SJRCC PRESS RELEASE July 2008 SJRCC announces partnership with Florida National Guard Florida National Guard soldiers and airmen will soon be able to earn college credit toward a two-year degree while fulfilling their military duty thanks to a recent partnership with St. Johns River Community College. The partnership provides Guardsmen the opportunity to attend college credit classes at 12 of its armories throughout the state. According to the Guard's distance learning program manager Chief Warrant Officer 3 Dennis Fortner, this agreement will give hundreds of Guardsmen a cost-effective opportunity to begin earning an associate in arts degree this fall. "This is a very big plus for the soldier who lives in the outlying areas and doesn't have a college accessible to them," Fortner said. "We can train soldiers without flying them somewhere. All they have to do is walk into another room to attend class. It's a huge cost savings." Classes will be conducted at two local armories - St. Augustine and Camp Blanding Ð and broadcast live with two-way communication to 10 additional locations."Were using tomorrow's technology to enhance soldier readiness," Fortner said. SJRCC Provost of Open Campus Melanie Brown, Ph.D., said not only will the partnership benefit new students, but is a great way to serve Guard members who already attend the College. "Now they have the convenience of attending college on post," Brown said. "We have a degree path planned where they can earn an A.A. degree in two years without having to step foot onto campus." "The College has a large number of faculty who are retired military and are excited about the opportunity to teach these courses," Brown said, adding that she hopes this is the first of many partnerships with the Guard. PHOTO CAPTION: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Dennis Fortner of the Florida National Guard demonstrates to fellow Guardsmen how St. Johns River Community College will broadcast college courses to its posts beginning this fall. The partnership provides Guardsmen the opportunity to earn college credit at 12 of its armories throughout the state.