CCAF not something to postpone Published Nov. 28, 2006 By Staff Sgt. Amanda Mills Public Affairs Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- Airmen looking for mentorship from the 71st Logistics Readiness Squadron's superintendent of plans and readiness will hear one theme above most others: Get your Community College of the Air Force degree finished now! "I got my degree in the completely wrong way; I waited until I needed it and then I didn't understand I couldn't get it overnight," said Master Sgt. Kevin Paulson. "Math scared me and I put it off, until I got a wake up call. When I sewed on master sergeant at Andersen Air Force Base, (Guam), my commander said I could have been the No. 3 senior NCO on base (for the next promotion), except I didn't have my CCAF." "For most of my life, I grew up on a farm and getting an education wasn't important," Sergeant Paulson said. "In the world now, you can't get far without it. It finally became a priority when I was not as competitive for promotions as I could have been." So Sergeant Paulson began his road toward a CCAF degree in September, knowing it had been 26 years since he cracked an algebra book. With his desire to remain in the military and continue to make rank, he took advantage of the education office and all its benefits, as well as those from being assigned to Vance AFB. "Vance isn't as busy as a lot of other bases, and the city of Enid also offers money for books in addition to the 100-percent tuition military members can now take advantage of," Sergeant Paulson said. "I was able to complete my math in nine weeks, at a class on base, with a teacher who, if I could, I would shine his shoes for the rest of my life and still not pay him back for what he gave me." However, once again, Sergeant Paulson had not completed his degree fast enough. He did not realize that although he completed the class before his promotion cycle cutoff, his credits were not entered into the CCAF system for another 90 to 120 days. He was not eligible to compete. "If you want to know how not to get your degree, I'm your man," Sergeant Paulson said. But he is also ready to talk with anyone about how to get it. "I was apprehensive about failing, so I put (the class) off, not realizing just how much of a missed opportunity that was," he said. "Take the time to get your degree right now. We're all busy, but there's nothing worse than the sting of regret from something I should have done years ago. The discomfort of today is far better than the regret of tomorrow." Getting a CCAF degree is easier to get than people may think, added Staff Sgt. Michael Baxter, 71st Mission Support Squadron education technician. A CCAF degree requires 64 total hours, most of which are accomplished by simply being in the military and progressing. Twenty-four technical hours are accomplished through a combination of technical school, obtaining a 5-level and other military training. Fifteen program electives are Air Force Specialty Code related, and 15 are general education hours. The core general education subjects are possibly harder to complete, depending on the length of time between a person's high school education and obtaining the math, oral communication, written communication, social science and humanities courses. However, these requirements may have been completed at any applicable college or university and transferred to the CCAF system. The final six hours are generally completed when an Airman attends Airman Leadership School, but can also be obtained through any management class. "The degree is important whether someone is staying in the military or not," Sergeant Baxter said. "If you choose to walk away, it's good to at least get out with something in your hands. If you choose to stay, in order to continue making senior ranks, you must have a CCAF to be competitive among your peers, or you won't go past master sergeant without it."