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Air Force supports education with CCAF

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Bekah Phy
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  Knowledge really is power. The Air Force knows that. 

The Air Force offers many benefits to those who cross into the blue - including the chance for a quality education. That's where the Community College of the Air Force comes in. 

The U.S. Air Force has always recognized the positive effects of education on Air Force personnel and continually established various programs to meet the needs of the Air Force, its personnel and society as a whole, according to the CCAF Web site. 

"As an institution of higher learning, the CCAF has a stake in the job knowledge and performance of every enlisted person in the Air Force. The contributions made to this nation are dependent on our intellectual growth. We strongly believe in providing students a quality education and giving them the tools necessary to enter the workforce or to continue on toward other educational pursuits," the CCAF Web site states. 

The CCAF's vision, incorporating the Air Force's core values of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do, is to prepare the world's best expeditionary-minded air, space and cyberspace enlisted leaders. 

"Demands of our warfighting mission require extraordinary sacrifice on the part of our Expeditionary Air Force personnel," said Lt. Col. Raymond Staats, CCAF commandant.  "CCAF helps Airmen meet these demands as well as achieve personal goals of realizing their educational potential by capitalizing on job-related training and education to provide opportunities for college degrees that Airmen might not otherwise have. CCAF achieves these ends through a complex multi-campus community college system possessing dedicated professionals at all levels of administration, counseling and teaching." 

Obtaining a degree through the CCAF begins with joining the U.S. Air Force, said Gloria Basa, 305th Mission Support Squadron CCAF advisor. "As soon as someone enters the Air Force, they are assigned an Air Force Specialty Code and are automatically enrolled in that AFSC/Program title." The college awards an associate in applied science degree after a student successfully completes a degree program in their Air Force specialty. 

The CCAF degree is offered in several broad career areas, including aircraft and missile maintenance, allied health, electronics and telecommunications, logistics and resources, and public and support services, and can be beneficial to Airmen while enlisted and out in the civilian community. 

"Every Airman should strive to obtain their CCAF degree because it is designed to help them further their career," Ms. Basa said. "It will also help them compete with the outside world when they retire or decide to separate from the military." 

Several McGuire members have already taken advantage of the CCAF program. In April, 144 CCAF degrees were awarded to Team McGuire members. The active-duty graduates, pursuing a four-year degree, became eligible to compete for the Air Force Association Pitsenbarger $500 scholarship; three awards were presented to the CCAF Spring 2008 graduation class. 

The CCAF degree, now more than ever, is accepted by many civilian institutions for Airmen to pursue higher education. The Air University Associate-to-Baccalaureate cooperative program directs Airmen with associate in applied science degrees from the CCAF to a collection of military-friendly colleges and universities to complete a four-year degree. 

"Civilian colleges and universities have partnered with the Air Force to offer bachelor's degree opportunities for the enlisted force," Ms. Basa said. "The program maximizes the application of military career education and training, and provides a multitude of online academic and support services for the enlisted member." 

The CCAF concept evolved in the early 1970s as a means of gaining accreditation and recognition for Air Force training. Led by Lt. Gen. George B. Simler, commander of Air Training Command, Air Force visionaries recognized the need to enhance the skills of noncommissioned officers as technicians, leaders and citizens. 

Over the years the college has grown both in numbers and recognition. With more than 300,000 registered students, the college is the largest multi-campus community college in the world and the only community college in the DoD. Its affiliated schools are located in 37 states and nine foreign locations. 

The administrative center is located at Maxwell AFB, Ala. Each year, about 1.6 million semester hours are earned in CCAF classrooms. To date, the college has more than 262,477 graduates and has conferred more than 317,000 associate in applied science degrees. 

For more information or to get started with your CCAF degree, call Ms. Basa at (609) 754-3675 or visit www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/.