CCAF Associate of Applied Science Degree Program Structure

Why a Common Approach Matters

Many enlisted Airmen have officers or civilians as direct supervisors. There is a compelling need for officers, civilian personnel, and enlisted Airmen to have a deliberate and common approach to:

• Force development
• Career progression
• Assumption of increased supervisory and leadership responsibilities

Officer Responsibilities

The officer force structure is comprised of three distinct and separate tiers:

• Company Grade Officer — grades O-1 thru O-3
• Field Grade Officer — grades O-4 thru O-6
• General Officer — grades O-7 thru O-10

Mastery Across Tiers

Progression through the tiers correlates to increased levels of leadership and managerial responsibilities, with each tier building on previous responsibilities:

• General Officers are expected to have mastered Field Grade Officer responsibilities
• Field Grade Officers are expected to have mastered Company Grade Officer responsibilities

Functional vs. Institutional

• Functionally, the USAF develops technical experts through career field progression and succession planning
• Institutionally, the USAF strives to develop experienced leaders

Early Career Path

From the earliest stages, Airmen and supervisors must comprehend the progression path for technical and professional development.

As Airmen demonstrate expertise and potential, opportunities should be made available to encourage:

• More responsibility
• Increased leadership roles

Developmental Opportunities

Developmental opportunities offer unique perspectives on how the USAF functions:

• Deployments
• Exercises
• Joint assignments
• Special duty assignments
• Headquarters staff assignments

• Career field and USAF requirements
• Personal qualifications
• Goals

USAF Civil Service Scale

• More than 180,000 professional civilians
• Serving in over 35 countries
• Within 11 personnel systems
• Across 22 career fields
• Comprising 472 occupational series
• Paid through 27 different pay plans

Critical Roles

Civilians serve in critical positions, including:

• Scientists
• Engineers
• Contract specialists
• Instructors
• Intelligence experts
• Mechanics
• Human resource professionals
• Firefighters
• Aircraft mechanics
• Childcare providers

Why Civilians Matter

Civilians:

• Provide corporate knowledge and stability across the USAF
• Deploy to various contingency areas
• Are fundamental to the strength of our USAF