Education not optional for today’s Airmen

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Michael J. LaPlant
  • 615th Contingency Response Wing, command chief
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE,Calif. --  Contrary to popular belief, seeking education is not optional in today's Air Force. Academic responsibilities are clearly outlined in three different chapters of Air Force Instruction 36-2618. The guidance states that junior enlisted Airmen, noncommissioned officers and senior NCOs are to "pursue professional development through on and off-duty education."It also states that they "should earn a Community College of the Air Force degree to further expand their professional development and technical expertise."

The expectation increases as a member reaches the NCO tier. At this tier, staff sergeants and technical sergeants are also expected to "encourage completion by subordinates." In order to truly embrace your responsibilities, a good noncommissioned officer must lead by example by completing his or her CCAF degree.

Upon becoming a senior NCO, you will also be required to complete the Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy in residence or by correspondence as well as hold a CCAF degree before receiving senior rater endorsement consideration. Promotion to senior master sergeant without a SRE, CCAF degree and completion of the SNCOA by correspondence is not possible in today's Air Force.

It is important to note that the CCAF is a legitimate degree-granting institution. It is regionally accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which also accredits schools such as Alabama State University, Auburn University and Texas A&M University, along with 1,300 other public and private schools.

When I came into the Air Force back in the early 1980s, tuition assistance covered only 75 percent, compared to 100 percent for activeduty today. The Veterans Educational Assistance Program was the main program available for an advanced degree with a total benefit of only $8,100 and required monetary contributions by the member. By stark contrast, today's educational program, the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, requires no "co-pay" and the total benefit can easily exceed $100,000. This increase in benefits shows the importance the military places on furthering education.

My recommendation is to get started on your CCAF degree sooner rather than later. It does not get easier with time. Family, extracurricular activities and job-related responsibility are bound to take priority and the CCAF degree could easily be put on the backburner, so start early and pace yourself. As you make progress, you'll expand your professional development and technical expertise and grow intellectually, but most importantly, you'll be leading by example.