Military Child Education Program assists children education concerns

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Carbajal
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  In an effort to assist military children with the continual changing of duty stations and deployments, Elmendorf officials established a program to act as the conduit between the schools and military members.

The Military Child Education Program provides servicemembers and their families with information and resources to ease the child's transition upon moving to a new duty station.

"It's important for the school staff to understand what the military children are experiencing," said Jena Bienia, Elmendorf's school liaison officer. "Civilian children have an advantage because they don't go through the deployments and high opstempo (operations tempo) like the military children."

Military families with school-age children face different challenges than their civilian counterparts.

The difference for military families is not just deployments, she added. Frequent moves result in new rules and student requirements as they enter new states and school districts.

"Every state has its own requirements for education," Bienia said. "I want to make sure that they have all the credits necessary especially to get them to that graduation point."

Bienia and her Fort Richardson counterpart, Brian Grigges, are members of the Education Task Force. Comprised of Air Force and Army components, the team attends meetings with the Anchorage School Board to advocate specific needs of Elmendorf's school-aged children.

"I've met with all of the on-base school principals during the CARE (Community, Agencies, Resources, and Education) team meeting. I'm going to attending several other on- and off-base school events to make myself known so the guidance counselors and principals can be comfortable calling me when there's an issue," she said.

Before Biena became liaison, the school would bring issues to the CARE team, and they would have to funnel the concerns up to wing leadership. Now, both the schools and military family members have someone they can contact directly to provide information and act as an advocate.

Bienia gained liaison experience when she worked similar issues as an additional duty. "I got involved by talking with military parents on the phone while they were PCSing," she said. "They would ask 'What's the best school?' or 'Where should I buy a house?'"

This process also works for outbound members. If families are moving to other bases in the lower 48, she can put them in touch with the base liaison officer, she added.

The liaison officer's assistance isn't just kindergarten through high school. "I can also help high school children get ready for colleges," she said.

Bienia also acts as a conduit between the schools and the installation. She helps coordinate volunteers to assist during school events, such as science fairs or other activities for school-age children. Her involvement in the local schools helps demonstrate the military's community interest.

In a recent memorandum to the wing, Col. Thomas Bergeson, 3rd Wing commander, supports this concept.

"Opportunities to stay continuously involved with your children's schools include official organizations or functions, such as, PTA, after-school sports and school social clubs," said Bergeson. "This effort strengthens our commitment to our children, their education and our future. It's also a great way to show visible support for our community."

For more information about the Elmendorf school liaison officer, call 552-4521.