'Brown Bag U' to help complete CCAF degree

  • Published
  • By Mary Lou Gorny
  • Hilltop Times editor
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  A college graduate in America can expect to learn one million dollars more in their lifetime than a high school only graduate," said Mark Kuerth, 75th Force Support Squadron Education Services specialist, as he quoted data from the U.S. Bureau of Statistics.

While an associate degree adds less than that million, the difference over a high school degree is substantial, as can be seen in the accompanying table provided by data collected by the U.S. Census.

In this Year of the Community College of the Air Force, the 15 credits needed to add that associate degree to any enlisted service person's credentials couldn't be easier.

Master Sgt. Chi Swanson, Hill Air Force Base education secretary, announced that any unit or squadron with more than seven members who are interested, can arrange to have an instructor come to the squadron location to conduct the class. The Education Office is promoting "Brown Bag University" in which the class is generally held during lunch hour or sometimes is set at another time period.

Two universities very familiar with the CCAF general education requirements and which are prepared to offer most of the five courses if not all are: Park University and Embry Riddle.

Kuerth recommends that each unit should determine the particular course members are interested in as a first step. Then, compile a pretty firm list of names of students. At that point, contact should be established with one or both of the schools to attempt to set up the course.

Swanson emphasized the value of the 100 percent Tuition Assistance now available to military personnel.

"Once individuals graduate Tech School, they usually only need the five General Ed classes to get their CCAF," said Swanson.

As the daughter of a former military serviceman who got his CCAF, Swanson is enthusiastic about the difference an education can make as a parent in the lives of his or her children.

"If one person in the household has a degree their child has a 70 percent chance that they'll get a degree," said Swanson. "If both parents in the household have a degree, statistics show a 98 percent (chance) that their children will get a degree."

Now that she is a mom herself, Swanson has her CCAF and she is working on her bachelor's degree, one class a quarter. She's determined to do it.

Her husband has received his bachelor's degree and is working on his master's.

Swanson said it is hard to understand why anyone would not want to take advantage of getting their 15 credits for the associate degree through the CCAF.

"It's free through tuition assistance," she said.

Each Hill unit and squadron has a point of contact and will be encouraging those members who do not have their CCAF to make use of the available resource.

"Currently of the combined staff sergeants, technical sergeants and master sergeants on Team Hill, 37 percent have their CCAF," said Terri Holst, 75th Force Support Squadron marketing director. "The Education Office is serious about trying to reach the 50 percent goal by the end of 2011."