7/16/2010 - 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.
http://www.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123213702&channelPageId=s6925EC13560
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