Date of Award
2-1-1991
Document Type
Dissertation - NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Center for the Advancement of Education
Abstract
Changes in funding and emphases for military education programs are heavily influenced by the national and international politics climate. Restricted funding for Army Continuing Education System (ACES) programs and downsizing for the Army mandate close scrutiny of current and anticipated programs to determine optimum benefits to the Army for dollars spent. The research project employed the case study method to examine five current program area of emphases for trends in cost and participation, and for anticipated future need for each program. Past records of participation and funding were graphed and extrapolated to project trends. Four new or projected initiatives were analyzed for program need, probable reception by the target population, and estimated success of the program. Target population needs were assessed by the use of a specifically designed survey instrument. Corresponding previous initiatives were examined for similarities and differences to estimate the success of emerging programs, and administrators at locations where projected delivery systems are currently in us were interviewed to determine the probability of success of the systems at Fort Leonard Wood. Because of hostilities in the Middle East, the results of the study are inconclusive. Future trends in education funding are uncertain in the face of the deployment of troops to Saudi, Arabia and deficit reduction pressures. Military education program needs fluctuate in coordination with the extent of world tensions. Funds have been deeply cut from tuition assistance and service contracts, making growth in these areas extremely difficult. Demographic projections indicate a good possibility for an increased need for basic skills and high school completion programs if the Armi, is to continue to replace soldiers who leave the service. Advanced skills may be eliminated to save funds. The Army career Alumni Program (ACAP), formerly known as Transition Management, is labor intensive and does not contribute much to readiness. For this reason it will probably be eliminated or phased down. College degree programs show continued growth in spite of reduced funding for tuition assistance. These programs will probably continue to expand. Technology supported learning requires large amounts of expensive equipment and may not be implemented at cost locations. The spousal training program may suffer from the apparent apathy of many military spouses and show little activity if it is ever implemented. The Concurrent Admissions Program, or ConAP, has not been met with enthusiasm from military educators with memories of Project Ahead. Developers of the program may have overlooked the maturation process which is undergone by a soldier during his or her term of enlistment. The Distributed Training Concept may suffer from the high cost of hardware, and may not be highly successful because of the difficulty of assimilating complicated information through self study.