Free online tutoring service now available to Guardsmen, Guard families. Published Oct. 14, 2011 By By Sgt. Mike Getten Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs CARSON CITY -- National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and their family members can now receive online tutoring and homework assistance from Tutor.com at no charge. The free service is now available to all Guardsmen and Guard and reserve members' families, regardless of duty status, said the assistant secretary of defense David McGinnis earlier this week. Prior to the program's enhancement, Guard and reserve families could only access the service while on Title 10 duty. The availability of the program is the result of a collaborative effort between the Department of Defense Morale, Welfare and Recreation Library Program and the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program The program allows kindergarten through high school students as well as adult students the opportunity to interact with a live tutor online anytime for help with homework, exam preparation, and other academic assistance. Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Snedden of the 1/221st Cavalry, who is also an algebra and geometry teacher at Wooster High School in Reno, perused the web site with his seventh-grade son and wife, who is also a teacher. "The program was great," Snedden said. "I tried the site with questions I give in my geometry class. I was worried that the tutors would just do the problem for you and not really teach you how to do it, but they didn't. The tutor would guide you with questions to the answer." Students using Tutor.com are matched with an expert in their respective field. These experts include certified teachers, college professors, graduate students and other professionals. Student and tutors interact in a secure online classroom, where they can chat, draw on a shared whiteboard, upload files and browse the internet together. Every session is anonymous and no personal information is shared between the tutor and student. "There is a whiteboard that you both can draw on at the same time to work out the answers," Snedden said. "Each student can mark tutors as favorites in case they want to come back to the same ones, which can benefit the entire learning process." The Nevada Guard's education officer, 1st Lt. Michelle Carson, noted the convenience of the program. "Having this program online provides flexibility to students who are busy and have limited free time," said 1st Lt. Michelle Carson the Nevada Guard education officer. "I look forward to recommending and utilizing this program in the future." Tutor.com stresses the tutors are available at all time and no appointment is needed. Students simply log-in when they need assistance at anytime and at any location featuring internet access. "With the program being all inclusive and free, it's a huge asset to military families," Snedden said. "Additionally, with many Soldiers and Airmen using online education to further their career options, all of those adult, military students now have access to a 24-hour tutoring service. I've recommended the program to all my co-workers." For information, visit www.tutor.com/military.com or call (703) 571-3180.