Guide to Online Education > Online Education In-Depth > Meet Real Online Students > Gary, B.S. in Mathematics
However, his work as a soldier benefited as a result of that exercise. As a production officer he manages four direct reports. Together they are responsible for facilitating all the maintenance on all the aircraft.
Name: Gary Brown
Age: 37
Marital Status: Married
Children: One son
Current Location: North Carolina
Quote: "[The] really great thing about distance education [is] it has no or low impact on family life."
School: Excelsior College
Target: B.S. in Mathematics, 2007
He also has to schedule aircraft for use. He has to give daily status reports that go up the chain of command, and participate in a weekly maintenance meeting at the battalion level. That involves briefing the commander.
"Prior to the MBA I didn't do a whole lot of writing. So for me the requirement to write actually helped me quite a bit. I'm very comfortable now," he says of his newly polished skill set.
"It has enhanced my oral skills when I have to conduct briefings; and it has helped me plan and execute my oral reports effectively."
When he eventually separates from the Army he is planning a new career outside of the hangar. "I plan to teach high school math when I retire," he says. "I've known I want to teach for a long time."
"Nobody needs anybody to teach business," he muses. "But there is a high demand for mathematics."
Education and training have played a significant role in his military career, and are integral in the successful fulfillment of his plans for his civilian life. Clearly he is a great proponent of education and a source of motivation for others.
"I try to get my soldiers involved," he says. "I am very proactive in promoting education. It's something we discuss quite often."
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