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AFH 1 · Chapter 7 · Section 7.24

Community College of the Air Force Program

Part of Air Force Leadership · 7 sections · ~2001 words · WAPS PFE study material

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CCAF Overview and Legacy

Why CCAF Exists

CCAF Purpose
The USAF has always recognized the positive effects of education on USAF personnel and continually established various programs to meet the needs of:
  • The USAF
  • Its enlisted Airmen
  • Society as a whole

One of the most notable programs is the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).

Website: https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Barnes/CCAF/

Legacy

CCAF Activated 1972
CCAF was activated in 1972 to gain academic recognition for formal technical training conducted by USAF schools.

Standards Recognition

By the mid-1970s, many civilian consultants reported that CCAF standards exceeded the minimum requirements of civilian community college associate degree programs, and the USAF sought degree-granting authority from Congress.

Public Law 94-361

1976 Authorization
President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-361, 94th Congress, An Act, on 14 July 1976, authorizing the Commander of Air Training Command (currently Air Education and Training Command) to confer the associate of applied science degree.

Authority Transfer

2004 Authority Transfer
The Commander of Air Education and Training Command remained CCAF's degree-granting authority until 28 October 2004.

On that date, degree-granting authority changed to the Commander of Air University when President George W. Bush signed Public Law 108-375, *Fiscal Year 2005 National Defense Authorization Act*.

CCAF Today

CCAF Location
The CCAF administrative center is located at Maxwell Air Force Base-Gunter Annex, Alabama.

It is one of several federally chartered degree-granting institutions; however, it is the only community college system within the Department of Defense and two-year institution exclusively serving enlisted personnel.

Scale

CCAF Scale
Today, the College has grown into the largest multi-campus community college system in the world:
  • More than 6,500 CCAF faculty
  • Delivering more than 2,000 credit-awarding courses
  • At more than 100 affiliated school campuses worldwide
  • Serving more than 270,000 students

Annual Volume

Each year, more than 1.6 million semester hours of collegiate credit are earned in CCAF classrooms.

Transcripts and Degrees
More than one million official transcripts have been issued in the last 10 years. Since its first degree in 1977, more than 580,000 CCAF associate of applied science degrees have been awarded.

CCAF Mission and Accreditation

Mission

CCAF Mission
Provide enlisted professionals pathways to degrees and credentials through military education, training, and experience.

Degree Awarded

CCAF Degree
CCAF awards the associate of applied science degree to total force enlisted Airmen.

Four Career Groups

Four Degree Career Groups
The college offers associate of applied science degree programs in four broad career groups:
  1. Operations
  2. Logistics
  3. Medical
  4. Support

Accreditation

Definition

Accreditation Definition
The Department of Education defines accreditation as:

> The recognition that an institution maintains standards requisite for its graduates to gain admission to other reputable institutions of higher learning or to achieve credentials for professional practice.

Goal

The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher learning meets acceptable standards.

Why Accreditation Matters

In the United States, an institution's accreditation is a major method for:

  • Students
  • Government officials
  • Employers
  • Academic institutions

…to know that an institution provides quality education.

CCAF's Accreditor

CCAF Accreditor
CCAF is a part of Air University. Air University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the associate, master's, and doctoral degrees.
Authority Source
The associate degree from CCAF is awarded under the authority of Air University.

CCAF Associate of Applied Science Degree

What an AAS Degree Is

Associate degrees earned in professional, technical, or terminal programs are frequently called associate of applied science degrees.

Educational Standard

AAS Designed For
The educational standard for the AAS degree is designed for students who:
  • Plan to seek employment based upon the competencies and skills attained
  • Want academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement
AAS Transfer Note
While not designed to meet the needs of students who transfer to a four-year institution, portions of these programs often do so.

How CCAF Awards the AAS

The CCAF offers and awards the AAS through a combination of:

  • Collegiate credit earned through completed formal technical training courses delivered at CCAF affiliated schools
  • Courses completed at accredited civilian colleges
  • Credit by examination

Designed for Mobility

Mobility-Friendly
Since enlisted Airmen are constantly relocating in performance of their duties, the CCAF provides a means of completing degree requirements regardless of location of assignment.

Automatic Registration

Auto-Registration
Enlisted Airmen are automatically registered in the CCAF AAS degree program designed for their USAF specialty near their completion of basic military training.

Degree Requirements (2022-2024 General Catalog)

Graduation Requirements
Effective with the 2022-2024 CCAF General Catalog, degree graduates must:
  • Complete the 60 semester-hour academic requirements
  • Hold at least the Journeyman 5-skill level or equivalent
  • Have a minimum of 9 semester hours of CCAF institutional credit in degree-applicable Technical Education (non-Military Technology and Applied Sciences Management)
  • Have a minimum of 15 semester hours of CCAF institutional credit applied overall
Residency Definition
Commonly known as "Residency", institutional credit is credit earned from CCAF credit-awarding courses.

Table 7.1 — CCAF AAS Degree Program Structure

60-Semester-Hour Breakdown.
  • Technical Education — 24 SH
  • Leadership, Management, and Military Studies — 6 SH
  • Program Electives — 15 SH

General Education Requirements — 15 SH total:

  • Written Communication (English Composition) — 3 SH
  • Oral Communication (Speech) — 3 SH
  • Mathematics — 3 SH
  • Social Science — 3 SH
  • Humanities — 3 SH
AAS Total
Total: 60 semester hours

Collegiate Credit and AUSIS

Collegiate Credit

CCAF Credit Awards
The CCAF awards collegiate academic credit for degree-applicable courses delivered at affiliated military schools.

Transfer Credit

Transfer Credit Acceptance
The College accepts credit in-transfer from other accredited colleges to be applied toward specific degree program requirements.

General Education Transfer Standards

General education courses accepted in-transfer must meet:

  • Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges standards
  • Air University and CCAF in-transfer policy

National Professional Credentials

Credential-for-Credit
Students may also earn CCAF collegiate credit for specific national professional credentials (licensure or certification) that are approved by the College to satisfy applicable degree program technical education and program elective requirements.

What Is NOT Awarded CCAF Credit

Non-Affiliated Schools
Courses delivered at schools not affiliated with CCAF or by non-CCAF faculty are:
  • Not certified by CCAF
  • Not awarded CCAF academic credit

Reference

The CCAF General Catalog provides policy information concerning:

  • Acceptance of course credit in-transfer from other accredited colleges
  • Professional credentialing credit for application toward specific degree programs

URL: https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CCAF/documents/2022-2024_CCAF_General_Catalog-Change1.pdf

Air University Student Information System (AUSIS)

AUSIS Purpose
The AUSIS provides students with timely and accurate academic information pertaining to CCAF AAS degree program progression.

How to Access

This web-based resource is accessible:

  • Via weblink, or
  • From the Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC)

What It Shows

Student Progress Report
AUSIS enables students to view their CCAF degree audit, also known as the student progress report.

AU-ABC and General Education Mobile (GEM)

Air University Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC)

AU-ABC Purpose
The AU-ABC program links CCAF AAS degree programs to accredited four-year colleges and universities that provide online bachelor degree opportunities to CCAF graduates.

Website: https://afvec.us.af.mil/afvec/au-abc/welcome

Linking Structure

Degree Linkages
Each AU-ABC degree program is linked to one or more CCAF AAS degrees.

Eligibility to Participate

AU-ABC Eligibility
To participate in the AU-ABC Program, enlisted Airmen must be currently serving in:
  • The RegAF
  • Air Force Reserves
  • Air National Guard

After Enrollment

Continue After Service
Once enrolled, the student may continue degree completion requirements after retirement or separation.

General Education Mobile (GEM)

GEM Purpose
The General Education Mobile (GEM) links CCAF students to accredited colleges and universities offering online freshman-and-sophomore-level courses to satisfy CCAF general education requirements.

Website: https://afvec.us.af.mil/afvec/gem/welcome

Professional Credentialing Programs

Why Credentialing Matters

Credentialing Importance
Just like higher-education, professional credentialing is an important element of force development as it provides up-to-date industry-recognized credentials applicable to USAF occupations.

What Credentialing Supports

CCAF offers credentialing programs to assist enlisted Airmen in broadening their professional development.

Credentialing Mission Support
Credentialing of enlisted Airmen:
  • Enhances combat readiness
  • Contributes to recruiting and retention
  • Supports career transitions

Documentation Best Practice

To support documentary evidence of training, skills, and practical experience, Airmen are highly encouraged to maintain records of all previous and current education, training, and qualifications.

Joint Service Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification Council (JSAMTCC)

JSAMTCC Audience
The CCAF offers the JSAMTCC Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) program to Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMT) in specific Military Occupational Classifications (MOC) across the DoD and the USCG.

Purpose

The program streamlines the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) A&P certification process for military members who hold or have held those MOCs.

Bridging Training and Certification

Bridge Function
The program is designed to bridge gaps between:
  • Military AMT's formal technical training
  • Upgrade training and experience
  • FAA certification eligibility requirements

Upon Completion

Upon successful completion of the program, the CCAF:

  • Provides the necessary documents to meet FAA eligibility
  • Provides authorization to take the A&P exams
  • Eliminates the FAA Flight Standards District Office preauthorization process

Joint Force Benefits

Free Testing
Agreements with the FAA allow military testing sites to administer FAA certification knowledge exams free of charge to all who are eligible.

CCAF Instructional Systems Development (ISD) Certificate

ISD Audience
CCAF offers the Instructional Systems Development Certificate Program for qualified curriculum writers and managers formally assigned to CCAF affiliated schools to develop and manage CCAF degree-applicable courses.

What It Validates

This certificate program provides a professional credential that validates:

  • The education and training required to develop and manage CCAF collegiate-level courses
  • The practical experience gained in planning, developing, implementing, and managing instructional systems

CCAF Instructor Certification

Instructor Cert Audience
CCAF offers the CCAF Instructor Certificate Program to qualified instructors assigned to affiliated schools to teach CCAF degree-applicable courses.

What It Validates

This certificate program provides a professional credential that validates the instructor's:

  • Extensive faculty development training
  • Education
  • Qualification
  • Practical teaching experience required to teach a CCAF collegiate-level course

Three Levels

Three Levels of Achievement
The program consists of three specific levels of achievement and is offered to qualified:
  • Officer
  • Enlisted
  • Civilian
  • Other service instructors

Air Force Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (AFCOOL) Program

What AFCOOL Provides

AFCOOL Funding
The Air Force Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (AFCOOL) program provides funding for USAF DAF specialty-applicable credentials to enlisted Airmen members on Title 10 or Title 32 (502)f RegAF orders.

Website: https://afvec.us.af.mil/afvec/af-cool/welcome

Funding Cap

AFCOOL Cap
The program funds a maximum of $4,500 during the Airman's career.

What the Funds Cover

The funding pays for:

  • Exams
  • Preparation courses
  • Books
  • Study materials
  • Administrative fees
  • Recertification fees necessary to maintain the credential

Who Manages It

AFCOOL Management
CCAF manages the AFCOOL program, which aligns USAF DAF specialties with civilian industry professionally recognized credentials (certification and licensure).

Alignment Methodology

Journeyman-Level Alignment
Alignment is based on evaluation and analysis of formal specialty-related technical training and occupational skills at the Journeyman (5-skill-level), taking into consideration:
  • Industry credentials
  • Industry requirements

What the AFCOOL Website Provides

The AFCOOL program website also contains additional information about:

  • Civilian industry credentialing
  • Eligibility requirements and resources to prepare for the exams
  • Credentials relevant to USAF DAF specialties
  • Filling gaps between USAF DAF technical training, experiences, and credentialing requirements
  • Obtaining AFCOOL funding to pay for credentialing exams, preparatory courses, study materials, associated fees, and recertification
  • Civilian occupational equivalencies and job opportunities
Visit AFCOOL Website
Visit the AFCOOL website to determine eligibility for funding approval.

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