Classes prepare troops for jobs at home

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Classes aren't mandatory, but soldiers from the Nevada Army National Guard and others assigned here recognize the importance of taking courses that will help them find jobs once they return home.

For the past 18 months, the Institute of Technology University -- or "Signal U" -- has offered courses to help students with their assigned job specialties and leadership at a modest campus of two modular units housing four classrooms.

Capt. David Raines, the 422nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion's liaison to the schoolhouse and information management officer, is responsible for scheduling the certification classes and managing their funding.

Since the battalion arrived in Afghanistan in March, soldiers and civilians have enrolled in more than 3,000 courses. Classes are full, day after day.

While most classes are computer-generated, on-site instructors teach other courses.

Among the courses eligible for certification are security communications and network classes. For example, Raines said, a Cisco Certified Network Assistant class is worth two to three semester credits.

"The Army is meeting the technological standards in the civilian industry," he said. "Each one of the certifications equates to a higher-paying-level job in the U.S."

Sixteen students are eligible to take two courses a week, and a new, third instructor will increase the number of classes and students.

Sgt. Adrian Felix of Henderson is a firm believer in Signal U. He said that the courses are an introduction to the information technology career he plans to pursue in both the military and civilian fields.

"I have no shame admitting that I do not have employment to look forward to when I make it back to Henderson," he said. "But the certifications that I'm earning here and the education that I'm pursuing when I make it home ... well, with hard work and discipline over a long period of time, finding employment will not be an issue."

This is Felix's second deployment, and if he cannot find a job in Las Vegas, he may seek another tour in Afghanistan until the economy improves.

So he looks at the classes "as a small foundation to huge opportunities that I'll have in the future."

Felix praised the 422nd battalion and its leaders for encouraging soldiers to take classes and improve themselves: "(They) have been incredibly supportive of soldiers taking classes and furthering their education. They force you to make it your priority, as it should be."

Steve Ranson is editor of the Lahontan Valley News in Fallon, where a version of this story originally appeared.