education program. USAFI, chartered by the Secretary of Defense, is a field activity of the Office of Armed Forces Information and Education. Although USAFI is used exclusively by the Armed Forces, it is essentially a civilian-type educational organization. All courses offered and the educational procedures of USAFI are determined by the Armed Forces Education Program Committee, a committee of 14 distinguished civilian educators and 7 representatives of the military services. USAFI, Madison, together with the five oversea USAFIs in Europe, Japan, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Caribbean serve all personnel of the Armed Forces in the continental United States and overseas. Oversea USAFIS are operated under the same policies and procedures as USAFI, Madison, although they are under the administrative control of the theater commanders.

There are two types of courses offered by USAFI-correspondence and self-teaching. In the correspondence courses the individual must submit the number of lessons specified for that course and pass the end-of-course test. For self-teaching courses the individual does not have to submit lessons, but he must pass the end-of-course test. Both types of courses range from the elementary level through the first 2 years of college. An individual enrollment fee of $2 is charged for the first enrollment in a course and as long as the individual completes each course in which he enrolls no additional fee is required.

In addition to the regular course offerings, a large number of participating colleges and universities throughout the United States provide correspondence courses under contract with USAFI at minimum cost to service personnel. For these courses the student pays the cost of enrollment and the Government, through USAFI, pays the cost of lesson service.

A most important service of USAFI is its testing program. There are six kinds of tests administered through USAFI. They are identified as end-of-course, subject-matter, General Educational Development, USAFI Achievement Tests, and Personnel Research Literacy Training Tests. The subject-matter tests are useful in counseling the individual as to what level course he is prepared to take. Many of the Service training schools use these tests to indicate whether or not an individual is prepared to enroll in a particular school. As the name implies, the tests of General Educational Development are used to determine whether the student has the equivalent of a high-school education or a high-school education, plus 1 year of college work. USAFI Achievement Tests II and III and Personnel Research Literacy

Training Tests are used by the Services to determine grade-level placement of their personnel.

Another important phase of the USAFI program is its role as an educational supply agency for the Services. The separate military Services conduct their own education programs, utilizing the educational materials developed and stocked by USAFI.

GENERAL TYPES OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS

The voluntary off-duty education programs of the various Services for which Federal appropriated funds are used, can be generally classified under either the (1) Resident Center Program or (2) Group Study Class Program. Two kinds of course offerings are available under the Resident Center Programs. The first consists of those courses offered on the post, base, or station by qualified instructors from nearby colleges and universities. The second consists of those courses taught in the classroom of neighboring schools by members of the institution's regular teaching staff. Completion of either of these two kinds of courses will meet, at least partially, the residence requirements for graduation from those institutions. Included in this program is the overseas college program for Service personnel. Several universities have made classroom instruction, using members of their staff as teachers, available to Service personnel stationed almost anywhere in the world.

Sometimes it is not possible or convenient to organize classes under the Resident Center Program. When this is the case, the Group Study method of instruction is used. Classes are organized and, if possible, the Services hire civilian instructors to conduct these classes. When civilian instructors are not available, qualified military personnel are used. For the most part, the textbooks and materials used are furnished by USAFI. Federal funds are expended in the Resident Center Program to pay a portion of the student's tuition for courses taken through the program. In the Group Study Class Program, Federal funds are expended by the individual Services for the employment of instructors and the purchase of materials which are not available from USAFI.

The voluntary off-duty education programs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are described in the sections which follow. Average number of enrollments by military personnel and the amounts of Federal funds expended for the education of these military personnel while off duty for the years 1950-51 to 1954-55 are presented in tables 51 and 52, respectively. Funds expended by the separate military Services as reported

in table 52 are in addition to the expenditures made to these Services through USAFI.

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY TROOP EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Army provides its military personnel the facilities, incentives, and guidance for resuming and continuing their general education in courses similar to those offered in accredited civilian schools. Except during basic combat and individual training, use of duty time for troop education is authorized. Troop Education Program activities are conducted in and through Army Education Centers of units and installations. The services of a professional civilian educator are available to each center. Civilian education advisers are full-time employees of the Department of the Army.

The following materials and services are available to all Army personnel:

a. Correspondence and self-teaching courses of the U. S. Armed Forces Institute and, through USAFI, those of participating civilian colleges and universities under contract with the Department of Defense.

b. Group-study classes taught by military and civilian instructors employed directly by the Army.

c. Classes available, either on or off post, by accredited high schools and colleges and taught by regular faculty members. The Army pays a substantial portion of the tuition charges for military personnel attending these classes. d. Tests of General Educational Development, achievement tests, and subject examinations.

e. Educational and vocational advisement.

Education conducted through the Troop Education Program is of two types-functional and formal. Functional education comprises civilian-type curricula, courses, or subject-matter instruction conducted specifically to serve an immediate Army or individual service-related need. In character, scope, method, and time phasing, it is adult education for which no civilian credit or equivalency at any formal level is sought. For the second type, formal education, in-service achievements of military personnel may be considered for appropriate credit in civilian schools under recommendations made by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Council on Education. High-school work is emphasized for personnel capable of establishing, through courses and tests of general educational development, an acceptable basis for higher formal studies. College education is emphasized as an opportunity for all eligible personnel, and is considered essential within the full career assignment potential of commissioned personnel. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY OFF-DUTY EDUCATION PROGRAM

The objectives of the Navy's voluntary off-duty education pro

gram are to help each member of the Navy to (1) increase his capacity to assimilate training and perform his present job better; (2) better prepare for career advancement; (3) continue educational programs begun prior to military service; and (4) prepare for a civilian job for the time when he will leave the Service. There is an Information and Education Officer on every ship and at every station whose assigned duty it is to provide the educational services that will accomplish these objectives. At the larger shore installations, particularly those in a position to serve shipboard personnel, there are well-stocked Education Centers. The educational services offered are educational counseling; elementary, high-school, vocational, and college courses and tests; and academic accreditation services. Courses are made available through (1) arrangements for on-campus class attendance at local schools and colleges; (2) on-station classes offered by extension from local schools and colleges; and (3) on-ship or station classes taught by uniformed personnel and civilians hired from special funds and correspondence and self-teaching courses provided by and through USAFI.

The data concerning amount of expenditures for Navy off-duty education during 1953-54 and 1954-55 school years given in the table are applicable only to those programs under the jurisdiction of Naval personnel through the education phase of the Information and Education Program. Other Navy bureaus and offices expend funds for off-duty education programs, but information on the extent of these programs and the amount expended is not available. Programs administered under the Information and Education Program do, however, represent the bulk of such expenditures by the Navy.

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PROGRAM

The Air Force Educational Services Program offers many opportunities for personnel who wish to continue their academic education during off-duty hours. The program consists of two parts: "Operation Bootstrap" which is especially designed to encourage and assist the man who is working toward a high-school diploma or a college degree; and "Operation Midnight Oil" which is designed to assist the man who is interested in studying courses that are directly related to his Air Force occupation. Personnel may participate in both programs simultaneously, thereby becoming more proficient in their jobs and earning academic credit as well.

Individuals may enroll in any, or a combination of any, of the following programs of study: (1) Classroom courses which are

offered at night by accredited civilian high schools or colleges on or near Air Force bases; (2) Group study classes conducted at night on Air Force installations by qualified civilian or military instructors hired by the Air Force, using texts, materials, and tests supplied by USAFI; (3) Correspondence and self-teaching courses offered by USAFI; and (4) Correspondence courses offered by civilian colleges and universities through USAFI.

The Air Force encourages and assists personnel who wish to continue their academic education during off-duty time by paying a part of the tuition cost of civilian school courses. In addition, Air Force personnel who can complete residence and academic requirements for a college degree in a period of 6 months or less may be placed on temporary duty to attend the accredited college of their choice.

MARINE CORPS OFF-DUTY EDUCATION PROGRAM

As applicable to the Marine Corps, the only phase of its educational program where funds are specifically appropriated for off-duty education of military personnel is the Tuition Assistance and Instructor-Hire Program. The Tuition Assistance and Instructor-Hire Program is designed to provide an opportunity for Marines in their off-duty time to participate in educational courses provided by accredited, civilian high schools and colleges.

Marine Corps commands located within commuting distance of an accredited institution are authorized to pay a portion of the individual's tuition costs. Commands located in areas not within commuting distances of accredited educational institutions are authorized to pay the accredited institutions a portion of the instructors' salaries for conducting classes at the military installations. The instructor-hire phase of the program was started in July 1954.

COAST GUARD OFF-DUTY EDUCATION PROGRAM

Coast Guard officers and enlisted personnel may apply to pursue studies in off-duty time at Coast Guard expense either in attendance at or by correspondence from civilian institutions. This includes courses at colleges, universities, and other educational institutions which offer either correspondence or nightschool courses. Application for these courses is made by individual request through appropriate Service channels to Coast Guard Headquarters. Approval of requests for enrollment in these courses at Coast Guard expense is generally based on the need for the course in the applicants' performance of duties or the need to fulfill a requirement for advancement in rating.