses to ensure a study partner. Some are even pursuing advanced degrees. Staff Sgt. Stephen Dykhouse, for example, is close to earning his bachelor's degree with plans to continue toward a master's in homeland defense.

"Studying here keeps my mind engaged," says Dykhouse. "Plus, it means I can spend more time with my family when I get back to the states."

Many "attend" classes using laptops they brought from home. Others log in for classes in the air traffic control vans or the unit's Internet access points. They study around their work schedules and when it's convenient, regardless of time of day or night. Because courses begin every month, students can enroll when they're ready.

Undergraduate book grants are provided to qualified students and shipped free anywhere in the world, with AMU picking up the tab. "AMU allows us to remove all the excuses for furthering our education," says Draffen.

The Marines believe that, in the process, they are gaining even more than their college degrees.

"Doing homework and preparing for tests while ensuring the safety of my country is challenging to say the least," says Cpl. Joseph Klimes, who is starting his very first college courses. "But the added knowledge and confidence this instills is pretty phenomenal."

Draffen concurs: "Being a student makes us better Marines. We are better able to understand why we are fighting and what we are fighting for."

American Military University (AMU) - the first of American Public University System's three institutions (AMU, American Public University and American Community College) - was founded in 1993. Today, American Public University System is one of the largest distance learning higher education providers to the armed forces. It serves more than 11,000 students in 50 states and more than 100 countries, delivering 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Visit http://www.apus.edu/ to learn more.

Website: http://www.apus.edu http://www.apus.edu/amu

CONTACT: Beth LaGuardia of American Public University System, +1-703-396-6421, blaguardia@apus.edu , or Carolyn Russell of C. Russell & Company Public Relations, +1-316-932-9000, crussell@crussellandco.com

COPYRIGHT 2004 PR Newswire Association LLC
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

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