New program may speed Airmen to bachelor's degree

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jeff Loftin
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Airmen at Kadena will soon be able to enroll in a program that allows them to transfer all 64 credit hours of their Community College of the Air Force degree into a bachelor's degree. 

Air University's Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative program features partnerships with civilian higher-education institutions to offer four-year degree opportunities by distance learning. 

"The AU-ABC program is geared for Airmen to pursue a bachelor's degree anywhere in the world," said Europonda Chestnutt, 18th Mission Support Squadron deputy chief of base training and education services. "The Air Force is looking at partnerships with different universities who will accept the 64 hours already earned in the associate's degree toward their bachelor's degree program. 

"Most schools right now will not accept all 64 hours. They may accept 30 hours. They may accept 45 hours, but not all 64. So, these schools that are coming on board are changing the way they do things to meet the needs of the Airmen." 

So far, at least 22 universities have enrolled in the program. The schools that participate will align their programs with the 67 CCAF program titles; however, there will be some cases where Airmen will be able to complete a degree outside their Air Force speciality. 

"We do not have a comprehensive list of the schools participating," said Ms. Chestnutt. "At the end of this month they should be wrapping up all the research with the schools. We're looking at August as the goal." 

The program will require Airmen to complete no more than 60 semester hours after having earned an associate in applied science degree. This should allow people to finish their degree faster. 

Kadena currently has 1,036 Airmen who have completed their CCAF degree and will be eligible to participate in the AU-ABC program, said Ms. Chestnutt. Another 1,000 Airmen are within five classes of completing their CCAF degree. 

"Hopefully, this iniative will increase interest in off-duty education and our doors will be flooded in August when the program is implemented," she said. 

"I was excited to hear about the new program," said Senior Airman Jamaal Solomon, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron. "I think it's great that it can help me get my degree faster. I'm sure a lot of people here will be interested in the program." 

The AU-ABC program will use the Air Force Virtual Education Center on the Air Force Portal for student access to academic institutions. 

To participate, Airmen must be serving in the active duty Air Force, Air Force Reserves or Air National Guard, according to the Air University Web site. Degree requirements, however, may be completed after a student retires or separates from the Air Force.
Airmen interested in the program should visit the education office in the coming months to see how it can benefit their degree plan. 

For more information, call the education center at 634-1500.