Increasing aptitude Published July 16, 2014 By Senior Airman Andrew Park 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- A little persistence from the 94th Airlift Wing Education and Training Office goes a long way, with 70 Airmen recently receiving degrees from the Community College of the Air Force. As the world's largest community college system, the CCAF combines Airmen's job-related training, including technical school and level upgrades, with coursework to create accredited associate's degree programs currently utilized by more than 305,000 active, guard, and reserve enlisted personnel. "A lot of Airmen have completed their degrees and don't even know it," said Senior Master Sgt. Steven Ross, education and training superintendent. "Many of them are lacking a single course, such as Speech." The education and training office works diligently towards eliminating the guesswork for Airmen who are unsure of their degree status. "We go through transcripts of all wing members, and if their within nine to 12 credits from graduating, we send them an email stating that they're close, and here's what's left to accomplish that degree," explained Ross. Airmen not pursuing a CCAF degree may exclude themselves from many of its benefits. For instance, the degree can be a career advancement tool, especially for chief and senior master sergeants, where an associate's degree is mandatory. However, the degree can benefit Airmen at any level. "Getting your degree shows continuous growth in your Air Force specialty, and that you want to go beyond your required skill levels," said Master Sgt. Tharis Word, education and training technician. "The degree can also act as a launching pad to provide credits that can be transferred to civilian colleges and universities." For those interested in achieving even higher levels of education, the CCAF provides options for transferring into a bachelor's degree program through the Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative program. Ross himself is currently enrolled in the cooperative program, and is working towards a Bachelor's in Organizational Management. "Instead of 120 required courses, I'm only required to take 58, so I'm halfway there," he said. The option and relative ease of pursuing either an associate's or bachelor's degree through the CCAF or AU-ABC program can also spell success for civilian sector employment. "Take the medical field for instance," said Ross. "Because the Air Force has a lot of medical technician training, and offers it for free, if you pursue the medical field as a civilian, you're a step ahead of everyone already." Interested Airmen can learn more about the CCAF and AU-ABC program by visiting the education and training office in building 838, calling 678-655-4000, or logging on to www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf. The 94th Airlift Wing's most recent Community College of the Air Force graduates are: Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Nicholas, Construction Technology, 94 CES Angela Poole, Allied Health Sciences, 94 AES Sandra Wright, Human Resource Management, 94 MSG Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Bloemker, Maintenance Production Management, 22nd AF Tina Carlson, Allied Health Sciences, 94 ASTS Andrea Symes-Creary, Human Resource Management, 555 RHS Stephen Crook, Construction Technology, 622 CEG Bettina Reeves, Logistics, 22nd AF Steven Ross, Education and Training Management, 94 FSS Master Sgt. Alexes Abrams, Construction Technology 622 CEG Bonnie Bast, Transportation 80 APS Chadwicke Bolding, Criminal Justice, 94 SFS Charles Burgoon, Aircraft Armament Systems Tech, 94 CES Charles Burgoon, Education and Training Management, 94 CES Travon Dennis, Human Resource Management, 94 LRS Jameria Doyle, Health Care Management, 94 AES Jodi Fleming, Information Management, 94 CS William Lanier, Criminal Justice, 94 SFS Nora Mitchell, Transportation, 94 APS Carl Perry, Electronic Systems Technology, 94 CS Gerald Peterson, Aviation Maintenance Technology, 94 CS Chadwick Wilson, Allied Health Sciences, 94 ASTS Tech. Sgt. Joshua Albertin, Allied Health Sciences, 94 AES Patrick Bankston, Criminal Justice, 94 SFS Corey Brown, Criminal Justice, 94 SFS Jennifer Bryant, Pharmacy Technology, 94 ASTS Sameka Carson, Information Management, 94 Com Daniel Colyer, Aviation Maintenance Technology, 94 MXS Kieth Dammann, Transportation, 80 APS Brierly Davis, Intelligence Studies and Technology, 94 OSS Chad Gibbs, Aviation Operations, 700 AS Trina Glover, Health Care Management, 94 AES John Halliday, Avionic Systems Technology, 94 MXS Christopher Howe, Mechanical and Electrical Tech. 94 CES Kristi Huston, Criminal Justice, 94 SFS Lakeysha Jackson, Financial Management, 94 AW Griffin Jones, Shatona Pharmacy Technology, 94 ASTS Antonio Manning, Transportation, 80 APS Nicholas Payne, Allied Health Sciences, 94 AES Patrick Pittman, Metals Technology, 94 MXS Katherine Ring, Construction Technology, 80 APS Joseph Saldivar, Transportation, 80 APS Kevin Smith, Restaurant, Hotel and Fitness Management, 622 CEG G.W. Taylor, Aviation Maintenance Technology, 94 AMXS Yovunka Thorpe-Henry, Human Resource Management, 94 FSS Chari Woodrum, Logistics, 80 APS Staff Sgt. Jessica Coleman, Human Resource Management, 94 AW Harriet Dixon, Transportation, 94 APS Demicheon Douglas, Ophthalmic Technician, 94 ASTS Samuel England, Vehicle Maintenance, 94 LRS Clark Gomez, Transportation, 80 APS Rolando Gonzalez, Criminal Justice, 94 SFS Christopher Hess, Criminal Justice, 94 SFS Krista Jackson, Medical Laboratory Technology, 94 ASTS Rebecca Lawrence, Avionic Systems Technology, 94 MXS April Lewis, Information Management, 80 APS Nathan Livesey, Criminal Justice 94 SFS Rodriquez Neal, Construction Technology, 94 CES Dalia Nesmith Human Services 94 AW Michael Newsome, Criminal Justice, 94 SFS Joshua Snow, Fire Science, 94 AW Christopher Walker, Transportation, 94 APS Ebony White, Transportation 80 APS Senior Airman India Brown, Mental Health Services, 94 ASTS Tumyra Byron, Information Management, 94 MSG Gregory Handley, Aviation Maintenance Technology, 94 MXS John Mcdermott, Avionic Systems Technology, 94 AMXS Brandon Morton, Construction Technology, 94 CES Joel Putnam, Aviation Maintenance Technology, 94 MXS
