productive off-duty, off-watch activity. The original program, known as the Program for Afloat College Education, or PACE, was expanded in the 1970s to include surface ships. Through PACE, the Navy contracts with civilian colleges to provide instructors to teach college courses aboard deployed ships. PACE is designed to provide shipboard personnel with educational opportunities comparable to those available to personnel stationed ashore. Whether or not a particular ship offers PACE courses is up to the commanding  officer. National Apprenticeship Program The National Apprenticeship Program is designed to provide a way for skilled Navy technicians to gain journeyman status with the Department of Labor in a recognized civilian trade. The apprenticeship program has two objectives. The first objective is to develop Navy- oriented journeymen to use their technical skills within the Navy. The second is to enable those journeymen to qualify for civilian employment upon retirement or expiration of enlistment. Meeting the standards of the apprenticeship program can also lead to an advancement in rating. The National Apprenticeship Program benefits the Navy and its personnel in the following ways: Provides the opportunity for Navy person- nel to qualify as journeymen in selected trades Supports advancement in rating Instills job pride Provides civilian recognition of Navy skills Encourages reenlistment The Chief of Naval Education and Training identifies the trades to be considered as apprentice occupations  within  the  active-duty  Navy. Although the Navy ratings eligible for this program are limited, additional ratings are being added.  For  further  information  about  the National Apprenticeship Program, see the Educa- tional Services Officer, NAVEDTRA  10460-A. Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) is a Department of Defense (DOD) agency that supports the voluntary education programs of each military service, including Reserve personnel. DANTES was authorized by the Department of Defense after the disestablishment of the old United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI). DANTES is located at the Naval Education and Training Pro- gram Management Support Activity, Pensacola, Florida.  The  Department  of  the  Navy  is designated as the executive agent for DANTES. DANTES services include, but are not limited to, the following: Providing a wide range of examination and certification  programs Operating an independent study support system Providing for the evaluation of military learning experiences Providing educational and informational materials Providing support for new educational development activities Through DANTES, service members have the same nontraditional educational advantages as their civilian counterparts. To accomplish its mission, DANTES has negotiated contracts to administer the following services: General and subject examinations for the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), which allow the member to receive college credit without taking the course Academic and technical college DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs) College entrance examinations including Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) and the American Council on Education (ACE) guide series General Educational Development (GED) tests (high school equivalency) Independent study courses for credit Experiential Learning Assessment (ELA) Program (used by many colleges and universities  to  evaluate  college-equivalent prior learning attained by students outside the classroom) 5-7