Ellsworth Airmen earn CCAF degrees

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Hailey Staker
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  In 2015, the Community College of the Air Force awarded more than 200 associate of applied science degrees to Ellsworth AFB Airmen, and a total of 23,206 Air Force-wide, breaking the record for number of graduates for the sixth consecutive year.

"CCAF had an amazing year in 2015," said Lt. Col. Nathan Leap, the CCAF commander. "We think CCAF is more relevant and more popular than ever before. The education helps our Airmen form better habits of mind, improve critical thinking skills, increase their diversity of thought and become more innovative."

CCAF is the largest community college in the nation with 2,000 courses and more than a quarter of a million students.

Every CCAF degree makes Airmen more proficient and increases their performance within their primary Air Force specialty, Leap said. These degrees are earned through Air University, which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The prestigious accreditation means they meet the same strict standards as other SACS schools such as the universities of Georgia and Florida.

Over the years, CCAF has adapted to better serve Airmen by adding programs like Air Force Credentialing Opportunities On-Line, which enables Airmen to earn industry-recognized certifications.

"One of the most exciting developments within CCAF in 2015 was the emergence and expansion of the AF COOL program," Leap said. "We stood up AF COOL last year and made available nearly 1,000 new certifications to our enlisted Airmen."

The Air Force is also in the process of changing its policy to allow enlisted Airmen to obtain an unlimited number of credentials, books and preparation material as long as the overall cost doesn't exceed a lifetime cap of $4,500.

Looking back, CCAF awarded 9,276 degrees in 1987. Since then the number of graduates have more than doubled despite the fact there were almost 100,000 more enlisted Airmen at the time.

"The success of our CCAF graduates last year epitomizes the Air Force's emphasis on the deliberate development of our enlisted members," said Chief Master Sgt. Andrew Hollis, the CCAF vice commandant. "We distinguish ourselves as the most capable enlisted force in the world because generations of senior leaders prioritized our development and CCAF is an extraordinary instrument of that."

Editor's note: This article was featured on www.af.mil and has been localized to reflect and congratulate Ellsworth's CCAF graduates.