Air Force Materiel Command launched a new campaign coinciding with the start of 2011 known as the “Year of the Community College of the Air Force.” Its goal is to encourage all airmen—though the campaign specifically targets E-4s to E-7s—to seek additional education. Currently, 24 percent of AFMC’s enlisted force has earned degrees through CCAF, but Gen. Donald Hoffman, AFMC boss, said he would like to see that number increase by 10 percent in 2011. “Formal education after high school is a path to promotion and personal development for enlisted airmen, and a commodity highly valued in all Air Force members,” writes Hoffman in a letter to AFMC’s airmen. He adds, “Even the wisest mind has something more to learn.” CCAF offers 67 degrees in five general areas. (See CCAF Puts Degree to the Test from the Daily Report archives)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.