Air Force Voluntary Education Update CCME Symposium February 2012 Tom Langdon HQ US Air Force Learning Division 1

Overview Proud History Today’s Airman Enlisted Learning Continuum Air Force Institutional Competencies Statistical Snapshot TA Overview Top 25 Schools DL vs. Instructor Led AU/ABC Today and Beyond x 2 2

Voluntary Education Builds a Professional Corps After WWII AF had a great need for rated officers Accession sources for officers with or without bachelor’s (BA) Aviation Cadet Program (ACP), Officer Candidate School (no requirement for BA) AFROTC, USAFA, OTS (requirement for BA) After accession without degree, all efforts made to assist officer in BA completion Bootstrap - program for rated officers to complete BA in 1-2 terms as full-time student As USA moved into “Space Race”, AF set goal that all officers have a bachelor’s degree 1960’s Vol Ed Program began with a 75% Military Tuition Assistance (Mil TA) program, counseling services, DoD funded testing, and a few on-base college program By 1965 AF could changed its officer accession policy to only those with BA Bootstrap expanded to include enlisted interested in commission Vol Ed took on counseling for officer commissioning programs 1970s AF push to bring schools on-base to support officer Advanced Academic Degrees (AAD) Vol Ed took on “Transition Program” to assist Airmen transition to civilian life Community College of the AF created for credentialing 3

Voluntary Education Builds a Professional Corps More programs created for enlisted to be commissioned Bootstrap changed to allow completion of bachelor’s or master’s (not just commission) CCAF received regional accreditation for its Associate in Applied Science (AAS) 1990’s CCAF’s reputation grew - E&TFs did extensive outreach to counsel Airmen Enlisted began using Mil TA for CCAF as AF set education level goals Burst of on-line schools created as the Internet grew 2000’s 80% of Mil TA budget is spent on enlisted 20% of Mil TA budget is spent on officer AADs In a time of dwindling budgets, Mil TA in the Vol Ed Program has become the “go to” option for professional education of the corps Mil TA has served the Air Force well by building a professional corp and enticing the best to make a career in the AF Education is among the top reasons for individuals to join the AF – after patriotism & job Education is THE TOP benefit named for influencing an Airman to re-enlist 4

Decisions Data extracted from DMDC: Human Resources Strategic Assessment Program release in Sep 11 5

Decisions Data extracted from DMDC: Human Resources Strategic Assessment Program release in Sep 11 6

Generation Demographics Defining Characteristics: Today’s Airmen Age Demographics Generation Demographics Defining Characteristics: Tech Savvy: Rely on technology; cut on their own computer technology and internet Multi Tasking: Can listen to music and work on a computer while watching TV Diverse: Most diverse generation in history; parents include Baby Boomers to Gen X Boomer s - Ages 46 – 64 Gen Xers - Ages 30 – 45 Milllenials” - Ages 18 – 29 7 7

Enlisted Force Development Continuum 9/22/2018 Enlisted Force Development Continuum FORCE DEVELOPMENT = TRAINING + EDUCATION + EXPERIENCE TACTICAL EXPERTISE OPERATIONAL COMPETENCE STRATEGIC VISION EDUCATION AF Sponsored Degree Programs Voluntary Education/Degree Programs NCO PEC SNCO PEC ALS NCOA SNCOA CCAF Increased Institutional Competencies TRAINING 7-level Upgrade 9-level Upgrade CEM OJT, Ancillary and Formal Training BMT FTAC 5-level Upgrade Tech Trng AB Amn A1C SrA SSgt TSgt MSgt SMSgt CMSgt As of: 9/22/2018 8 8

AF Institutional Competencies 9/22/2018 AF Institutional Competencies As of: 9/22/2018 9 9

Statistical and Historical Snapshot (FY11) 117K Airmen enrolled in college courses ~30% of all active duty Airmen participate in college each year FY02 participation was 18% 269.6K enrollments $188M expended for Mil TA only for FY11 $5M increase from FY10 Does not include operational costs Total AF Budget (Mil TA, salary, infrastructure) for Vol Ed 81% - Mil TA 14% - Salaries 5% - Infrastructure x Air Force Vol Ed Programs are very active ! 10 10

Military Tuition Assistance Caps - $250/SH & $4,500 max / year AA, BA, MA Degrees, certs/licensure Title 10 benefit—recruitment/retention $188M in FY11 Colleges Civ schools on/off-base & distance learning—117K Airmen enrolled in 269.6K courses Community College of the Air Force – enlisted AS degrees (18K awarded in FY11) Counseling/Testing Services Helps with School/Program choices Academic, Military, Promotion, CLEP testing (FY11 = 75K AF Personnel) Education Level - Enlisted Education Level - Officer 11

Top 25 Schools By Enrollment x 12 12

FY09-FY11 Distance Learning Vs. Instructor-Led Courses x 13 13

AU-ABC Degree Production Goal = Complete 2yrs after CCAF x 14 14

Today and Beyond  Lots of Concerns in the AF Voluntary Education Community Rising cost Sustainability Continued pressure from Congress to reduce Defense spending OSD and Services are collaborating to maintain ability to continue to support educational needs of Service members AF has moved to initiate more efficient processes across all functional communities Expect changes in the way we currently do business Centralization of Military TA financial transactions

Why Centralize? Enhanced fiscal accountability and program management Scope: $188M / 1.2M transactions impacting 117K Amn yearly Immediate impacts: Returns$ annually to Vol Ed account; reduces base-level workloads; enhanced program oversight Concept tested and proven by AETC and PACAF Technology solution proven and in place AFAEMS ensures centralization initiative transparent to Airmen Cadre of technical specialists at central location leads to efficiencies Enhanced accuracy/availability of data; cost mgmt; analysis; oversight Dramatically reduces base-level transactional workload & focuses resources on “face-to-face” service – Counseling, test administration Since FY00, Mil TA participation increased by 32% while staffing has been reduced by ~52% Combats base-level “mission creep” Increased base-level testing requirements; Post-9/11 GI Bill drives added counseling/admin workload Single focal point for all academic institutions - standardization Invoice payment cycle time reduced Opens door for additional improved business processes – cost saving initiatives 16

Education is for ANY place ANY time ANY Airman 17

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING “YOUR” TO AIRMEN! x 18 18