OCTOBER 6, 2022 — Enlisting in the Army and choosing a job assignment is the start to a career for many, but over time, some Soldiers find their personal and professional goals begin to develop and shift.
The Army has a way to support these emerging pursuits by providing an opportunity to increase academic achievement scores.
The Online Academic Skills Course (OASC) is offered once a month at the education centers on USAG Benelux-Brunssum and SHAPE, Belgium, to help Soldiers and their Families improve their academic skills and increase their standardized test scores.
In particular, the course can help Soldiers raise their Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT) general technical (GT) score.
“My GT score was kind of low, so the reason I wanted to raise it up is so I can have more job availability,” said Spc. Hiep Tran, Bravo Company, 87th Division Sustainment Support Battalion at USAG Benelux-Brunssum. “I want to try a new side of the Army.”
Tran emigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam with is family when he was 13 years old. At the time, he spoke no English.
Shortly after high school, he took the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery and enlisted in the Army.
“At the beginning I didn’t research a lot (about my job assignment). I just went with what people around me said to do,” said Tran. “They said it’s a good job as a mechanic and after the Army you can use the skills on the civilian side.”
Before he received his assignment, he watched a few videos to help choose his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), but the vehicles he was interested in working on preferred mechanic MOS weren’t available in the unit he was assigned to.
Granted permission from his command, Tran took advantage of the academic skills training during duty hours for three hours a day, five days a week for two weeks.
Tran originally signed up for the OASC in April 2022, but before he was able to take the AFCT, his unit deployed to Poland.
In August, he was able to enroll again to resume the course and finally take the test. After taking the skills course, Tran increased his AFCT results by 20 points to achieve a GT score of 115.
“I surprised myself!” said Tran. “I just aimed as high as I could and didn’t think I could get that high. There are a lot of MOS (options) available to me now.”
Scores above 110 open a myriad of opportunities to Soldiers.
Tran hopes to pursue an MOS as a pharmacy specialist, combat medic specialist, operating room specialist, dental specialist or practical nursing specialist.
Not only do higher scores offer a chance to re-class their job specialty, but it can also put Soldiers in a position to promote more quickly.
Additionally, skills obtained can be beneficial in degree achievement or commissioning to become an officer.
“This program has been very well developed and is a strong support element in changing GT scores,” said Randy McNally, USAG Benelux education services officer at SHAPE.
Since the OASC is self-paced, the program specifically tailors lessons to build upon the Soldier’s skills that need improvement.
“It builds them up,” said Geraldine Hester, education services specialist at USAG Benelux-Brunssum. “When you do a class setting, everyone is at a different level, and it’s difficult to reach everyone with the skills. This is different because it is self-paced.”
McNally recommends that Soldiers start working on raising their GT scores even before they set their sights on a particular goal.
The AFCT can be taken every six months, with the most recent score remaining in the Soldier’s file.
“The higher your GT score, the more technical your job could be,” said Caroline Peck, an education center contractor at USAG Benelux-Brunssum.
“The Soldier that is stuck in their MOS may not be aware that there is a way to change that,” said McNally.
The USAG Benelux education centers offer everything Soldiers need to begin their journey.
The skills training course is available free of charge to all Active Duty military, Reserves and National Guard, their Families and DoD civilians.
The next OASC runs from Oct. 17 to 28 at the USAG Benelux-Brunssum and SHAPE installations.
In November, the course will run from Nov. 21 to Dec. 2 at USAG Benelux-Brunssum and Nov. 28 to Dec. 8 at SHAPE. Contact your local education center for details on how to register.
By Sandra Wilson