Air Combat Command promotes CCAF degree

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Although having a Community College of the Air Force degree is important for all Airmen, Air Combat Command is encouraging its technical sergeants to achieve this educational goal.

Currently, the command is seven points below the Air Force average of 42 percent, but the goal is to have 50 percent of its technical sergeants degreed before being eligible for promotion to the senior NCO ranks.

"For NCOs and career progression, a CCAF degree is a requirement for senior rater endorsement, and that is a key factor and a weighted factor on the senior master sergeant promotion board," said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Cormier, ACC Public Affairs functional manager.

According to the chief, today's Airmen are better educated, and to be leaders who lead by example, Airmen should have a CCAF degree. That education can help Airmen achieve a special unit job or further their Air Force career.

"Your CCAF degree is essentially free," Chief Cormier said. "Back in the day when I was an Airman, it was 75 percent paid, but now it's 100 percent, so there's no reason not to go to school."

Enrolling is automatic upon completion of basic training, fulfilling the four-semester-hour requirement of physical education.

"CCAF has 67 degree programs in five general areas of study, and you need a minimum of 64 semester hours to complete your degree," said Alice Jessup, ACC director of education and training.

Additionally, members can earn up to 24 semester hours through their technical school. More credits are awarded when earning five- and seven-skill levels.

Professional military education, comprised of airman leadership school, NCO academy and Air Force Senior NCO Academy provide another six semester hours, fulfilling the leadership and management training requirements.

To accelerate the degree acquisition process, Airmen can go to their education center to earn up to 30 semester hours through CLEP and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support exams.

"When you talk to a counselor they will tell you what tests apply," Ms. Jessup said. "You schedule and take the test and it's added to your progress report."

Airmen can log onto http://www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/index.asp to see the checklist for their career field and visit with a counselor at the education office to develop a plan to complete their CCAF.

"It's important for an Airman to get their CCAF degree because education develops critical thinking skills, and in the Air Force we need Airmen who can see problems and find creative ways to fix them," Chief Cormier said.