11/28/2007

By Seth Koenig / The Times Record

BRUNSWICK — A new federal aid program for military spouses could boost enrollment numbers at local education and training institutions, opening up more academic opportunities for civilian residents in the process.

Brunswick Naval Air Station is the only military base scheduled for closure among the 18 installations taking part in the recently unveiled Military Spouse Career Advancement Account program, which is a joint effort of the Defense Department and the Department of Labor.

Three informational sessions were held Tuesday at the Brunswick base to shine light on the program and its application process. Under the national program, $750,000 has been earmarked specifically for Brunswick spouses.

The Navy is slated to turn the local base over to civilian developers in 2011, while its P-3 Orion squadrons are relocated to Jacksonville, Fla. The spouses of the sailors moving can take advantage of federal money to jump-start their own professional ambitions as they prepare for relocation.

According to the Department of Labor, military spouses suffer an unemployment rate three times higher than their civilian counterparts.

Steve Wallace, director of Brunswick’s Base Realignment and Closure Transition Center, said at Tuesday’s first informational session that grants could be used by spouses to work toward “portable, in-demand careers or to upgrade credentials to move up the career ladder.”

“Businesses out there are screaming, ‘Where are our quality workers?’” Wallace said. “Baby boomers are retiring.”

Kristine Schuman, military family member liaison at the base, said spouses could qualify for up to $3,000 per year for a maximum of two years, and the money could pay for tuition, books, fees, certifications and materials.

To qualify, a spouse must be married to personnel between the ranks of E-1 through E-5 or O-1 through O-3, and must have a high school diploma or an equivalent, among other things.

Schuman said early estimates are that 250 spouses, “give or take,” will benefit from the program.

A flood of 250 new students in the local education market, said Dennis Unger, benefits not only area academic institutions, but potentially civilians looking for local classes.

Unger is the director of the University College at Bath/Brunswick, which hosts University of Maine classes at 9 Park St. in Bath.

“The presence of even five to seven students funded by this program,” he said, could build the critical mass necessary to justify local course offerings.

“If I want to offer a human resources management course on site (in Bath), for instance,” said Unger, “in order to make that financially manageable, we need around 15 students.”

Unger said the potential influx of students would serve as “capacity building,” and could boost enrollment in specific courses enough to host those courses locally — which could then appeal to learners in the civilian sector.