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Master Sgt. Eric Keys hired as new chief of education and training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shane Ellis
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Joint Base Charleston, S.C. --  Master Sgt. Eric Keys assumed his new position as chief of education and training for the 315th Airlift Wing July 18, 2011 at Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

Sergeant Keys was handed the reins from Senior Master Sgt. Linda Sturgeon who is now the chief of the Education Services Flight for the 628 Mission Support Group here.

"I'm thankful to be here, and I'm excited about the opportunity to continue our mission of helping our Airmen move forward as they work to achieve their educational goals," said Sergeant Keys.

One of Sergeant Keys' goals for the 315 AW is to keep education and training in front of as many Airmen as possible on a regular basis.

"I want to make sure our educational services are reaching our Airmen," said Sergeant Keys. "We must be visible here in our wing, and we must make every effort to educate our Airmen about the Community College of the Air Force, the Air Force Tuition Assistance program, and the GI Bill."

Sergeant Keys said that it is not uncommon for Airmen to stop by his office who have never heard about all of the numerous opportunities the Air Force provides for Airmen to attend college.

"It's free money," said Sergeant Keys. "Many colleges are military friendly, and Airmen can often attend college without paying anything."

Sergeant Keys said it's crucial to stop by the education and training office when a member of the 315 AW is considering attending college.

"It's important to earn a degree," said Sergeant Keys. "We want to make sure our Airmen are earning a degree that they want. It really doesn't make any sense to get a degree just for the sake of getting a degree. Our goal is to help Airmen achieve their educational goals with a degree that will enrich their lives and their military career."

Sergeant Keys said his team is ready to help every member of the 315 AW as they move forward and pursue their college education. He also gave his list of the top three things to research when preparing for college:

1. Regional accreditation: Not every college is regionally accredited, and it's important for Airmen to select a college that is regionally accredited.

2. Cost: Don't look for the most expensive school because it doesn't take a lot of money to get a great education.

3. Select the right degree: Get the degree that will give you the most opportunity to achieve your goals, enrich your life, and propel your career.