With today’s competitive work place, having an education provides a leg up for those with advanced degrees. The Navy College Office (NCO) on Naval Station Everett provides education assistance to Sailors and their families.

Two such Sailors, Navy Counselor 1st Class (AW) Delores Treibs and Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Stacy Martin recently graduated with degrees from Columbia College.

Treibs earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with minors in education and business.

“I wanted to be the first in my family - extended included - to earn a college degree and I achieved that goal!” Treibs said. “Also, one of the main reasons I joined the Navy was to get the money for my education. The Navy has so much to offer. With tuition assistance being 100 percent, there was no reason for me not to earn my degree so I could use the GI Bill later to pay for my master’s and maybe one day my Ph.D.”

Martin had similar reasons for earning an associate’s degree in general studies.

“I wanted to better my life and chances to get a good job when I get out,” she said.  “It will help me with my advancement and if I choose to stay in it will help me make chief.”

Getting a degree on active duty can be difficult, but with help from NCO Everett these Sailors achieved their goals said Stan Monusko, NCO Everett director.

“It’s our job not to put someone in a school, but to teach them what their options are and how to make the best choices and to realize that something is doable,” Monusko said.  NCO Everett assists with testing, educational advising, Navy College Program for Afloat College Education and tuition assistance.

“Sometimes people come in and they have a real good idea of what they want their degree to be and we help facilitate that,” said Lauran Tapp, NCO Everett education advisor, who also helps to facilitate the testing process.

“CLEP and DANTES are great because people can work on those any time. They are free and are good to get your basic classes out of the way.”

Besides NCO Everett, the Navy College Learning Center on base has resources for those just starting out and those going back to school.

“Our purpose is two-fold,” said Tia Lindquist, NCLC lead education facilitator. “We’re trying to help people retake their Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and help get people ready for college. Our average improvement on the ASVAB is about 25 points.”

The center uses a computer-based and self-learning program to help refresh and prepare those heading back to the classroom.

Whether just starting out or almost finished with a degree, Navy College can help Sailors and families achieve their education goals.

“Earning a degree will take hard work and sacrifice, but I will never be able to put into words the way I felt at my graduation,” said Treibs. “The sense of personal achievement was overwhelming.  I always thought graduation would be no big deal, but once that cap and gown were on and I was walking across that stage in front of my friends and family, I knew that what I had accomplished was in fact a big deal.”