AFMC Command News

Wright-Patt takes a mid-tour look at status of CCAF initiative

  • Published
  • By Amy Rollins
  • Skywrighter Staff
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio --  Secretaries of education, mentors and personnel from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base's Education Office gathered at the base theater here Sept. 1 to review progress made to date during the Year of the Community College of the Air Force emphasis, which kicked off in January.

Air Force Materiel Command leadership had set a goal of increasing CCAF degree holders throughout the major command by 10 percent during 2011, it was announced at that kickoff.

Chief Master Sgt. Eric Jaren, AFMC command chief and the guest speaker, thanked the audience, saying, "You can see the impact we're making."

He outlined three reasons to pursue education, despite naysayers who question it.

First, holding a CCAF degree -- especially designed for enlisted personnel -- keeps one's career on track, Jaren said.

"I've seen good senior NCOs say 'It's too much,' and their career falls off-track," he said. "The Year of the CCAF is meant to sweep in and encourage those junior enlisted, encourage the senior NCOs who haven't done it, to stay on track. It just makes the rest so much easier."

Second, after earning a CCAF degree, continuing education allows people to achieve their full potential, he said.

"CCAF is so important within the Air Force, and it's important outside of the Air Force for jobs that need an associate's degree," Jaren said. "But once you've earned a CCAF degree, you need to continue on to your bachelor's."

Third, "Education and continuing education allow you to live the modern-day American dream," he said. "In this complex, business-minded, technological society, you've got to have the skills and the education to go with it."

WPAFB has done well in comparison with other bases in terms of CCAF degrees: 
  • There are more than 700 mentors across AFMC; 184 of them are at Wright-Patt.
  • There are 50 secretaries of education across the command; 39 of them are at this base.
Other statistics worth noting:
  • Of Wright-Patt's 184 mentors, 39 are "dual hats" -- secretaries of education, too.
  • Wright-Patt Airmen have taken more than 300 college classes in first two quarters of 2011.
  • Wright-Patt Airmen have passed more than 103 CLEP (College Level Examination Program) so far this year. 
  • 142 CCAF degrees have been awarded to Wright-Patt Airmen in 2011 (64 more to date than the same point in 2010); 18 more await final approval from Air University.
  • Wright-Patt has seen a 40 percent increase in CCAF graduates, with four months to go in the YoCCAF campaign.
Master Sgt. Alan Braden, career assistance advisor at the 88th Force Support Squadron, told the audience of mentors and secretaries of education, "You are doing great things for your Airmen. We are better percentage-wise than 61 bases."

Braden outlined the marketing initiatives Wright-Patt personnel are using to support the CCAF push. They include a Facebook page, a mobile advising team, education fairs, a community of practice and brand-new gold and silver coins.

Every Airman who graduates during the Year of CCAF will receive a silver coin, Braden said. Mentors, secretaries of education and others who go above and beyond supporting the YoCCAF at Wright-Patt will receive gold coins, he said.

Jaren, called the "granddaddy" of Wright-Patt's initiative by Braden, was awarded the first coin, which Jaren then gave to Shelly Owczarski, chief of voluntary education programs and library programs at AFMC, in recognition of her support. Jaren awarded an AFMC Command Chief coin to Braden, who gave it to Pam Fiorito, 88 FSS general education and training technician.

Braden also was recognized by Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Johnson, 88th Air Base Wing Medical Group mental health flight chief, for all his efforts supporting the CCAF initiative.

Other coin recipients included Staff Sgts. Glory Barker, Joseph Maynard, Mary Fessner-Tarjany, and Richard Crites; Technical Sgts. Kim Drummond and Monica Jones; Master Sgt. William Grates; and Johnson.

Braden encouraged the mentors and education secretaries to take their Airmen to the base education office and utilize the base's resources like the library, tuition assistance and education specialists.

"The CCAF is a culture; it's a way of life," Braden said in closing. "We have to grow our Air Force. I can tell you that less than 20 percent of our entire enlisted corps has a degree, but if I ping first-term Airmen, 100 percent of them will say they came into the Air Force to go to school. So get out there and change the culture. It's our force; it's our replacements. So grow them. Somebody will be the next command chief of AFMC. Who do you want it to be?"