Pope AFB and Ft. Bragg are located in Cumberland County and surrounded by Harnett and Hoke Counties.  Below you will find links to each of these school systems.  Colleges located in the city of Fayetteville, which also offer classes on Ft. Bragg and Pope AFB, are Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville Technical Community College, and Methodist College (private).  Other colleges in surrounding areas are Campbell University (private, also offers classes on Ft. Bragg and Pope AFB) and University of North Carolina at Pembroke. 

 

Scholarships are offered through each of these universities and through organizations on base.  PLEASE remember that if you apply and are accepted as a "visiting" student, then you will NOT receive scholarships or grants from the government or schools.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE WHEN PCSING TO POPE:

When arriving at Pope it is critical to find a home as fast as possible.  A "catch -22" exists for people staying on-base in our billeting, the Carolina Inn.  Because they are on-base, on government property, they cannot be enrolled in local (Cumberland County, Harnett County, etc.) schools.  If they will not receive on-base housing within 90 school days, they cannot be enrolled in the DODEA run Pope Elementary School.  Basically, they are without a school.  If you are in temporary lodging off-base (local hotel or temporary lodging facility) you may enroll your child(ren) in the school whose catchment area serves the hotel.  Once you find a house (renting or buying) all you need to do is present the school that serves your new area with a rental agreement or purchase agreement form and your child can be enrolled (whether they are in their new location or still in billeting waiting to move).

 

In 1972, the Servicemember's Opportunity Colleges (SOC) program was created to assist those that wish to complete a college degree without the hassles of changing universities every time a PCS occurs.  It is offered to active duty military and their dependents.  The process is as follows: 

 

--locate a school in the SOC guide that you are attending or would like to attend. 

 

--Within each curriculum or degree network, member colleges agree to accept each other's credits in transfer. Therefore, you do not have to "switch" universities every time you and your family PCS worrying about which credits a college will or will not accept. 

 

--Servicemembers and their family members in isolated locations can take courses through such "distance learning" methods as the Internet, correspondence, computer, or video.

 

http://www.soc.aascu.org/

Fayetteville is ranked as the fourth largest metropolitan area in North Carolina.  Cumberland County is the home of Fayetteville and it serves as the retail hub for seven surrounding counties.  With the size of Ft. Bragg, along with Pope AFB and Fayetteville residents, employment in Fayetteville is varied and competitive depending on experience.  Manufacturing and retail service occupations dominate the private sector.  Following the military, other large employers are schools/colleges, government departments, Cafe Fear Valley Medical Center, and Black and Decker. 

 

North Carolina unemployment rate as of Jul 02 is 6.8%.  Cumberland County unemployment rate is 6.9% as of Jul 02.  The national unemployment rate remained steady at 5.9% percent in June.  For the past year, North Carolina's unemployment rate has been higher than the national rate.

 

Average pay for local growth positions:

Parts salesperson                        $10.41/hr
Reception and information clerks      8.41/hr
Stock Clerks and Order Fillers         9.19/hr
Production Workers                        8.55/hr
Assemblers and Fabricators            9.15/hr
Food preparation workers                7.35/hr

For job hunting purposes, be sure to hand carry all employment records and documents, resumes, SF 171, SF 50, transcripts, certificates and licenses.

North Carolina policy regarding collecting unemployment benefits when relocating:  when a person relocates within the US due to military sponsor's obligation, there is a 5 week penalty imposed.

 

HELPFUL INFORMATION REGARDING SPOUSAL PREFERENCE:

Military spouse preference provides priority in the employment selection process for military spouses who are relocating as a result of their military spouse's PCS. Spouse preference does not apply to separation or retirement moves. Spouse preference may be used for most vacant positions in DoD and applies only within the commuting area of the permanent duty station of the sponsor. Spouse preference is not limited to the branch of military of which the sponsor is serving or to only those who have previously worked for the Federal government. Spouses must be found best qualified for the position and may exercise preference no more than one time per permanent relocation of the sponsor.

Preference does not mean that positions will be created or made available especially for the military spouses or that spouses will be given any special appointing authority. Preference does not provide any guarantee of employment.

For more information please link to: http://www.afcrossroads.com/employment/spousepref.cfm