Enlisted Military Training Can Lead to a College Degree

Chief Master Sergeant Roy Bowser Jr. retired from the Air Force in 2016 after 26 years of service. During his time in the Air Force, Chief Roy Bowser Jr. earned a bachelor’s degree from TUI University, now Trident University International, as well as two associate’s degrees from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).

The CCAF offers mission-related coursework to Air Force and Space Force enlisted personnel to enhance their skills as technicians, managers of equipment, leaders of personnel, and citizens. Established in 1972, the CCAF is an accredited component of Air University, the service’s educational arm.

Given the authority to grant degrees in 1975, CCAF currently offers an associate in applied science (AAS) in 71 programs of five broad service-related categories — allied health, aircraft and missile maintenance, electronics and telecommunications, logistics and resources, and public and support services. The world’s largest community college system, CCAF partners with 300 Education Service Offices and 112 Air Force and Space Force schools in 36 states and eight foreign sites to serve approximately 320,000 registered students.

Those who graduate from basic training and are assigned a specialty are automatically enrolled in the CCAF program associated with that specialty. From then on, the training they receive from technical schools and the professional leadership and management training they receive counts toward CCAF credit.

In addition, students may transfer credits from civilian colleges and earn credits by examination. Degrees must be completed within six years and may not be completed after separation from the Air Force or Space Force.