One of the many benefits offered by online degrees is the ability to pursue the goal of education, no matter where you may be, whether it's a tiny town without a university, or even on the front lines in Iraq.

Online degrees have been growing in popularity among military personnel the last few years, and universities realize that. Some are going a step further, and developing degrees and courses with soldiers in mind.

Israel Carabello Jr. is a Newark police captain, a staff sergeant in the New Jersey Air National Guard and a single parent of a 10-year-old daughter. In between, he takes online classes offered to National Guard members through Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Castro and Carbello were on hand as the university and National Guard officials and Rep. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, R-Harding, outlined the college's program to offer National Guard members online graduate certificate programs in global security and terrorism studies, emergency management administration, transit safety, and disaster and emergency management.

University president J. Michael Adams said the programs were developed with the help of the U.S. Department of Defense and funding Frelinghuysen procured.

"You've all heard of the 'Bridge to Nowhere' that was discredited in Congress," Frelinghuysen said. "Well, this is the bridge to somewhere."

Education really is possible just about anywhere.

(Photo Source: Co-Op Living)