From Eliza Warren's ENGL 101 class at Osan Air Base, South Korea:

A college education is an essential step towards a successful military career. To some enlisted members, continuing or starting a college education may seem difficult to do. My decision to continue a college education was easy. Being stationed at Osan Air Base for a year has given me an opportunity to do so without being sidetracked by some of life’s daily responsibilities. Since it is an unaccompanied tour and I have no choice but to live in dorms, going to college is much easier then back in the states. Being stationed here has given me great opportunity to dedicate all my free time towards a college degree. After going to Osan’s Education Center I was very pleased. Right now the Air Force will pay one hundred percent of my college tuition fees. So the first thing I did was set a goal. I planned to start small; first working towards my Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) degree. The CCAF is the only degree-granting institution of higher learning in the world dedicated exclusively to enlisted people (The Insider: Air Force Education Programs, par. 4). A CCAF degree, which is equal to an associate degree, helps in numerous ways. Many Air Force special duty assignments require enlisted members to have a CCAF degree. For example, to become a Military Training Instructor or T.I., the member applying is required to have a CCAF degree. The path towards a college degree may be challenging; however, the rewards seem to be endless.

Some of my co-workers apparently do not have time to take advantage of a free college education. Working as aircraft maintainers cuts into their free time. It can be tough not knowing if tomorrow will be a twelve or fourteen hour shift. Of course who would want to sign up for classes if one cannot attend them? Not only do long workdays make it difficult but so do weekly duty schedules. Aircraft maintainers have to work around a flying schedule. One week might be day flying and the next night flying. What about exercises? Certainly exercises do not make conditions favorable to pursue a college degree.

Accelerated college courses similar to ones offered at Osan Air Base are difficult and time consuming. An eight-week course seems to have many time constraints. The amount of material covered is so much in so little time that it seems impossible to retain any information. Usually classes are three hours long on weekdays and six hours long on weekends. After working a twelve-hour shift, it is difficult to focus on a three or six hour lecture.

Attending college seems challenging, but in my opinion, if I can do it anyone can. Joining the Air Force right after high school taught me self-discipline and motivation. I believe that if I had gone straight to college the possibility of failing or not finishing would have been greater. Now that I am older and wiser, making the decision to obtain a college degree was very simple. Not only does a college degree open doors, it also offers obvious career benefits. These days promotions take more than having a clean military record and passing promotion tests or boards. Of course these are forerunners to gain rank in the Air Force; however, a college degree is essential, especially to career Airmen who desire to achieve the top two highest enlisted tiers, E-8 and E-9.

Now more than ever, success in the Air Force depends on the ability to communicate ideas effectively. Communication skills are improved by going to college. As future Air Force leaders, the knowledge gained in college can easily be applied to everyday tasks. Trying to get one’s point across when talking to supervisors, peers, or subordinates seems easier and more effective. Giving and receiving good feedback is essential to daily Air Force operations. For example, training a new troop on how to use a certain piece of equipment can be very difficult if one does not know the basic elements of two-way communication. A college education is essential to all aspects of military life.

Of course, sometimes trying to juggle work and school can be stressful. Focusing on college would be much easier without having to work. But in order to survive, and in some cases also support a family, work is an obligation. For aircraft maintainers, having to work so many hours leaves little or no time to enjoy family and friends. Adding college to an already busy schedule makes things even worse. What becomes apparent is that basic needs are compromised. Morale and work effectiveness diminish. That is why it is important to come up with a strict schedule and adhere to it. Having free time to spend with friends and loved ones is a cherished thing. So it is important to be wise about not wasting time when investing it in college.

Going to college might mean purchasing expensive books that will in some cases be used only one term. When terms end, trying to sell textbooks to other students can take a while. Sometimes the books have been phased out or professors use different ones. College textbooks in some cases can be expensive. The Air Force pays one hundred percent of all tuition fees but does not pay for textbooks. Purchasing books and having to worry about paying bills or taking care of a family can be stressful at times.

Where else can one receive a free college education? While serving in the Air Force there are endless possibilities of educational advancement. I have heard Airmen say, “I’d rather wait until after my enlistment is up to pursue a college education.” Going to college as a civilian can be much more expensive. Starting or continuing a college education while still in the military can be less of an economic hassle. As far as textbooks go, many Airmen whether they know it or not, qualify for a plethora of federal grant programs, scholarship programs, and other financial assistance. Yet, even after finding a good financial source, finding time to attend college can get complicated. To ease the pain there are a wide variety of distance education courses available via the Internet. Some other alternatives include, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests, and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES) tests; all of which offer an alternative to fulfill degree requirements when work schedules do not permit college attendance.

The Air Force mission takes precedence over personal affairs; however, college is not always considered a personal affair. Attending college gives military members an edge needed to succeed as leaders and supervisors in today’s demanding military life. Starting or continuing a college education does not have to take away from all of one’s free time. Taking at least one class per term can allow plenty of time to enjoy off duty hours. Online courses allow for military members to deploy without worrying about missing classes and all of the important material covered. CLEP and DANTES tests require little or no studying and save time and money while still helping to earn college credits.

-With education being a major contributor to successful military careers, it takes a commitment to self-improvement and a great deal of motivation to continue or start a college education. After knowing all available options and benefits, making a decision should be simple. Besides obvious career benefits, a college education broadens horizons and allows Airmen to change their outlook on the world.

Works Cited

The Insider: Air Force Education Programs. 24 Jul. 2003. 13 Mar 2005.