The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) allows Airmen to pursue associate degrees through partnerships with regionally accredited colleges and universities. Thus, forming the General Education Mobile (GEM) program to set Airman up for civilian success.
Collectively, the schools that make up the GEM program “provide online freshman/sophomore level general education courses.”
(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Micheal Richmond)
However, the GEM program does not limit Airmen to one school – students may attend classes from any school within the program. Additionally, Airmen with collage credits earned prior to their enlistment may transfer their credits to CCAF to be applied to their CCAF transcript.
The Community College of the Air Force also provides students with the opportunity to pursue bachelor degrees through the Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative. This program connects Airmen in the associates program “to online accredited civilian academic institutions that offer baccalaureate level educational opportunities to Air Force enlisted personnel.”
(U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)
In addition to collegiate benefits, the Air Force also sets its service members up for success while in transition through their SkillBridge Training program.
Eligible transitioning service members may qualify for “opportunities to develop skills through civilian on-the-job training, employment skills training, apprenticeships, and internships which will help them prepare to transition from the military to civilian employment.”
Training and internship must be approved and identified as having a “high probability of civilian employment.”
Service members can find SkillBridge partners on the DoD SkillBridge website. The map of authorized SkillBridge partners makes it easy for transitioning service members to find opportunities near their military installation.
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