In what is a likely record for distance learning, West Central Technical College student George Hood is taking two online classes this quarter – in Iraq.

Hood, a Networking Specialist student, deployed with U.S. Marines as a contractor in December 2007, but enrolled at West Central Tech while on R&R leave last July.

“The experience is what I need,” Hood said. “It’s convenient for me, of course, and gives me a way to acquire some credits.”

Tracey Thompson, the instructor for Hood’s Computer Information Systems 106 class, said despite the time zone difference – and maybe because of it – Hood has been “one of the most punctual and conscientious students in his class.”

“Since he is in a different time zone, he notified me of a minor error I had posted in an assignment probably before anyone here had gotten up and read it that morning,” Thompson said. She was able to correct the error before other students saw it.

Hood was enlisted with the U.S. Air Force for 4 years prior to his work as a contractor who installs computer equipment – “cabling, racking and testing,” as he says. But this taste of networking influenced Hood to go back to school.

“I recently moved to Douglasville, and I wanted to make Douglasville my home in every way,” he said. “WCTC is only eight miles from my house.”

So, last July, at home on leave, Hood enrolled in the Networking Specialist program. “I would like to be more involved in the programming aspects,” he said.

Life as a contractor in Iraq doesn’t leave much time for his studies. “The typical day is a 12-hour day for everyone, seven-days-a-week. We have Internet, of course, not DSL, but it works.”

He says the online classes are helpful because he studies on his own schedule – despite an instructor and classmates who may be asleep while he’s working. “It allows me to be a little self-paced, which I need,” he said. “And it’s not confusing.”

While Hood is stationed at Al Asad Air Base, one of the safer bases in Iraq, the environment itself is often the biggest threat.

“Most of the dangers come from the environment such as snakes, spiders, scorpions, foxes and wild dogs. The temperature goes as high as 115 in the summer and with few trees you feel every bit of that with the sun. It has snowed here but just a light sprinkle,” Hood said.

But the worst is the sandstorms. “You can smell the sand in the air. You cannot see beyond 10 feet during a bad one. It looks like the planet Mars.”

Along with his CIS class, Hood is enrolled in Introduction to Microcomputers, and he’s also registered for winter quarter – online, of course. But that will change when Hood gets back to Georgia.

“I plan to return in the February or March time frame,” he said. “I’ll attend on campus for the Summer quarter.”

“My fiancé, who is an educator, has encouraged and supported me to complete my education. I want to thank her and my kids for their support, motivation and encouragement during this,” Hood said.

Thompson said it’s Hood who is the inspiration.

““If George can go back to school and take online classes in a war zone, you have to ask yourself ‘Why can’t I?’” she said.