FORT JACKSON EDUCATION CENTER
“Serving People Is Our Business”
Mission
To vigorously promote lifelong learning opportunities to sharpen the competitive edge of the Army in providing and managing quality self-development programs and services. We are committed to provide professional educational counseling services and guidance on our educational programs to support individual military and/or civilian career goals while stationed at Fort Jackson and surrounding areas.
Education Services and programs are available at the Education Center and Multi-Use Learning Facility (MLF), Building #4600.
Active duty Soldiers, retirees, Department of Army Civilians (DAC) and their adult Family members may receive counseling, information about financial aid, on-post adult educational programs, and enrollment processes in selected programs.
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Counseling
Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Army Education Center provides assistance to Soldiers and their adult Family Members in developing long and short term educational/professional plans for personal development and growth. Education Counselors are available to assist with assessing strengths and promoting opportunities for growth based on interests and experience. On a daily basis, Education Counselors work with Soldiers on getting set up for and using their Tuition Assistance through the ArmyIgnitED portal, in-processing, out-processing, GI Bill questions, financial aid opportunities, local and non-local college information, degree plan options,and more. If it is related to college education, bring it to the Education Center and get questions answered.
Tuition Assistance
The Tuition Assistance (TA) Program provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty civilian education programs in support of a Soldier's professional and personal self-development goals. TA is a Public Law that is implemented by Department of Defense (DOD) Directive and DOD Instruction, and all Soldiers (officers, warrant officers, enlisted) on active duty, Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers on active duty (pursuant to U.S. Code Title 10 or Title 32), and TPU Soldiers are authorized to participate in the TA program. Tuition assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour, a maximum of 16 semester hours or $4,000 per fiscal year. Soldiers new to tuition assistance and credentialing assistance must attend the mandatory ArmyIgnitED 101 briefing and complete an initial counseling with an education center counselor prior to the approval of an education goal. ArmyIgnitED 101 briefings are available in-person and via MS Teams. Please contact the education center at usarmy.jackson.93-sig-bde.mbx.dhr-jacksonedcenter@army.mil for more information on attending a briefing.
Soldiers are now required to enter the term dates on the TA requests, this may be different than the course start date. Please contact your academic institution to ensure you have the correct dates prior to submitting your request. Soldiers are NOT eligible for TA for a course with term end dates less than 60 days from their separation date. FY24 requests are subject to the availability of funds.
IMPORTANT: Soldiers may submit TA requests up to 60 days prior to the course start date but MUST submit the request no later than seven days prior to the course start date. TA requests created by a counselor or TA request that had the course information updated must be signed by the Soldier. Soldiers will receive two reminder messages requiring their signature on any TA request. If the TA request has not been signed within 30 days after the term start date, the unsigned TAR will be deleted by the ArmyIgnitED system. Soldiers may be responsible for any or all charges incurred from their academic institution.
ArmyIgnitED 101 Briefing dates:
- Nov. 4 (Via MS Teams)
- Nov. 13 (Via MS Teams)
- Nov. 18 (Via MS Teams)
- Nov. 27(Via MS Teams)
Credentialing Assistance
Credentialing Assistance (CA) is available to Soldiers through ArmyIgnitED. CA can be used to pursue courses and exams for over 1,500 credentials, certifications and licenses. Soldiers can request CA funding for any credential listed in Army Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL): https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/index.html. Funding for CA is limited by TA usage; Soldiers are allotted $4,000 for the combined usage of TA/CA per fiscal year. As of Oct. 13, 2021, Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers will no longer incur a two-year military service obligation for using CA. Soldiers new to credentialing assistance must attend the mandatory CA briefing held every 2nd and 4th Thursday at 10am via MS Teams. Please contact the education center at usarmy.jackson.93-sig-bde.mbx.dhr-jacksonedcenter@army.mil for more information on attending a briefing.
IMPORTANT: Soldiers may submit CA requests up to 90 days before the class start date but MUST submit the requests no later than 45 days prior to the class start date."
Request a Virtual Credentialing Assistance Counseling session at:https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/costs_and_funding/index.html?credentialingassistance
Testing Center
Email usarmy.jackson.93-sig-bde.mbx.dhr-jacksonedcenter@army.mil to request a sample DA4187.
Day | Test | AM Start Time | Max Capacity | PM Start Time | Max Capacity |
Monday | DLPT | 8 a.m. | 7 | 1 p.m. | |
Tuesday | DLAB/MISC | 8 a.m. | 7 | None | |
Wednesday | TABE | 8 a.m. | 8 | 1 p.m. | 8 |
Thursday | SIFT/MISC | 8 a.m. | 7 | None | |
Friday | AFCT | 8 a.m. | 7 | 1 p.m. |
(Note:) Fort Jackson Army Personnel Testing (APT) services are available but limited.
The APT tests currently available are the Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT), Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB), Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) and Selection Flight Instrument for Flight Training (SIFT) test.
Testing schedule may change without advance notice.
Administration of the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) has been postponed until further notice. Email the education center to discuss nearby testing options.
A confirmed registration and a DA4187 are required for exams. Examinees must arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled exam to in-process.
Soldiers require a NIPR account to test; therefore all Soldiers must come to the Education Center at least two (2) days before the actual testing date to confirm your Common Access Card (CAC) works on the testing system.
**The DLPT, AFCT, SIFT, OPI and DLAB require a completed Department of Army (DA) 4187 form noting the name of the exam. The DA 4187 must be “digitally signed” by both the Soldier and the Soldier’s Commander with their CAC and submitted to the Education Center prior to the day of testing.
Email usarmy.jackson.93-sig-bde.mbx.dhr-jacksonedcenter@army.mil to request a sample DA4187
National Test Center
National Test Center services has temporarily moved. Services are currently being offered on the Midlands Technical College Airport and Beltline campuses.
Placement Testing, to include the CLEP Exam, is available by appointment only during the times listed below. Schedule an appointment HERE.
Days |
Start Time |
Latest Start Time |
End Time |
Monday | 9 a.m. | 3:30 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. |
Wednesday | 9 a.m. | 3:30 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. |
Friday | 9 a.m. | Noon | 1 p.m. |
Colleges On Post
School | Degrees Offered |
Midlands Technical College Midlands Technical College is back on post!! Visit us
(803) 782-3213 Midlands Technical College (MTC) Spring registration starts Oct. 28. | Associate in Criminal Justice Associate in Management |
University of South Carolina (803) 576-5669
| General Educational Requirements Associate of Arts Associate of Science |
Webster University (803) 738-0603 (803) 386-7183 | Graduate Degrees in: Business Administration Business and Organizational Security Management Information Technology Human Resource Management Management and Leadership |
Basic Skills Education Program (BSEP)
BSEP provides sessions to help Soldiers master mathematical, reading and writing skills required by their Army jobs. Sometimes the BSEP Program is often referred to as Functional Academic Skills Training (FAST) or GT Improvement.
BSEP/FAST serves as the Commander's primary on-duty education programs. While on duty, it is an opportunity for Soldiers to study and increase their education skills. Upon completion, Soldiers can re-take various Army personnel tests that can assist in changing MOS fields, apply for opportunities in programs such as Officer Candidate School, Warrant Officer School, Green-to-Gold, the Physician Assistant (PA) Program and other career advancing opportunities.
- Oct. 21 – Nov. 1 (All documents are due no later than Oct. 15)
- Nov. 12-25 (All documents are due no later than Nov. 4)
- Dec. 2-13 (All documents are due no later than Nov. 25)
The signatures on ALL required documents must be electronically signed. No exceptions
An academic counselor will contact all approved students via email about the required Pre/Post Test of Adult Basic Education to include registration, available test dates and test times.
Late submissions of any of the required, completed documents; lack of an active OASC account and an older Pre-TABE test scores will disqualify the Soldier from participating in a BSEP class.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Only approved students will be notified via email of their acceptance in the class. You are required to attend all classes and remain in the class the entire time.
REMINDER: The Pre-TABE test and enrollment in the Peterson Online Academic Skills Program (OASC) is a prerequisite for participating in the GT Improvement class. The OASC is a self–study on-line program that is used during the class and has proven to be a successful tool. The link to the program is https://dantes.petersons.com/. Both the Pre-TABE and OASC covers the basic English, vocabulary and math skills used in the BSEP course. These areas contribute to the GT score of the Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT). All approved students must have current Pre-TABE scores (less than 4 months old) prior to the first day of the class. The Pre-TABE scores will determine your eligibility to participate in the class.
For more information contact the Education Center via email at usarmy.jackson.93-sig-bde.mbx.dhr-jacksonedcenter@army.mil or call (803) 751-5341.
Useful Links
Education & Tuitions Assistance: HTTPS://WWW.ARMYIGNITED.ARMY.MIL/STUDENT
DANTES: HTTP://WWW.DANTES.MIL/
Joint Services Transcript: HTTPS://JST.DODED.MIL/
Veterans Affairs Education Page (GI BILL): HTTP://WWW.BENEFITS.VA.GOV/GIBILL
Financial Aid: HTTPS://STUDENTAID.GOV/H/APPLY-FOR-AID/FAFSA
Scholarships: HTTPS://FISHERHOUSE.ORG/PROGRAMS/SCHOLARSHIPS/
Student Loan Forgiveness: HTTPS://STUDENTAID.GOV/MANAGE-LOANS/FORGIVENESS-CA...
Foreign Evaluation Services: HTTPS://WWW.NACES.ORG/ , HTTP://AICE-EVAL.ORG/
Troops To Firefighters: HTTPS://WWW.TROOPSTOFIREFIGHTERS.ORG/,HTTPS://WWW.TROOPSTOFIREFIGHTERS.ORG/RECRUIT-SIGN-...
MYCAA Spouse Benefits: HTTPS://MYCAA.MILITARYONESOURCE.MIL/MYCAA/
Kuder Journey: HTTPS://WWW.DANTES.DODED.MIL/EDUCATIONPROGRAMS/PRE...
Occupational Outlook Handbook: HTTPS://WWW.ONETONLINE.ORG/
Army COOL: HTTPS://WWW.COOL.OSD.MIL/ARMY/
Career Path DECIDE: HTTPS://WWW.CAREERPATHDECIDE.ORG/CAREER-PLANNING/BUILD-YOUR-TARGET
Online Academic Skills Course (OASC): HTTPS://DANTES.PETERSONS.COM