Deployed Sailors Get New Education Aids

The Navy has launched two computer initiatives to help deploying Sailors pursue their education. The first covers 47 students currently enrolled in a Navy College Program for Afloat College Education pilot program with Central Texas College/Coastline Community College. This pilot allows students to study using a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) whenever and wherever they desire. Each student receives a PDA for the class duration, with the courseware loaded onto it. The course is interactive, including a video, text books, PowerPoint presentations and quizzes. The second initiative entails distribution of 660 laptop computers to afloat Sailors who will be within the E-8 zone and eligible for promotion in fiscal 2011. Sailors can check out a laptop from a Navy College Office (NCO) and load courseware for study. If the NCO has no computers in stock, Sailors can request that one be ordered for them.