Service programs — Air Force - Military Education & G.I. Bill Information - Military Times

Service programs — Air Force

Air Force Voluntary Education Branch

The branch oversees all Air Force education centers and counselors, administration of tuition assistance, testing and related services.

Airman Commissioning Programs

Individuals seeking commissioning opportunities should contact their Force Support Squadron, Education and Training Sections, for help with their application packages. Current commissioning programs are:

• Airman Education and Commissioning Program. This program is open to all active-duty airmen wishing to pursue a bachelor’s degree in high-need academic majors as identified by the Secretary of the Air Force. Maximum program participation cannot exceed 36 months. AECP students complete their degrees at a college or university with an AFROTC detachment or a cross-town agreement, then attend Officer Training School to be commissioned as a second lieutenant upon completion of OTS. Graduating nurse applicants are commissioned as Nurse Corps officers and will attend commissioned officer training only after successfully passing their National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

• Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program. This program is a specialized AECP track open to all active-duty airmen wishing to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing. NECP follows AECP guidelines, with a maximum program participation of 24 months.

• AFROTC Airman Scholarship and Commissioning Program. ASCP offers active-duty enlisted personnel the opportunity to earn a commission while completing a bachelor’s degree as an Air Force ROTC cadet. Two- and four-year scholarships are available. Participants receive payment for tuition and fees up to $15,000 per year, an annual textbook allowance, and a monthly stipend when the scholarship is activated. AFROTC scholarships do not pay for room and board.

• AFROTC Professional Officer Course Early Release Program. POC-ERP is an avenue for airmen to attend college in order to finish earning a bachelor’s degree. It allows airmen with no more than two years of college remaining to apply for early release from active duty to pursue a commission through AFROTC. Selected applicants attend college full time at universities offering AFROTC.

• Leaders Encouraging Airman Development. LEAD delegates authority to unit and wing commanders to nominate highly qualified airmen to become officers through attendance at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Depending on their qualifications, nominees may gain direct entry to the academy, entry to the academy’s Preparatory School, or referral to other programs.

• Scholarships for Outstanding Airmen to ROTC. SOAR empowers major command and wing commanders to select outstanding airmen to receive two- or four-year scholarships to a college or university offering AFROTC. The program offers scholarships annually, which are allocated to major commands, field operating agencies and direct reporting units. Participants must separate from active duty to accept the scholarships and enroll in AFROTC.

Contact: Base education and training sections or www.afrotc.com/scholarships.

Community College of the Air Force

The college, open to enlisted active-duty Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members, has full regional accreditation. It offers 67 associate degree programs in five career areas: aircraft and missile maintenance (nine), allied health (20), electronics and telecommunications (eight), logistics and resources (nine), and public and support services (21).

To earn two-year degrees, students combine Air Force technical training, professional military education and general education credits from accredited colleges and universities.

Contact: CCAF, 100 South Turner Blvd., Maxwell-Gunter AFB, AL 36114-3011; www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf

Academic Testing Program

Each base education office has a testing office to provide free test to airmen such as the College Level Education Program (CLEP). Satisfactory test scores are a way for airmen to bypass some resident courses.

Contact: Base education and training sections.

Academic Counseling Program

Each base education office has professionals to help airmen choose schools and degree programs. Counseling and interest assessment tests are free to airmen.

Contact: Base education and training sections.