CCAF initiative to begin in January

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  One of the major goals of the U.S. Air Force is to assist Airmen in their professional and personal development. The prime vehicle for achieving this goal is education.

Starting in 2011, a new, three-year initiative will begin across Air Force Materiel Command to encourage enlisted members to complete their Community College of the Air Force degree.

"Here at Hanscom the education office works hard to make sure enlisted members use all resources available to them to get an education," said Michael Graybeal, program manager for the Hanscom Education and Training Center. "But you'd be surprised how many people only need one or two classes to complete their CCAF."

The new initiative will involve the base education and training center working with a committee of program monitors, called secretaries of education. The secretaries will be representatives from various units across the base and will work with the education center to identify Airmen in the target group.

"The academic and education counselor, Cynthia Nunes-Taijeron, continually communicates with enlisted members who are close to completing their CCAF," Mr. Graybeal said. "Now she can work with these unit representatives to encourage those targeted Airmen to take the one or two classes needed to get their degree."

The secretaries of education will also act as mentors to those seeking a CCAF degree under the new initiative. The goal will be for the mentors to develop a positive, professional relationship with the mentees. They will take an active interest in academic progress and visit with the mentees periodically to encourage degree completion.

"By the end of the three years, the goal is for 50 percent of eligible Airmen to have completed their CCAF degree," said Mr. Graybeal.

CCAF is the largest community college in the world and is available exclusively to Air Force enlisted members. It was activated in 1972 in order to gain academic recognition for the technical training conducted by Air Force schools.

The college holds regional accreditation through the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and grants the Associate of Applied Science degree.

The administrative center is at Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala., and has branch campuses on every Air Force base.

"Getting a CCAF degree is a great idea and the program here at Hanscom is flourishing," said Mr. Graybeal. "This past May, we had 41 graduates. Of those 41 people, nine received scholarships to further their education."

Although Air Force members receive tuition assistance and can also use the G.I. Bill, these options do not cover the cost of books, according to Mr. Graybeal. The scholarships awarded were to help Air Force members buy books.

The Hanscom Education and Training Center continues to inform the base about educational opportunities and the benefits that come along with it.

"For newcomers, we give a briefing at the Commander's Welcome," he said. "We also go to TAP [Transition Assistance Program] seminars and talk to those enlisted members who are thinking about retiring in the next year or two. We want them to know that once they get out of the Air Force, they can no longer receive the CCAF degree, so now is the time to complete it."

A Community College of the Air Force degree can be completed in about a year, according to Mr. Graybeal. For many of the enrolling military members, credits have already been accumulated through basic training and technical school.

"As enlisted members advance through the ranks, the CCAF degree becomes more valuable," Mr. Graybeal said. "If they don't have it, they will not be recommended for senior rater endorsement and will not be fully qualified for promotion consideration to senior master sergeant or chief master sergeant."

Members of the education center also visit Airman Leadership School classes, the First Term Airman's Center, education fairs and other opportunities to talk about education.

"A CCAF degree is free, but we all know it takes time, which is hard to come by," said Mr. Graybeal. "However, the award a person reaps from furthering their education is immeasurable."

Anyone interested in obtaining a CCAF degree or learning about the educational opportunities available at Hanscom may contact Ms. Nunes-Taijeron at 781-377-2022 to set up an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome during the morning Monday through Thursday. The Hanscom Education and Training Center is located in Building 1728 on Chennault Street.