Air University officials reflect on ABC enlisted degree program's success Published June 18, 2008 By Carl Bergquist Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) -- It's been a year since the Community College of the Air Force launched the Air University Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative program for enlisted Airmen and Air Force officials are pleased with the program's results thus far. When the program started June 15, 2007, Air University officials determined AU-ABC would be successful if 1,000 students enrolled during the first year. To their surprise, more than four times the Airmen have participated in the inaugural year. "More than 4,000 students have taken advantage of CCAF's '12 steps to becoming a junior' via the AU-ABC, where, in a matter of minutes, they can go from CCAF graduate to college junior," said CCAF Commandant Lt. Col. Ray Staats. "We keep close track of new student enrollments and course registration data. Our data tells us that not only is the program continuing to attract new students, but also existing students are staying with AU-ABC and are enrolling in additional courses toward completing their degrees." Another success has been the fact that CCAF officials have essentially doubled the number of bachelor's degrees offered by the colleges and universities involved in the program from 71 to 140. Every enlisted member is enrolled in the CCAF associate-degree program upon finishing Basic Military Training, making every enlisted Airman either a CCAF student or graduate. "The buzz throughout the Air Force has been really positive," Colonel Staats said. "Many Airmen have approached me saying how exceptional the AU-ABC experience has been for them." The colonel said the only feedback the program has received that could be even remotely construed as negative always involves the questions: "How do you top this? What will CCAF offer next?" The colonel hinted that CCAF is working on yet another education initiative along those lines. "With more than 326,000 students, we are the world's largest community college," he said. CCAF expects more than 18,000 to graduate this year alone. And, many are not only seeking an associate degree, but are aiming toward an eventual bachelor's degree. As for the AU-ABC's 32 college and university partners, Colonel Staats said they are very happy with the relationship. Partnering schools are attracting the Air Force's high-quality, adult-learning students, while Air Force students are getting a more streamlined, career-focused education. "Many of our partner schools have really wrapped their arms around the AU-ABC program and are taking off with it," he said. The colonel said that many older Air Force members will tell you higher education used to be an available benefit Airman could take advantage of after they completed required training and duties. Today, however, advanced education is now embedded in the Air Force culture, and Airmen are setting higher educational goals for themselves. He said it is encouraging that today's Airmen see education more and more as a lifelong endeavor. More AU-ABC information is available on the Air Force Virtual Education Center homepage on the Air Force Portal. College and university homepages are also linked to the AU-ABC page and can be brought up to familiarize the student with any of the participating schools. All information about admissions, enrollment and other program information is also available on the site. CCAF was established in 1972 and is open to active-duty, National Guard and Reserve members. The college offers enlisted Airmen associate in applied science degrees and other academic credentials.