Rescue Wing warriors sharpen their intellectual skills with two-year Air Force degrees

  • Published
  • By Maj. Donald Kerr
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 920th Rescue Wing here once again displayed their reputation as "best of the best" Dec. 1, graduating 44 Airmen from the Community College of the Air Force in the wing's first-ever CCAF graduation ceremony.
 
While a total of 24 Airmen from specialties around the wing, varying in ages and experiences, were on hand for the graduation, 18 others completed the prestigious Associate of Applied Science degree this year. The ceremony also included graduating Airmen from both the 2010 and 2011 classes.

In the inaugural commencement address, CCAF's Master Sgt. Craig Downs described the dedication and commitment it takes to complete the program, as well as the relevance of the accomplishment.

"The significance of the degree you are holding is that it is recognized, and it's a credit to you, for doing what you do," Downs said.

He went on to say that the value of the degree cannot be overstated - he has heard more than once the stories about an employer putting more emphasis on a CCAF degree versus an online accredited one.

A federally-chartered, degree-granting institution that serves the U.S. Air Force's enlisted total force, the CCAF partners with over 99 affiliated Air Force schools, 82 Education Service Offices located worldwide, and more than 1,500 civilian academic institutions to serve more than 325,000 active duty, Guard and Reserve personnel making CCAF the world's largest community college system. CCAF is the only 2-year institution exclusively serving enlisted personnel.

But the true value of the program is that it is dedicated to the professional growth of Airmen, ensuring they have the academic and intellectual tools to excel in a fast-paced, demanding environment, representing the best of the Air Force. Since its inception in 1972, they have evolved along with a dynamic military mission and stayed at the forefront of academic advances of technology-focused colleges.

Each of these Rescue Warriors is now prepared with better skills and knowledge to excel in the expeditionary mission-set our Air Force demands, and armed with advanced technological capabilities that are shaping their future, the future of this wing and the Air Force.