Truxtun Sailors Complete First College Course While Deployed

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin J. Steinberg, USS Truxtun (DDG 103) Public Affairs

USS TRUXTUN, At Sea (NNS) -- A group of Sailors aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) completed their first college course while on deployment through the Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) July 5.

NCPACE courses provide Sailors with a distance learning process that allows them to continue their educational pursuit while at sea through classes taught on board ships.

Andrew Block, an instructor from Central Texas College, taught English 1301 to Truxtun Sailors.

"It's amazing how the Sailors find the energy and motivation to study, write essays and participate in class, while completing their responsibilities on the ship," said Block.

Although the Sailors had to purchase the required textbooks, NCPACE classes are free of charge.

"This was an opportunity that I'm really glad I took advantage of," said Sonar Technician (Surface) 3rd Class Isaac Henry.

All 17 Sailors who are students successfully completed the course.

NCPACE courses are offered free of tuition to deployed and overseas service members in geographically isolated locations.

Truxtun is assigned to Combined Task Force 151, supporting counter-piracy and maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

America Supports You: Group Helps Family Members With Education

By Jamie Findlater
Special to American Forces Press Service

June 23, 2008 - Military family members looking to further their education have a friend in a support organization called Thanks USA. "So many spouses appreciate the opportunity to go back to school and finish their education," explained Carolyn Ferek, Thanks USA's board secretary, said in an "ASY Live" interview on BlogTalkRadio.

"ASY Live" is part of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad. Thanks USA is an America Supports You supporter.

Ferek said the focus of Thanks USA is different from that of many other scholarship-based organizations, because while it does focus on providing assistance to military dependents, it also uniquely gears a lot of its funding toward spouses.

"It's not just for dependents," she said. "It's for spouses, because we feel like so many times the spouses are at home taking care of the families, and they are forced to put their career on hold."

When the organization was founded, Ferek explained, she could not find many organizations that focused on providing for spouses and dependents of current servicemembers based on their need. "Some offered them to military families if there was a death or an injury, but ours isn't like that," she said. "We offer it as a need-based scholarship; we have educational scholarships for any branch of the military for college, technical and vocational schools."

Ferek cited a couple of people the organization has helped.

"I remember one person that wrote to us saying that she would be the first one in her family to have a college education thanks to our program," Ferek said. "Another woman we helped down in Florida had just had a lung transplant, and still really wanted to go to college. She was just trying to get herself healthy, but she was just so positive and optimistic about her future and wanting to make a difference. So many of the scholarship winners want to give back to the community."

The organization has raised nearly $4 million and we has awarded more than 1,350 scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 dollars. "We have given scholarships to military families all across the United States in all 50 states," Ferek said.

(Jamie Findlater, host of "ASY Live," works in the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)

Why We Serve: Student Leaves Campus for Boot Camp

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

March 21, 2008 - After completing four semesters at the University of Alabama, 19-year-old Daniel K. Winnie felt his life lacked discipline and direction. "I was sitting around enjoying college life, which was good, but I wasn't doing much of anything else," he recalled. At that point, about halfway through his college career, Winnie made a bold decision.

"I thought the military maybe would get me out of the rut that I was in," he said, "and give me some other opportunities that I certainly didn't have doing what I was doing."

Winnie, a native of Everett, Wash., enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1993, turning 20 years old during basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

Now a chief warrant officer and 15-year veteran of the Corps, Winnie is one of 10 servicemembers selected to tell the military's story to the American public. As a participant in the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" outreach program, Gregg shares his tale of service at community and business events, veterans' organizations and other gatherings.

Winnie's first deployment to Iraq in 2003 truly opened his eyes, he said. For some, the raging battle between coalition forces and insurgents brought out the worst, he recalled, but for others it brought out the best.

Winnie, a communication electronics platoon commander, remembers being with his unit near Nasiriyah, Iraq, in what he described as a "free fire" zone -- a designated area in which weapons may be fired with minimal restrictions.

"There was a goat herder who had gotten lost, and lost his entire herd, and was headed into (the free fire zone). Of course, he didn't really know what was going on," he said.

Compounding the herder's trouble was the fact that his donkey, which he used to corral his flock, had wandered onto the deadly tract of land. Then, one of Winnie's fellow Marines intervened in a display of compassion for the Iraqi man.

"A guy that was working for me went out there in the open, got this guy, and personally walked him over to get his donkey," Winnie recalled with some laughter. "The grown man got back on and rode this donkey -- which wasn't a whole lot bigger than a German shepherd -- and got his sheep back."

Instead of ignoring the herder, Winnie's fellow Marine was willing to help him recover his "scraggly, scrawny donkey" and sheep, the chief warrant officer said. "That was wonderful," said Winnie, noting that the herder's two young sons and daughter observed as the Marine helped their father regain his cherished possessions.

On his second deployment, Winnie witnessed a larger-scale transformation occur during his nine months in Iraq's Anbar province.

Upon his unit's arrival in the war-torn province in January, insurgents regularly engaged the Marines with indirect fire, he recalled. But by mid-April, a strange phenomenon occurred: the firing stopped.

Winnie attributed the security improvement to several factors stemming the new strategy implemented by Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force in Iraq. In addition, he said, U.S. operators began to solidify their relationships with Iraqi government officials and local tribal sheiks, as Iraqis themselves tired of the radical insurgency.

The subsequent progress was later dubbed the "Anbar Awakening," a societal purging of extremism by Anbaris that ushered in a level of stability unprecedented since U.S. operations in Iraq began.

"It was like a light switch had been turned on," Winnie said of the sudden security improvements in the province. "2007 will go down as the turning point in this entire story, and I was there for it."

Winnie said despite receiving some tough questions during Why We Serve events, he enjoys getting the chance to address an audience that is unaccustomed to hearing an unfiltered story from a U.S. servicemember.

"Every experience I've had has been wonderful," he said. "The people that are hearing it are hungry for (firsthand) information."

Why We Serve: Deployment Gives Sailor Message to Public

By Sgt. Sara Moore, USA
American Forces Press Service

Jan. 18, 2008 - When Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Ralph Chavez volunteered for a deployment to Afghanistan, he didn't really know what he was getting himself into. It ended up being one of the best experiences of his military career. Chavez, a yeoman, or administrative specialist, decided to volunteer for an individual augmentation deployment in 2006 while stationed in California. He said it was important for him to volunteer because he knew soldiers and Marines who were on their second or third deployments. He felt it was his duty to go.

"I just felt that as a chief, in order for me to lead my sailors by example, I wanted to do my part," Chavez said. "How can I tell my sailors one day that they need to volunteer if I had never done that?"

Chavez went to Afghanistan in February 2006 as part of a four-man civil affairs team supporting the 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team. Initially, he didn't know what civil affairs was, but four months of training with the Army prepared him. Once Chavez and his team got to Afghanistan's Paktiya province and began working with local leaders and citizens to facilitate reconstruction projects, he was amazed at how fulfilling the mission was.

"Our goal was to try to build the trust in each village that we visited and just improve security. It was very rewarding," Chavez said. "The locals welcomed us into their homes, shared their food, and we got to hear their stories."

Chavez is now touring the country as part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" outreach program. The program, now in its sixth iteration, takes servicemembers who have recently deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan and sends them to various community, business and veterans groups to tell their stories.

One message Chavez would like to convey to the American public is that there are many "good news" stories happening in the war on terror, and in Afghanistan, local citizens are very appreciative of the coalition's mission.

"In each case, they always expressed gratitude and appreciation for the Americans being over there, far away from their homes, far away from their families, and helping them," Chavez said of his meetings with Afghans during his deployment. "They knew why we were there, and they appreciated the sacrifices that we made to help them."

The Afghan people also appreciated the sacrifices of the American public, Chavez said, as many of the humanitarian supplies his team distributed were donated from corporations and private citizens. His team helped rebuild water wells and schools, delivered supplies and set up temporary housing and aid after natural disasters.

Chavez, an 18-year Navy veteran, was raised in San Antonio, a city with strong military traditions. He had several relatives who served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, and growing up hearing their stories instilled in him a sense of duty, he said.

After high school, Chavez went to college for about three years. Before he enlisted, he was working three jobs, but didn't have a sense of job accomplishment, he said. Also, he was craving adventure and remembered his good experiences in junior Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps and Air Force ROTC.

"I developed an affinity toward the structure and the discipline that the military offered," he said. "So I went to talk to recruiters. I liked what the Navy recruiter had to offer, and 18 years later, I'm still enjoying it."

Chavez has enjoyed the opportunities to move to different commands throughout the Navy and the military's system of rewarding people for good performance. He's also enjoyed the different challenges he's faced during his career and the educational opportunities, such as finishing his bachelor's degree and working on his master's, he said.

Chavez plans to stay in the Navy and is hoping to be selected for a warrant officer program soon. He said he doesn't know if he'll have the chance to deploy again, but he is more than willing. For now, he said, he feels honored to be part of the Why We Serve program and hopes he can bring the American public a different perspective about the war on terror.

"It's not all doom and gloom like they see in the news; there are a lot of success stories out there, and we are helping to change attitudes and perceptions of Americans, one generation at a time," Chavez said. "I think that that's going a long way toward winning the war against terrorism in Afghanistan."

Face of Defense: Family Bonds Keep Network Controller Going

By Pfc. Samantha Schutz, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

Jan. 14, 2008 - As the Army's 4th Infantry Division settles into its recently assumed control of Multinational Division Baghdad, the Ironhorse credo -- "Mission, Soldier, Family, Team" -- remains a strong influence in the unit's everyday flow. For Army Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Rende, a native of Ilion, N.Y., and a network controller with Company C, Special Troops Battalion, being a deployed soldier on the Ivy team is an easy task as long as he knows his mission and has the support of his family.

Rende monitors communication links between the headquarters and its brigades. If a communication link stops working, he must act quickly to coordinate with the brigade and troubleshoot the problem. Communication is crucial, since other Multinational Division Baghdad troops are constantly patrolling various streets throughout Baghdad.

Ensuring continuous communication is an around-the-clock mission, so it is divided into day and night shifts. Rende tends his duties at night, while his family members back in the United States go about their day.

At his work station, Rende's computer wallpaper is a collage of family photos: pictures of himself with his girlfriend, Lisa; his two daughters, Katelyn, 12, and Renae, 9; and Lisa's children, Alan, 13, Ramon, 8, and Brianna, 3.

"They're the ones who keep me going," Rende said. "Sometimes it seems like my kids are there for me more than I am for them."

From the time he enlisted in the Army 12 years ago, Rende has been stationed in and deployed to countries all over the world, including Germany, Croatia and Macedonia. This particular deployment has been the most challenging, he said, because his children are beginning to understand the meaning of his absence.

"They're growing up," said Rende. "I hadn't even been here a month yet when Katelyn sent me a message on the Internet saying, 'Daddy, I had my first boyfriend. We broke up already. I don't like boys anymore because they don't know what they want.' She's just not my little girl anymore."

When Rende is relieved of his shift in the morning, the first thing he does when he gets back to his trailer is log on to the Internet so he can communicate with his family via e-mail and instant messaging programs.

Also, Rende said, he stays in touch with friends from all over the world who he met on an online program called PalTalk, on which he hosts his own Internet radio show. Because of his tendency to make bogus phone calls during the program, he earned the moniker "The Crank Caller" and a fan base to go with it.

"The Internet here is too slow for me to do the show, but all my friends support me and can't wait for me to come back," Rende said.

Although being away from his family and friends is difficult, Rende said, he tries to take advantage of the time he has to himself. He is pursuing an associate's degree in applied science and technology by taking online courses through Excelsior College.
"It's important to keep your education going," he said, adding that he advises young soldiers to take advantage of any kind of college or correspondence courses they can while they're deployed.

Rende also tells his fellow deployed soldiers not to get complacent. Some soldiers who work in support of a division are not constantly in the line of fire, but that doesn't mean the danger is gone, he explained. Rende said he also reminds fellow soldiers to stay in good physical condition. He said he's seen people gain 30 to 40 pounds during a deployment because physical training isn't always scheduled into their day.

"But of course, family is the most important thing. Don't shut your family out; have them help push you through," Rende said. "I wear this uniform for my family."

When he and the rest of the Ivy team complete their mission in Iraq, Rende will be eager to enjoy a day of putt-putt golfing and a night of movies with his family, he said. Until then, he said, he continues to always place the mission first.

(Army Pfc. Samantha Schutz serves with 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs.)

Civilian Conference Participant Connects with Troops

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 7, 2007 - Wearing a protective vest and Kevlar helmet and carrying an M-16 rifle, Fassil Gabremariam struggled to climb into the turret of an armored Humvee. It was hot, and he was sweaty and tired. But as he poked his head through the gunner's access hole in the top of the military vehicle, Gabremariam was taken from a training exercise in the jungles of Guam to the streets of Baghdad and, in an instant, he saw with fresh perspective some of the realities of those serving in the war.

"It ... brought me in touch with those Humvees that I see on television in Iraq and these young kids ... out there sacrificing themselves in the line of fire. And I was sort of visualizing. My mind was focusing on that Humvee on the streets of Baghdad," he said.

"When I was ... standing there, I was really connected. I was connected with the military. I was not a soldier. I was not in the military, but I was connected psychologically," Gabremariam said.

The retired telecommunications senior executive is part of the nearly 40 civilians who traveled to this remote U.S. territory island as part of the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference on the first stop of a week-long expedition to U.S. Pacific Command. The JCOC is a defense secretary sponsored program for U.S. civic and business leaders who want to broaden their knowledge of the military and national defense.

Yesterday the group toured the island's Air Force efforts, headed by the 36th Wing. The wing provides day-to-day mission support to more than 8,500 military, civilian and retired personnel and their families and 15 associate units on the base.

During the day, the group helped evacuate "casualties" in a mock airplane crash exercise, assembled bombs at a munitions depot and got behind the controls of a back-hoe at the construction site for a new home for a unit of Air Force combat engineers.

They also were able to crawl into the boom operator's bubble on a KC-135 Stratotanker air refueler, and the finale was an up-close and personal look at the high-tech, stealthy B-2 bomber. The bomber was the only thing during the day that the participants were not allowed to touch.

At the start, participants were faced with "victims" screaming and frantic with mock burns, gashes and other injuries. They were taken through the triage process, helped evacuate the injured from the site, and provided convoy security to the medical-evacuation site and even loaded victims onto the helicopter.

At the construction site, conference participants tried their hands at using heavy equipment to lift a softball off of an orange-colored cone marker and dropping it into a bucket. At the munitions depot, they toured bunkers and then donned gloves and steel-toed boots to attach tail fins to bombs.

Organizers of the conference ensured that each stage was as hands-on as possible and kept briefings to a minimum. The goal was to give the group as much face-to-face time as possible with airmen and to let them experience the training first-hand.

For Gabremariam, this approach helped him connect with what servicemembers go through to perform their missions. "I was struggling; just putting the helmet on and having that vest on, it was demanding," he said. "I could not feel everything they feel, because I was not in a live-fire situation, but I can relate to how difficult it is, how tough it is, to operate in that type of environment, and these young men and women are doing a formidable job doing it."

Gabremariam is a naturalized citizen from Ethiopia. His father was a life-long public servant there and taught him to respect service, he said. At 24 Gabremariam came to America to go to college and went on to make a career here. He never served in the military, nor did any of his immediate family, but he said he has always had admiration for those serving, Gabremariam said.

"The American military, I think, is probably one of the most respected institutions in the world. It gives opportunities to young people to shape their lives, to grow, to change, to aspire and achieve their dreams," he said.

"It lifts them up to a challenge that's bigger than themselves," he said. "That's service."

Gabremariam said he admires U.S. military servicemembers for their discipline and integrity. While conference participants are briefed on impressive military operations and strategic plans and see high-tech military equipment, getting to talk to, and work and train with troops is the true value of the conference, he said.

"That is one of the most important elements, because the military is not made up of concrete and metal and bombs and airplanes. It takes people -- human beings -- to operate and run it. They are the ones who make it happen," Gabremariam said. "So for me, this trip is about connecting and knowing more about the military -- not only what they have, what type of equipment they have, but the morale and the attitudes and the aspirations of the young people."

The retired executive from Florida said so far this trip has reaffirmed his confidence in the young fighting men and women of the U.S. military, and he said he is impressed at their willingness to sacrifice for their service. "They love their job; they are very loyal, and they are very committed, and these young people elevate my spirit," he said.

He said the visit has helped him connect with servicemembers like he never could have otherwise. "I have never thought that I had that strong of a feeling about (military service) until today, and I never felt that connection until I was inside that Humvee, and someone said, 'Go up the turret.' And when I went there, I felt like I was one of them."

Gabremariam was nominated for the conference by senior military officials. He said he feels that the program should be expanded so others can gain the same insights into military service.

"What it does is take out the fluff. It takes out the noise, and puts you right there in front of the troops with the troops, doing the things they do with them," he said. "It takes all of the political garbage out of it, and you say, 'That's why we need to support these guys.'"

'eKnowledge' Prepares Servicemembers, Family Members for Academic Rigors

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 1, 2007 - A company that makes test-preparation products for students gearing up for college entrance exams is offering free materials to servicemembers and their families, sacrificing a chunk of its bottom line for those on the front lines. eKnowledge is an online- and CD-ROM-based learning program that teaches test-taking techniques for the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT, and American College Test, or ACT, among others. The company plans to expand its coverage soon by offering complimentary programs to Junior ROTC members.

Charlie Beall, eKnowledge chief executive officer and a former Marine, fought in Vietnam as infantry officer. He said he has sympathy for servicemembers whose income might be strained by $300 or $400 price tags attached to premium test-prep products.

"A sergeant in the Air Force stationed in Singapore who's got a couple of teenage kids that are getting ready to go to college can't afford $400 or $500 apiece for these test-preparation products," Beall said. "A lot of these folks have children in the JROTC program, so they're going to have help with tuition because they're going to go to school on ROTC scholarships.

"But that doesn't help them financially with their ACT and SAT test preparation, which ultimately is going to have an influence on which schools they can go to," he added.

SAT and ACT exam scores often weigh heavily in college admission judgments and can tip the scales toward an applicant's acceptance or rejection. Beall estimates students improve their scores 30 to 40 percent when they prepare with eKnowledge products, compared to those who don't use a premium-prep program.

A group of National Football League players last year heard through their agency, Victory Sports Group, about eKnowledge's plan to donate study materials to boost troops' and their family members' chances at gaining admission to choice schools.

The seven NFL players -- Mark Anderson of the Chicago Bears, Jon Bradley of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Garrick Jones of the Atlanta Falcons, Corey Williams of the Green Bay Packers, Jason Radar of the Miami Dolphins, Ahmaad Galloway of the San Diego Chargers, and Scott Young of the Philadelphia Eagles -- jumped at the chance to support servicemembers and their families.

With the football players' help, eKnowledge donated $6.9 million worth of multimedia SAT/ACT preparation materials.

Young said he was inspired to team with eKnowledge because of Jake Johnson, Young's best friend since high school. As a Marine, Johnson spent four years serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"When people are willing to put their lives on hold to serve and protect the U.S., our freedoms (and) everything we know as a country, it's the least we can do to help these people in the military come home and get back to a civilian lifestyle, to get back and get that little jumpstart into education," Young said.

"I think it is owed by the civilian population to help out people who are fighting for us and risking their lives and the families (who) are right there with them," he said.

eKnowledge and NFL participants have donated more than 48,000 test preparation CDs and DVDs, and received roughly 20,000 thank you notes from satisfied troops. One note was even postmarked from Africa, where a servicemember was stationed.

"As a military parent residing in Kenya," Air Force Maj. Douglas McClain wrote, "I truly appreciate the opportunity to obtain these products for my daughter who attends the international school here.

"This program will guarantee that she has current material to prepare for the SAT and ACT," the note said. "Thanks from an Air Force major who is trying to serve his country and also take care of his family."

Servicemembers interested in receiving free eKnowledge products can complete an online request form at www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil by following the link to "Donation: VSG/NFL Players." Requests can also be made by calling eKnowledge at 951-256-4076 or via e-mail at support@eknowledge.com.

Groups Makes College Less Painful for Parents

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

March 21, 2007 – Parents of even young children often wonder how they'll pay for college tuition, but military service organizations are taking some uncertainty out of the equation. The Military Officers Association of America and the United Services Automobile Association both offer college savings plans to help servicemembers defray the cost of college educations long before the bill arrives in the mail.

MOAA and USAA also are members of America Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting the ways Americans and the corporate sector are supporting the nation's servicemembers.

Both organizations offer state-sponsored 529 College Savings Plans, which are available in nearly every state.

MOAA's "Degrees of Success" plan, chosen for its low fees and expenses, has been available to all servicemembers since November, Phil Dyer, MOAA's deputy director of financial education, said. It also offers a waiver of the typical $3,000 initial fee. The waiver requires enrollment through the MOAA Web site and participation in a $50 automatic payment plan.

Dyer, who is also a certified financial planner, said the frequency of that payment is flexible.

The $3,000 waiver is automatically available to all enlisted personnel. Officers wishing to take advantage of the benefit must be MOAA members, however, Dyer said.

Investing in a 529 plan is much like investing in mutual funds, Dyer said. "Some are fixed income choices, which may return 4 percent a year, but most of them are tied to a basket of stock market mutual funds," he added.

If an investor doesn't want to play the market when it comes to paying for college, there's an option that will put minds at ease, Dyer said. "Most 529 plans will have what is called an age-weighted option, ... kind of like a fire-and-forget missile," he said. "You just pick the maturity year that you want and then they will automatically adjust the investments as you draw closer to that to make it more conservative."

The 529 plans also offer benefits beyond defraying the cost of college before the child begins classes. For instance, withdrawals used for qualified educational expenses are state and federal income tax exempt, Dyer said. Qualifying expenses include participation in accredited trade school programs, undergraduate study at two- and four-year schools, and graduate programs, Dyer added.

Owners of these savings plans -- generally parents -- are free to change the beneficiary once a year with no penalty, he said. That feature is useful if a beneficiary child, for whatever reason, doesn't use the money saved.

"If you get to the end of the line and nobody's used the money, ... you (can) take the money out for a nonqualified education expense and it's treated just like a premature (individual retirement account) distribution," Dyer said. "What that means is ... that anything you take out is going to be added to your taxable income for the year."

The money also incurs a 10 percent "non-qualifying withdrawal" tax penalty, he said.

While USAA offers a similar plan, the terms are a little different, June Walbert, a certified financial planner with USAA, said. USAA members can open an account for as little as $250 with a subsequent $50 per month contribution. The organization also offers an additional feature to help boost a 529 College Savings Plan's bottom line.

"Our program is linked with the Upromise rewards service, which means that if you register a credit card or a debit card with Upromise -- without any catches or without any fees -- if you shop and use certain products, ... then you can get Upromise rewards credited directly to your 529 College Savings Plan," she said. The Upromise program is connected with thousands of retailers and restaurants.

In addition to the 529 College Savings Plan, USAA offers another option, the Coverdell Education Savings Account. Money in a Coverdell account can be used for education beginning at the elementary level and continuing through higher education, Walbert said.

"So if the parent starts a Coverdell Education Savings Account when the kiddo is born, a few years later they can start withdrawing the money after it's had some time to percolate, if you will, in the market," she said.

The Coverdell plan has slightly different guidelines from 529 plans, she added. There is a $2,000 a year contribution limit, and there are income parameters imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. "So you can't make too much money and still qualify for the Coverdell Education Savings Account," Walbert said.

One form of college savings plan that Walbert cautions parents about is the 529 Pre-paid Tuition Plan, which is valid only in the state it's linked to. It's a little riskier, she said, and that risk has more to do with a child's choice of schools than stock market fluctuations.

"None of us know where our kids want to go to school, number one," Walbert said. "With a 529 Pre-paid Tuition Plan, (investors) are buying tuition credits for the future at today's rates, ... and the requirement is that you go to school in that state."

Article sponsored by military and police personnel who have authored books as well as criminal justice online leadership.

Soldier Hits Big Kick to Win $10K

American Forces Press Service

Jan. 12, 2007 – Football fans across America got a sneak preview of the nation's newest class of college stars at the seventh annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio's Alamodome on Jan. 6. But the brightest star of the game was Army Pvt. Josh Lucas, who took home $10,000 when he put a football through the uprights during an in-game promotion by USAA. Lucas and his roommate, Pfc. William Herron, both assigned to Company C, 264th Medical Brigade, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, were selected to compete against one another and be the first to kick a 30-yard field goal. Lucas booted the ball between the uprights on his second try and took home the $10,000 prize. However, Herron didn't go home empty handed; he walked off the field $3,000 richer, courtesy of USAA.

ASAA is a corporate member of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which highlights ways Americans support U.S. servicemembers and their families.

"That was a pretty exciting deal," Lucas said. "It seemed like I got called out of the stands just out of the blue, and the next thing I know I'm kicking a field goal and winning $10,000."

"USAA's mission is to support the men and women who defend our nation, and their families," said Mike Luby, president of USAA Federal Savings Bank. "As Americans, we can never truly repay the debt we owe our troops and their families. However, holding this contest and giving away these tickets is a small token of our appreciation for their service and sacrifice."

In addition to the field goal contest, USAA provided Fort Sam Houston leaders 1,000 tickets to the game for soldiers and their families. They also provided lunch for the more than 3,000 soldiers attending the game.

This article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become writers and criminal justice leadership.