DoD Community College?

By Terry Howell

In a recent conversation with a senior enlisted servicemember from the DoD, the subject of taking education programs to the next level came up. One suggestion that came from this discussion was the idea of creating a Department of Defense Community College system to help servicemembers earn an associates degree prior to leaving the military.

Before you scoff at the idea, you should consider the fact the U.S. Air Force has been operating the world’s largest community college for years. The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) enables Airmen to earn a degree in their technical specialty without having to dip into their GI Bill benefits.

In my opinion, the model works and would serve our servicemembers and future veterans by allowing them to step out of the military with a degree and into college at a higher level than they would otherwise.

The DoD spends billions a year on education through tuition assistance and other programs like those administered by DANTES. And they reap the rewards higher retention and a more educated force. (See recent Navy article).

What do you think?

Feel free to post your opinion here or use the Military.com Legislative Center to contact your elected officials and federal agencies about this or any other suggestions you have to improve the state of military and veteran education programs.

About the Author: A Retired Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer, Terry completed his BS in Management and Communications using a combination of CLEP exams, credit for military service, and distance learning while on active-duty. Terry now serves as Managing Editor for the Education Channel at Military.com.

Comments

[Michael Hampton]

I think it a great ideal the Army to have Community College of the Army

[stephanie]

This would be a great opportunity. Currently I am stuck in a position where this would help a great deal. Even with all the wonderful benefits...In some situations its not enough. At the same time, I wouldnt be advancing at all if I didnt have them.

[Robert Sserwadda]

I do think its a good idea and i love the educational encouragement you are giving to military personnel.I am a Ugandan security specialist currently providing internal security for the US Army in FOB Summerall in Iraq.

[awodiji olawale]

i love the educational encouragement you are giving to military personnel.am a military personnel with a university degree in industrial relations in africa but i dont know how i can benefit.

[Tammy]

http://www.dantes.doded.mil/Dantes_web/library/docs/voledfacts/FY07.pdf

If you look at the number from the DANTES webiste for 2007:

Total Associate degrees earned by active duty DoD personnel: 25,800
The Air Force accounts for 20,851 of those!

[Nicola Washington-Romeo]

I think this is a great idea.I wish someone thought of it while I was in because now I am struggling to get my associates.It would be a great opportunity for soldiers to get a feel of the career they would like after the military.

[Kelvin Boyett]

Great Idea-Great Start; however, a community college is great for most technical careers and as someone has said -- most four year colleges will not accept the credit transfers when transferring to a four year degree. If I had it to do all over again, I would have started with a four year college, not CTC.
///Break///
The Personnel, (Army and Civilian), talking this idea needs to go for the gold, not the silver. We need, a DOD four year degree producing college. One that is accredited by all boards. A four year college that offers a good selection of decent degrees. A college that serves all five services. A college that is highly esteemed and recognized by all employers. One that offers distance learning -- THEREFORE -- let us not settle for the nothing less than a four year college.

SGM Boyett

[kevin]

I read allot of comments about work doesn't allow for school time and I agree depending on job or the discipline applied. I CLEPT all courses required and have 2 degrees, instructor of mill tech and aviation management. I was informed that a CCAF means nothing on the outside. After 24 years in the AF 2 back surgeries, neck surgery and going to retire next year, why does the mill. stress the importance of a CCAF degree if it only accounts for making rank and has nothing to do with helping you when you get out.

Note from Author: The CCAF is an accredited degree. It may not help if you want to apply it to an Bachelor of Arts degree, but it is a leg up for a civilian career.

[Terry Howell]

L Deal - Actually the AF CC is fully accredited. It is recognized by all other Regionally Accredited colleges.

[L Deal]

By the way, The Air Force CC is not recognized

Note from Author:

Yes it is. The CCAF is a fully accredited college.

[L Deal]

That also included persons that were senior in rank to me.

[L Deal]

That also included persons that were senior in rank to me.

[L Deal]

All is well with going to school while on Active Duty, that is untill someone junior to you has to do your job while you do. I am retired and had this happen to me.

[Wayne Powell]

I think that a DOD community college would be a great idea to serve our fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines. As an infantryman, I completed an AS in General Studies in 10 years through the SOCMAR program. Even with duty station changes, deployments, family changes, and other inconsistent ways of Marine life, this program helped me keep going, sometimes taking only one course at a time, but pushing towards a degree. By using all that was available; resident and distance college classes, SMART courses, and CLEP/DSST Tests, it got done. I have now enrolled in another SOCMAR college to get my BA in Liberal Studies, hopefully before I retire in 6 years. I have used both GI Bill and Tuition Assistance and feel that a DOD college would save on these benfits and allow any one to get an initial 'civilian' degree, regardless of if they plan on making military service a career or not. Unfortunately, as with Airmen at CCAF, the infantry doesn't 'relate' to a civilian degree, so I decided to do something to benefit and advance myself with General Studies. I feel that any advancement, before or after leaving the service, will benefit that person, making them more competitive. If the DOD college happens, we will have taken a significant step to thank those who have served and decided to separate and prepared those who wish to remain to be more competitive and educated in their job fields.

[archie hyde]

I have been advocating this for years for the Navy. When I go to various high schools, i will tell students in the Vocational subjects what various branches of the Service has to offer ,and that the Air Force has this kind of program. Several have elected to go -Air Force just because of this. I have received a certificate from the Air Force recrutiers for this effort.

[Cherry West]

I think it is a good Idea. Would retired military and their spouses be included?

[damiso mitchell]

how can I use this program to get my degree before I get out the Navy next year of July 2009

[Larry Overman]

What about the military personnel that are no longer qualified for benefits? They did not use school benefits at the time and due to changes by the Government lost their rights that they originally had. We originally had our lifetime but was changed to 10 years. Are we just pieces of meat?

[zackary noble]

Well first of all let me say that i am in the reserves. Prior to me entering the Air Force I was A 18 year old college student. I went and trained and became educated. after all that book work the ccaf credits were not accepted in the state college that i attended.If theyare suppose to be a community college that credible why doesnt the credit transfer. That whole situation really made entering the air Force kind of unpopular because after all that work the credit dont transfer.

[Lee]

The DoD Community College is an excellent idea. I have taught Accounting & Finance to Adults returning to college for 22 years. The former military make the best students, they are disciplined and eager to learn. Their performance is far better than the typical group. There would be many college instructors eager to teach in such a college, including me.Teaching them while they are still in the service would enable them to learn in the best of environments. Once they are out, they have a hard time working a civilian job while going to school. Most of the civilian jobs available to them discourage workers from going to college by not accomodating their school schedules.

[Steven Powell]

I think the DoD community college is a great idea. After serving seven years in the ARMY on remote sites I took classes here and there
and never was able to finish a lot of them because of deployments. I think the ARMY should have the same type system as the Air Force does. This will only make brighter more productive soldiers who will likely stay around longer because they will view it as a long overdue benefit.

[Slats Wolfe]

I was very fortunate in that my last duty station, Pt Mugu, had a college residence center on the base. After evaluating my military records, I was awarded 45 units of credit towards a BA. I completed the requirements for my first two years of college in one semester and my batchelors in 27 months, attending four nights a week. There are probably many who come near qualifying for an AA with just service schools. This idea is a really great one. I went on to an MA on the GI bill and did my second 21 year career in school maintenance administration, retiring from two Community Colleges (different states)as a Facilities Director. Community Colleges are a really great asset and one run by DOD would be even better. C. H. "Slats" Wolfe, LT USN Ret.

[Michael Adams]

22 Year Army Guard/IRR/USAR, tried to do college, but cause of civilian work conflict, lack of money, flagged, lack of vehicle, lack of focus, remote location I never completed college. Got over 45 credits. Getting forced out at the end of the month, not able to do the APFT, back/lung problems not helping, as well as lack of time to do PT (17 years for points). I drive cab, and am self employed and work all the time at night. Now what? Oh, got ADHD, and I lose focus to easily, not helped my career. Like to get into doing Alcohol/Drug Abuse, and Suicide counseling as a job, in part due to my own problems, but also friends and who I come in contact with..

Mike
Alaska

[EM1 Alvarez, Jose]

This is good idea, may i suggest to creat a US Armed forces colleges of Technology, instead of community colleges?

[Shawn Springer]

Great Idea It would save the Military billons and save service members TA. I'm all for it!

[Grady]

I got a BSEET degree from a Nationally Credited school after I got out of the Navy. If the military had a Community College I would have definitely attended. As it is right now I am attending Community College to get another degree because my Nationally accredited credits don't transfer to regular RA Colleges/Universities. I believe military members are targets for these types of schools because their GI bill. This is a great idea.

[larry gene harris]

need info on mark carroll navy cool bachelors in a year also stephen c. houghton 10yr retire expire should not be in effect soldiers should have no time limited.

[larry gene harris]

need info on mark carroll navy cool bachelors in a year also stephen c. houghton 10yr retire expire should not be in effect soldiers should have no time limited.

[Marcy]

I thinking it is a good idea to help soldiers get they college degree or whatever from of education level they want to obtain, while in the service.I know its real hard to do this if:like my husband wants to start college but when a he always on deployment it tuff.So a help with college would go a long way while in and out the sevice.

[Arnold Callwood]

Honestly, if something like this doesn't manifest itself within the next decade, it would be doing our military personnel, past, present, and future a horrible dis-service. A College that is able to better serve military service members without restrictions based upon branch of service could be instrumental in not only making the military more appealing as a career venue to our nations youth and their weary parents, but also in permitting current members greater post-military career opportunities when preparing their separatation or retirement. It will also leave a strong understanding that the department of defense is invested in our nations military having an education that can extend beyond the uniform.

Currently, I see work being made to develop a U.S. Public Service Academy, and we already have the CCAF. It's hard to not see the potential benefits to a DoD Community College for the military as a whole. It asserts that a degree to add credibility to the education and training our service members receive is valuable and worth investing into.

[Fred DePaolo]

I was working on a degree while enlisted. When I seperated tryed to contact CCAF for transcript got either run around or no replies. I have been now working on degree with SUNY.

[Scott Thompson]

Where has this been? This would help me put to use all the schooling DOD paid to send me too.

[edwin pagan]

This would be the best the DOD has ever done we have to many S/M that are smart but of mission we can't. Should make this a must via S-1 to help soldiers the armed forces and the USA as a hole.

[Stephen C. Houghton]

I like the idea of a college system in the military. An associates degree upon exit is a great idea. But what bothers me is that VA benifits expire. I am retired, have been for greater that 10 years. I believe that for retirees benifits should never expire.

Stephen C. Houghton AE1(AW)(RET)

[Ray Champion]

Sounds like a good idea. Our service men and women sacrifice a lot and deserve an opportunity at getting an associates degree. It might provide the impetus for getting Bachelors degree.

[Tip of Erudition]

And what about enlisted personnel that already have degrees and can actually teach at this hypothetical Community College? Will they be able to get a billet there? Will they face the same kind of politics that the civilian world throws at white teachers?

[Jason]

Here's an idea. The military has four service academies. Since those entities are universities, why can't they offer distance and online education? Of course, doing that would lower their prestige value since that would mean allowing dirty enlisted folk to earn a degree from the same place as the god-like officers.

[Mahmed kamara]

I have try had to make friends but konw avail.i want to join the US.Military but am outsider.

[Gerald]

This is a must have. After serving in Iraq with numerous other arduous assignments this would ensure that separating veterans could at least compete for respectable permanent jobs. Make it happen!

[Joe Ping]

I think this would be a great idea.. I am just looking to get my teaching cert.. Is that possible while deployed?

[Robert H. Wilder]

It is a great idea. I was able to transfer 29SH from the CCAF after I retired and went back to school. I helped me get a BS in History and a MS in education.

[Antonia L. M. Gist, EMT-B]

I think this is a wonderful suggestion and it would save a lot of time for military folks and veterans. I would very much support this idea. Many of us have gone an extra mile beyond our speciality training to improve those skills and we should be able to earn a degree in that if it is the field of work we would like to continue working in outside the armed forces.

[Frank German]

I think thjs is a good idea and to take it a step further I would make going or enrolling manditory for at least the first semester.Some peolple fear going to colledge "myself included" ,but if in the military it was of basic training or 1 semester once you graduate from boot camp I would have welcome it.

[Mark Carroll]

I got my AS in GS after 14 years of ad-hocing courses.

If you are on active duty with a year or more on your EAOS, you must contact me regarding Navy COOL.

Now I have figure out how to get bachelors in a year...

[Theda Peck]

I obtained my AA with using CLEP, service credits and minimal courses. I obtained a BS and MA through the military TA program. Couldn't have done it w/out the help. I think having a combined community college is an excellent idea.
Thanks
Theda Peck
ITCS(SW) Retired