CCAF graduates 350,000th student

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. (AFNS) -- Base leaders, families and service members gathered here June 13 to welcome the spring 2014 graduates of the Community College of the Air Force.

Officials awarded selected students with the Pitsenbarger Award Scholarship, the John and Kathy Hood Military Scholarship and made a special presentation to Senior Airman Kevin Duran, of the 421st Combat Training Squadron and the 350,000th student to graduate with an associate degree.

"Senior Airman Kevin Duran became the 350,000th graduate from the CCAF,” said Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Horn, the Air University command chief. “He majored in criminal justice and is currently working on his CCAF degree in instructor technology and military science."

Duran entered the Air Force in February 2011 and graduated from the security forces specialist course in August 2011, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Prior to assuming his current position of contingency skills instructor with the 421st CTS, he served as a member with the 87th Security Forces Squadron, here.

"I did not have any college before entering the military," Duran said. "But, once I started taking classes, I kept it up, taking classes after classes and also encouraging Airmen to continue their education."
A CCAF degree is a compilation of 64 credit hours, which includes basic training and technical school credits as well as general study credits.
Lt. Gen. David S. Fadok, the commander and president of Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., addressed the 65 graduating Airmen and attendees, emphasizing the importance of the CCAF.

"We produce the future," Fadok said. "I want to thank all the families, friends, co-workers and leadership. It's because of your support these graduates were able to meet the challenges and earn their associate degree."

Established in 1972, the CCAF is the largest accredited community college in the world, awarding 14,000 associate degrees annually.

"The vision of the CCAF is to be the community college of choice,” Fadok said, “providing a path to higher learning for those with the calling to serve. We see a return in our investment in you because you take what you learn and apply it into your Air Force specialty for the rest of your career."