WEBVTT

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(dramatic music)

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- [Payton] The Army
Education Center hosted

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an August 9th graduation
ceremony in Marshall Auditorium,

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in order to recognize
soldiers and service members

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in the Fort Benning community

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who have earned degrees
during military service.

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115 soldiers and military service
members earned 118 degrees

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from over 26 universities
from around the country.

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Of the 72 active-duty graduates,
69 were U.S. Army soldiers,

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ranging in rank from specialist to major.

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Soldiers are often unable

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to attend their own graduation ceremonies

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due to deployments or travel expenses.

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Shannon Gardner is an
education services specialist

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with the Fort Benning
Army Education Center.

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She says these difficulties are why

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events like these are so important.

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- With the military, there are
so many events that happen,

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whether you're moving from place to place,

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whether you're out in the field,

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whether you get deployed,

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and so that affects both the
military and the families,

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and different people that
work on this installation.

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We bring all of them together.

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We give them the opportunity
to walk this stage,

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because it may cost too much
to go to their home school,

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to take their family, to take
five people out to California,

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in order to go and walk across the stage.

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So we offer them that
option here at Fort Benning.

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- [Payton] The recipients
earned their degrees

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as part of the 6th Annual Army
Continuing Education System,

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or ACES.

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ACES' mission is to promote

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life-long learning opportunities,

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and has been providing
quality educational support

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to soldiers and their family
members for over 50 years.

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Lakeitha Smiley-Hooks is an Army spouse,

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and was one of 20 master's
degree recipients at the event.

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She says she's happy to
finally get her degree,

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but not as happy as she is

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to have her family cheering her on.

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- [Woman] Lakeitha Smiley--

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- That's my mom!

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(cheers)

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- Because this is for them too.

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I had to make a lotta sacrifices,

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as far as time and late nights,

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and sometimes not being
available for them.

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And I'm just thankful
that they understood that.

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It's definitely a breath of fresh air.

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So it's definitely like I'm
finally on track to my goals.

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- [Payton] Fort Benning remains
committed to the education

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of its soldiers and other
service members assigned here.

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Programs like ACES at Fort Benning

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help the military community
achieve their goals

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and make their dreams of
bettering themselves a reality.

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Payton Fretwell, Fort Benning, Georgia.

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(upbeat percussive music)