Isn't Technology Grand?
Written by Steve Beckman
MAE 2010 Volume: 5 Issue: 1 (February)
Career and Education Counseling in the Military.
About 30 years ago, the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES) began a pilot program “to determine the extent of the need for a Computerized Assisted Guidance Information System (CAGIS) in the DoD Voluntary Education Program.” The rationale for CAGIS, as stated at the time in the DANTES Information Bulletin, read: “These systems will not replace the counselor, but rather free the counselor from simple information-giving. The counselor, in turn, can provide the human qualities of empathic interaction, introduction and interpretation so vital to the counseling process. Also, with the assistance of the counselor and the computer, the client can employ systematic exploration and decision-making strengths, which should lead to an ultimate educational and career goal.”
REWIND AND FORWARD
Prior to the advent of CAGIS, counselors had several paperbased guidance instruments at their disposal that had one big disadvantage: it took as much as two weeks to get the results from the scoring facility. The computer promised rapid scoring and immediate feedback for the counselor and counselee.
Initially, several computer-assisted programs were evaluated, but in the end two programs were selected for use within CAGIS: Discover and the Guidance Information System (GIS). Both were excellent programs, and with the training provided by DANTES, counselors took the quantum leap into the computer-based guidance assessment realm.
Fast forward through cyberspace to the present. Discover is the only system currently used in CAGIS and gone, except for in one education office, is the need to insert a CD, a 3 or even 5.5 inch floppy disk. Instead, it is a simple matter of presenting the servicemember with a username and password, which he or she can use on their home computer to explore Discover. The counselor can easily view the individual’s progress and schedule a follow-up counseling session as necessary.
With CAGIS, some may wonder, why do we still need education/ career counselors? Counselors will tell you that there is more to the story. Most will say that they now have fewer counselors in their education center but as much, if not more, interest in voluntary education programs. They will also say that servicemembers who do not receive one-on-one counseling may end up changing their degree plan as many as three times before they finally decide on a degree plan that works for them. CAGIS enlightens the individual, but it still takes that counselor to put all the pieces together to ensure a successful degree plan. After all, the better the degree plan, the better the chances for success.
THE BIG PICTURE
How important is career and educational counseling? Michael D. Brennan, Ph.D., an education specialist with the Coast Guard, explained this well in his recent doctorial dissertation:
“Good, sound, education services counseling related to career planning including the use of career assessments where warranted is imperative for two reasons. First, military personnel should have the opportunity to receive career assessments, counseling services and other career planning resources, when they desire, to help formulate career and educational goals. Establishing reliable career goals to include education is beneficial to members, both while serving in the military and after transitioning to the civilian sector. Second, the five military services deserve to have their dollars spent in an effective and efficient manner. Airmen, soldiers, Marines, sailors and Coast Guard personnel should not be taking college courses via military TA or the GI Bill, for example, without formulating career and educational goals. They should be on approved degree plans in which there is a strong expectation they will persist and graduate with degrees which help them achieve their career goals.”
In addition, to ensure servicemembers achieve success, counselors should consider these four critical elements of counseling:
A. Help individuals gain greater self-awareness in such areas as interests, values, abilities and personality. DANTES provides counselors several tools, at no charge to the service member, such as The Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator; Strong Interest and Skills Confidence Inventory; Campbell Interest and Skill Survey; Career Assessment Inventory; and Self Directed Search.
B. Connect individuals to resources so they can become more knowledgeable about what is available to them. Programs like Discover and Kuder Journey not only provide self-awareness but also provide built-in internal links to O*NET and the homepages of all colleges and universities.
C. Engage individuals in the decision-making process in order to help them choose academic courses/careers that fit their interests, values, abilities, and personality type.
D. Assist individuals to become active managers of the path they’ve chosen. Occasional follow-up sessions may help keep their focus and provide needed help when they attempt to balance various life roles.
There is an education office or education service officer on nearly every facility, including Navy ships and Coast Guard cutters. Servicemembers are encouraged to seek the advice of a professional education counselor to ensure they are on track with their degree plan and future career. ♦
Steve Beckman is a senior manager in the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support’s Counselor Support Programs division.