LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The Lackland Education Center and the San Antonio branch of Wayland Baptist University have joined forces to expand the national testing center on base.
Gone are the days of paper and pencil testing; waits of up to eight weeks for results are also now a thing of the past. And in January, new technology will allow speech testing to be computerized.
"We've gone high tech," said Russell Gregg, Lackland chief of education and training. "The center is going to provide a better service for the students. Now, they will have results when they walk out the door."
In addition to computerized testing, the center has been expanded to 31 stations from 20 while also being able to offer something no other Air Force testing centers can - Wayland Baptist has an agreement with Air University to do professional military education testing at no cost for the testing Airmen.
"It's a win-win scenario for Wayland Baptist, Lackland, and all the other schools located on base," said Dr. Jim Antenen, executive director and dean of the Wayland Baptist-San Antonio branch. "It increases our partnership with the Education Center as well as Lackland in general and the Air Force.
"It is being held up as a best practice in AETC (Air Education and Training Command)," he added. "If you are a uniformed military servicemember, it costs you nothing."
As part of the agreement between the Air Force and Wayland Baptist, the university gives back to the base by providing free PME testing and sitting fees. In addition, the school also provided all the computer equipment now in the center.
"Along with the PME testing, we'll do enlisted for their academic courses and junior officers taking PME," said Mr. Gregg. "(Wayland Baptist) is doing all of this at no additional cost. For us, that's a huge thing."
The agreement will save a minimum of $19,000 a year for the Air Force in contractor fees, which in the past have run as much as $32,000. Airmen passing a test and not having to take a course also save the Air Force $750 per course.
At current test rates, about 8,000 exams are administered in a 12-month period.
With the expanded testing center and technology, school and base officials expect those figures easily to increase.
Dr. Antenen said Wayland is prepared to do whatever is necessary to accommodate the students. If the number of tests increases as anticipated, the school will consider longer hours and weekend times.
The Lackland Center is already starting to see traffic from Randolph AFB and Fort Sam Houston, and more is expected once Joint Base San Antonio kicks into high gear next year.
In addition to all the college tests, health certification exams for nursing will also be available at the Lackland center as well as proctoring.
All Department of Defense personnel with access to the base can use the testing center. It is open to spouses and the civilian community for the cost of the exam and a sitting fee.