CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
I've had the opportunity to speak with a lot of Airmen lately, and I have noticed a recurring reason for enlisting in the Air Force.
"I came in to go to school," or words to that effect are common among the people I've spoken with. The Air Force has unbelievable programs for every level of education. Are you taking advantage of them?
Whether you stay in 20 years or decide to get out after one enlistment; the benefits are the same for all of us. In this declining economic environment, where it is tough to land and keep a job, we have awesome benefits. There is no other company or corporation in the world offering the same types of programs because the Air Force is preparing you for life during your Air Force career and after.
Suppose I told you the Air Force would give you a $4,500 bonus every year to attend college classes. Would you be interested?
In reality the military provides this bonus to each of us. The Air Force currently pays 100 percent of tuition up to $250 per credit hour and $4,500 annually in off-duty courses offered in accredited schools. These funds are available to you without using your Veterans Affairs educational benefits.
Another benefit is a onetime $9,000 education certification we can use on a certification program of our choice. In addition, many scholarships are available for both military members and their families such as Eagle Grants for Community College of the Air Force graduates who are pursuing a bachelor's degree. These grants range from $250 to $500 and may be used in conjunction with tuition assistance.
There are four colleges conveniently located right here on Charleston AFB in our education center to help you with your academic needs. Each school has counselors to assist you with determining what type of degree or certification fits your goals. The counselors will also help you get into the classes in a timely manner so you can meet your objectives.
Also in our education center, you can be scheduled to take free College Level Examination Program or Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support tests which could result in receiving college credit without ever stepping into a classroom. Even in this busy, high-operations climate, you can still continue your education when you're deployed by taking online courses or CLEP tests. This option allows us to continue our education without taking long breaks due to our military obligations.
As you may already know, the Air Force has the largest community college program in the world through the Community College of the Air Force. Most recently added is the Air University Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative Program, which is available to assist you in your educational objectives. AU-ABC directs Airmen with an associate in applied science degree from the CCAF to a collection of accredited, military-friendly colleges and universities for them to consider when completing a four-year degree.
Airmen who have completed an associate in applied science degree with the CCAF can earn a career-related, four-year degree by completing an additional 60 semester hours. The program maximizes the application of military career education and training, and provides a multitude of online academic and supportive services for the enlisted member.
I've heard time and time again from my peers who said they "wished they had started their education earlier in their career." I know this to be true from my own experience. It would have been easy to take the time when I was younger and when I didn't have a family who needed me. I was definitely not a model student in high school; my parents quite often had to "re-motivate" me.
Additionally, it has been a great experience to continue my education through the Air Force base's resources because the professors at our colleges on base understand you have a full-time job and military commitments.
I realize I'm no expert, but what's great is there are experts right here on base to answer any educational question you might have. They are a strong group of motivated people who can get us pointed in the right direction to meet our educational objectives.
Don't procrastinate and let this opportunity pass you by ... make your education a priority in 2010.