Community College Reaches Major Degree Milestone

The Community College of the Air Force recently awarded its 400,000th degree to an enlisted airman, according to officials at Maxwell AFB, Ala. SrA. Emily Barchenger who is assigned to Ellsworth AFB, S.D., in late September completed the credits required to obtain a degree while she was deployed as an intelligence analyst with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, states Maxwell’s Nov. 20 release. She earned an associate degree of science in intelligence studies and technology after completing 50 credits over a span of two-and-a-half years. “I am honored to have the opportunity to represent the 399,999 people who came before me and to mark a large milestone in the Air Force’s rich tradition of helping airmen achieve their educational goals,” said Barchenger. The Air Force established CCAF in 1972 to serve the enlisted corps by providing college credit, degrees, and certifications. Each year, CCAF students earn more than 1.6 million college credit hours, according to the service. The college awarded its 350,000th degree in May 2010. (Maxwell report by MSgt. Michael Voss)