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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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 K 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

12. Top 25 Schools By Enrollmentx 12 12

13. FY09-FY11 Distance Learning Vs. Instructor-Led Coursesx 13 13

14. AU-ABC Degree Production Goal = Complete 2yrs after CCAFx 14 14

15. 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

16. 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

17. Education is for ANY place ANY time ANY Airman 17

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