Program allows full-time study while on active duty

  • Published
  • By Crystal Toenjes
  • 72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFPN) --  A program allowing active-duty enlisted Airmen to attend college full time without loss of pay or benefits, and graduate with both a degree and a commission might just be the best kept secret in the Air Force, officials said.

“It’s easily one of the best programs in the Air Force, and not a lot of people know about it,” said Maj. Gregory Nelms, an instructor and the admissions officer with University of Oklahoma’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 675.

“You stay on active duty while going to school with full pay and benefits and a full scholarship. Where’s the down side?”

The Airman Education and Commissioning Program gives eligible Airmen up to three years to complete a technical, nursing, foreign language or area studies bachelor’s degree and then be commissioned as a second lieutenant.

“A lot of people have goals of getting their degree and a commission; with this program you can accomplish both at the same time,” Major Nelms said.

Three cadets currently attending OU were previously stationed here, and two other’s recently graduated from the program.

“I was going to school part time at Rose State (College in Midwest City, Okla.) and planned on transferring here at some point,” said Cadet John Demster, who has 16 years of service and is in his final semester studying chemical engineering at OU. “It was taking way too long to get through school taking one or two classes at a time.”

Cadet Demster was a technical sergeant in the 552nd Air Control Wing before applying to the program.

Cadet Daniel Snodgrass, who was a staff sergeant with the 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron, will graduate in 2006 with a degree in electrical engineering. He has been in the Air Force about six and a half years.

“One of my personal goals is to get a degree, but I wasn’t getting it done between deployments, (temporary duties) and the demands of my work schedule,” Cadet Snodgrass said. “So the quickest way and best way I found to do that was to apply to the AECP.”

Cadet Michael Lukawski, a master sergeant in 552nd Air Control Wing, will complete his mechanical engineering degree this spring.

The cadets said they agree there have been big changes in their lifestyles going from the daily environment of an Air Force base to a college campus.

“When you go from the military environment to a public university classroom it’s an eye opener,” said Cadet Lukawski. “We’re in our 30s, and the average college student … well, isn’t.”

Major Nelms said being on a college campus is a very unique environment for these nontraditional students, and he often calls on them in class to share their real-life military experiences with their fellow cadets.

“One of the things I decided to do was to treat this as a job,” Cadet Snodgrass said. “I come here early in the morning, and I don’t leave until early afternoon -- no matter when my classes are or how many I have during the day because I want to get all my studying done here.”

Besides earning college degrees, the cadets also appreciate that the program has allowed them to spend more time with their families since they are not deployed.

“I’ve been able to see my daughter grow up,” Cadet Lukawski said.

The cadets said they also appreciate being able to provide for their families’ needs because they continue to receive their full pay and health benefits and access to all services on base, and will not have to worry about paying off any student loans when they are done.

“There’s no way I could have done it full time,” Cadet Demster said. “I could have gotten out of the military and gone to school, but when you’ve got a house and a family you’ve got to pay the bills. This was a great opportunity for me.”

To qualify for the program, applicants should have at least one year in service and on station, both of which are waiverable, and 45 earned college credit hours, up to 15 of which can be earned through testing.

Applicants for the technical, foreign language and area studies majors who reach age 30 on or before April 1 will need to submit an age waiver for review to assure they can complete their studies before their 35th birthday. Nursing major applicants can be commissioned up to age 47 with an age waiver.

Last year, 78 percent of those who applied to the technical fields were accepted, 88 percent of the nursing candidates were accepted, and 53 percent of the applicants in the other areas were accepted.

New cadets continue to receive pay at the level of their enlisted rank, with all cadets receiving minimum pay as a staff sergeant.

During the program, cadets attend school year round, including summer terms, except when they are attending summer field training.

“Their job is to go to school as a full-time college student,” Major Nelms said.

Cadets may attend any school with an ROTC program or fulfill their degree requirements at one campus and travel to another with a detachment to fulfill their ROTC requirements.

The application deadline for fall 2005 enrollment is March 1.

“If you’ve done well in school before, you’ve got a pretty good shot at getting into this program,” Major Nelms said. “As long as you can commission prior to age 35, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do this.”

For more information, go to http://www.afoats.af.mil/afrotc/enlistedcommissioning/FY05%20aecp.htm.