Education crucial for Airmen

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Each of us, for many different reasons, decided to take an oath to defend and protect our country against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.

After graduating from high school, I determined that twelve consecutive years of school was enough. I wanted to do something other than wander around a college campus for a couple of years until I settled on a profession.

So, I elected to join the Air Force and little did I know the Air Force placed a high premium on education. In my feeble attempt to escape school, I found myself in a system where education and training were literally keys to a successful career.

Airmen who had committed themselves to obtaining higher education and training increased their opportunities for advancement. In fact, at most installations, SNCOs who had completed their Community College of the Air Force degree and accomplished the appropriate level of professional military education propelled themselves ahead of their peers.

Today, the Air Force has recognized the value in our enlisted members obtaining their CCAF degree. SNCOs must now complete their CCAF degree to attain senior rater endorsement consideration. This requirement formalizes across the Air Force, what was already a prerequisite at most locations and ensures differentiation of SNCOs who have completed the expected development and education to perform at the senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant levels. This policy was well over-due.

We need to increase our efforts to ensure that as many of our Airmen as possible have an opportunity to pursue higher education. The following percentages of our enlisted force have an associate's degree or equivalent college semester hours: 1.6 percent for Airmen, 17 percent for NCOs and 50 percent for SNCOs.

Our Air Force recently partnered with civilian colleges and universities to offer bachelor's degree opportunities under the Air University's Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative Program. AU-ABC directs Airmen with a CCAF degree to a collection of accredited colleges and universities for consideration when pursuing a four-year degree.

The program maximizes the application of military career education and training, and provides a multitude of online academic and support services for our enlisted members. AU-ABC offers a way for our Airmen to earn a bachelor's degree while supporting increased Air Force operations tempo and expeditionary deployments. A more educated force equates to a more combat capable force. We should all try to better ourselves, regardless of where you are in your Air Force career.

Fredrick Douglas, a powerful voice for human rights during the Civil War, once said, "People may not get all they work for in this world, but they must certainly work for all they get." Education will not only benefit our Airmen and our Air Force today; it will improve their ability to provide a better life for themselves and their family tomorrow. As always; enjoy your weekend, be safe, make responsible choices, and I'll see you around campus.