CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
When I first came into the military, pursuing education was not my top priority. My main goals were to get my career development courses done and become an expert in my job. I focused on becoming the best when it came to the job, my wife and two young sons, and I also wanted time to just take it easy.
Because I had all the training I needed and knew I would have further professional military education schools to attend, off-duty education was not at the top of the list. Additional education was also not a priority because tuition assistance was not as good as what is available today.
In fact, I did not finish my Community College of the Air Force degree until I had been in the Air Force for 10 years. My family and lack of money became an overused excuse to stay away from school.
Now-a-days, there is an emphasis to make sure that our Airmen are the best at everything they do, and off-duty education is near the top of the list.
As we all know, AFI 36-2618, "The Enlisted Force Structure", has been updated, and education is specifically addressed as a responsibility for Airmen, NCOs, and Senior NCOs alike.
Junior enlisted Airmen responsibilities listed state they "should earn a CCAF degree to further expand their professional development and technical expertise."
NCOs "should earn a CCAF degree, if not already earned, to further expand their professional development and technical expertise."
Now, think about that line - as an NCO you are responsible for encouraging subordinates to complete their CCAF degree.
If you are not working yours, can you expect you Airmen to pursue theirs?
Senior NCOs are responsible to "complete their CCAF degree, if not already earned, and continue development for self and subordinates through available on- and off-duty education, leadership lectures and seminars, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force reading program."
So, if you are master sergeant and you are just getting enrolled in the CCAF program, provided you did not retrain, you are way behind the power curve. By the time you sew on that master sergeant stripe, you should already have a CCAF degree under your belt and be pursuing even higher levels of education.
At the Senior NCO level, education directly impacts promotion to the upper two enlisted grades. NCOs and Senior NCOs must truly lead their people from the front and set the prime example if they want their Airmen to progress through the ranks in the Air Force.
The update to the AFI directs every Airman to take notice and pursue at least a CCAF degree and to do it early. Money is much less of an issue with the advantage of having up to $4,500 per fiscal year in tuition assistance. Supervisors need to encourage their subordinates to pursue degrees to better themselves and prepare for their future in the Air Force.
At the same time, supervisors need to ensure they are practicing what they preach and are pursuing academic degrees themselves. Your road will be smoother if you at least have a CCAF degree. The fact of the matter is, if you plan on making it to the top ranks of the enlisted force, education is a critical component.