Letters to Airmen focus on education

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SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) --  In the two most recent "Letters to Airmen," the Air Force's top leaders focused on the importance of education for both enlisted Airmen and officers.

“We must take the Air Force’s basic educational foundation to the next level and be relentless in our continued pursuit to become knowledge-enabled Airmen,” Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne wrote. “All Total Force Airmen have the opportunity to incorporate higher education into their development, through Air Force sponsored degrees, the Community College of the Air Force, or with tuition assistance for civilian institutions.”

Secretary Wynne said he is spearheading refined initial and developmental education for everyone, including basic military training increasing by two-and-a-half weeks and changes in officers’ curriculums.

In the letter directed toward officers regarding advanced education, the secretary and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley said information on all degrees earned by an officer will soon be available to the central selection boards.

“Both of us want to encourage Airmen, not discourage them, from pursuing advanced education,” the secretary and chief wrote to officers. “Therefore, we want a change to the officer promotion process that would again provide supervisors, commanders and selection boards information on all academic degrees earned.”

Both "Letters to Airmen," and other senior leader viewpoints, can be found in the Library section of Air Force Link.