Airmen encouraged to pursue CCAF degrees

Published May 3, 2012
By Brandice J. O'Brien
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- It has been said there are more opportunities available for people with collegiate degrees. A Community College of the Air Force degree is one of those opportunities, a key that can unlock the future. Yet, oftentimes potential students instead list reasons why that "key" is out of their reach.

Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Command Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Vegas said Airmen, in particular, should abandon their reasons and reach for the "key." In addition to benefitting them, a CCAF degree also profits the Air Force. Within the enlisted ranks, it is Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy's strategic plan to educate more Airmen. The Airmen who have the degrees are better able to achieve the goals of fostering mission efficiency and effectiveness ideas set by Gen. Donald Hoffman, commander of Air Force Materiel Command. Additionally, the degrees give Airmen an edge when competing for promotions, special duty and critically-manned assignments.

"As our Air Force continues to evolve, we need Airmen who are armed with the necessary skills to find solutions to our most challenging problems," Chief Vegas said. "A workforce of educated Airmen will assist in this endeavor."

In 2011, the Air Force introduced the "Education Journey" initiative and encouraged Airmen to pursue their CCAF degrees. This year, the initiative has expanded its efforts to include continuing education and is encouraging Airmen - enlisted, officers and civilians - who are within 20 semester hours of completing a degree to discuss course plans.

As a whole, Tinker already has a leg up. With nine more graduates this past spring than Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Tinker has the highest number of CCAF graduates within AFMC. Yet, Eglin holds the No. 1 rank for calendar year 2011.

Officials predict by year's end, Tinker will have nearly 300 graduates. In 2011, 272 enlisted Tinker members earned their degrees. In total, more than 1,200 Tinker enlisted Airmen have completed at least one CCAF degree.

Staff Sgt. Christopher Price and Tech. Sgt. Mindy Owens will soon join those ranks.

Sergeant Price, a combat arms instructor with the 72nd Security Forces Squadron, began pursuing a Criminal Justice degree in 2004. As of January, he said he had completed the necessary courses and transferred the credits to the CCAF. He is expected to graduate this fall.

"Some people may say a CCAF isn't good for anything on the outside, but seeing your name on that degree should give you a 'huge' sense of accomplishment and, it will show any outside agency that you have what it takes to go for and achieve something," said Sergeant Price, who listed "finding time," as one of the challenges he faced while pursuing the degree.

James Coy, Education Office guidance counselor within the 72nd Force Support Squadron, said a CCAF degree is in fact highly respected by civilian employers regardless of the degree title, or its related career field.

"A CCAF degree tells a prospective employer that you have the kind dedicated attitude they greatly desire in an employee," he said. "A CCAF graduate frequently can receive $5,000 to 25,000 more in starting salary than someone without one."

Sergeant Owens, noncommissioned officer of Customer Support and Personnel for the 72nd FSS, said she'll likely graduate with her CCAF in Human Resources Management late this year or early next year.

Attending classes on and off for the past eight years, she said she knows the degree will benefit her future, she just wishes she hadn't put it off for so long.

"I became a mother at a very early age and became busy with life. For me, college was put on hold until I had time for it and then I realized that I never really had time. Plus, it has been challenging pursing this degree while working full time, going on temporary duty assignments, deploying and being a wife and mother to three young children," Sergeant Owens said. "It's one of those things that you have to make time for."

Airmen who opt to pursue a CCAF degree are automatically enrolled in an academic program related to their career field following completion of their first technical school. There are 65 Associates in Applied Science degrees in five broad areas of study: Aircraft & Missile Maintenance, Allied Health, Electronics & Telecommunications, Logistics & Resources and Public & Support Services.

Students must complete 64 semester credit hours in technical requirement, physical education, leadership and military studies, general education and program electives. The courses can be achieved through Air Force-taught accredited technical courses, transferred credit from civilian college courses and college-level examinations. Sergeants Price and Owens have attended in-person, face-to-face classes and online regionally-accredited colleges.

For more information, click on the Year of Continuing Education, or YoCE, logo on the Tinker homepage. Or, call 739-7537.