Air Force says I can do college in my free time on base in addition to my active duty job/training. True or?

Question

The Air Force recruiter says I can take college classes in my spare time while stationed at any base in addition to my active duty job/training. He says I can walk away from the air force with a degree in a subject entirely different than the job training I do for my military active duty job. Is he just selling me or is there truth to what he's explaining to me? I really would like to join either way. But I need to know if I can trust what this recruiter is telling me. Plus education, along with serving my country before i'm too old, is important to me after all. Thanks.

Okay so what i'm getting so far is that when I join the air force, it is true that I CAN take college credit classes in any subject I choose if it's done in my spare time. Spare time meaning after my military job is finished for the day or on my days off. If i'm deployed in Iraq or another war zone, classes are limited to online classes...if that. So am I restricted to taking classes in the specific military job i'm assigned like someone here mentioned or can I take any college class I desire?

Answer 1

As mentioned above, CCAF is the degree all Air Force members get. A Community College degree from the Air Force. Take that for what it is worth. It is also mentioned above, and true, that the Air Force will first pay for the degree in your job. Also keep in mind, the Air Force does not gurantee everyone a job when they enlist. 60% go in on an open contract under the Guaranteed Aptitude Area Program.

You may end up working in a hotel on base, with a degree in hotel/restaurant management.

Also mentioned above, the Army pays for your degrees in anything you want, we are offering college courses even to those deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, along with online courses. The Army also allows every enlistees to choose their job BEFORE enlisting.

See what every branch can offer. Ask the Army Recruiter to show you an FSR2S, use that as a measuring stick as to what each branch can offer you. Also, keep in mind that no matter which branch you enlist in, all branches are deploying to the middle east and are in ground support roles. What surprises most people, is compared to the number deployed, the Army is safer than the Navy and Air Force. Soldiers also deploy less often (depending on job) that Sailors and Airmen. The Air Force and Navy combined still have less personnel than the Army.

Also, if this is possibly a career, the Air Force and Navy are doing drawdowns and letting people go (basically a layoff) of persons, some with 15 years of service, families and mortgages. Their only choice is to switch to Army (Blue-to-Green) to finish their careers, or walk away, having lost retirement.

Answer 2

He is 100% correct. As was said by others posters, you will have to wait until you finish all your upgrade training (time will depend upon which career field you chose). You can go to school for ANYTHING. They do not care what you study. And as said, how much off-duty time you have to take classes will depend upon your job, your work schedule, and whether or not you deploy. Should you enroll to attend classes in your off-time and your shift is changed or you get picked up for a deployment, oh well. Sorry but the military's needs come first

You can (and are encouraged to) get a CCAF degree, which was explained earlier. If you are working towards a CCAF, an associates, or a bachelor's degree, the Tuition Assistance (TA) program will pay ONE HUNDRED PERCENT (that's 100%) of your tuition! Sign up for the GI Bill.You can use this to make the govt continue to pay for your school once you are out (you can use it while you're in as well, but there should be no need if you're using TA).

I'm sure you know this, but disregard what the UCLA guy said about the military being a last resort. It is an honor and a previledge to serve your country and hey, if you can get fantastic training and an education while you're at it, then go for it. Some people don't understand the concept of being patriotic or selflessness.

In the military, (assuming you are 18) you can serve 20 years and collect retirement at age 38! Retire at 38! Most people can only dream of such things! With the training the military will give you, you will (probably) be able to pursue a successful career in the civilian world (again, this is dependant upon what career field you work in), work for another 20 (should you so choose) and retire AGAIN at age 58... collecting 2 retirement checks isn't bad.

Good luck and if you have any questions, let me know! I have been active duty for nearly 9 years.

Answer 3

You can take classes in any subject you want. The trick is, will you have the time to do it? The recruiter said in your free time - a lot of people don't have any. My husband has been trying to find the time to take online classes since he joined the Army, and his job just doesn't afford him the time to do so. He works at least 12 hours a day, and by the time he gets home and spends a little time with us, it's time to go to bed and get ready to do it all over again. And when he is deployed he works even more hours than that.

How much free time you have really depends on your job and your unit. My husband is in a combat arms job in a unit that deploys as often as possible. If you are in more of a desk job in a less-needed unit, than you may have time. There's really no way to know until you get in.

Answer 4

Yes and no. He's not telling you the whole story.

Yes, you can go to school in your off duty time. But, depending on what career you have will depend on what your off duty time consists of.
I was an Air Force cop. Over the course of 8 years, we worked many different schedules, 3 on 1 off (12 hour schedule), 6 on 3 off (8 hour schedule), 4 on 1 off (12 hour schedule), or, if you have an office job, most likely, the normal Monday through Friday 9-5.

Make sure you sign up for the GI Bill. They'll take $1200 from your paychecks your first year, but after 2 years of service, you'll get around $4000 for use for schooling.

You'll have something called CCAF, which is an Air Force degree for your career field. The military will pay 75% of the tuition for that. You are not required to get that, but it's beneficial. I never got it, neither did my husband.

You can also pursue college credits for whatever you want. Most bases will have a small university on base that you can attend, but you don't have to limit yourself to that. It's just easier if you attend classes before or after your shift so you're not going to a school an hour away (for example).

Now, if you were to get deployed, that can usually screw up your education plans pretty quickly. Thankfully, most overseas bases will allow you to still take online courses while deployed. You'll have to discuss that with the Education Center for more details.

Good luck and thank you for your future service.

Answer 5

It is possible to do, yes.

What he didn't tell you is that if you're on shift work, college will be hard to complete.

What he didn't tell you is that if you deploy, college will be hard to complete.

What he didn't tell you is that until you get your CDCs done and your 5 level upgrade, they won't sign off on tuition assistance.

I got 4 degrees, 3 associate and one baccalaureate while on active duty. It's doable, but not a piece of cake. Ask your recruiter how many degrees HE has BESIDES CCAF.

Bill, retired MSgt in law school

P.S. No, it is NOT true that the USAF will only pay for job-related courses. There are Airmen using tuition assistance for all manner of degrees, job related or otherwise. What you have to remember is the same law that lets the Army pay tuition assistance is the one that lets the USAF do it. The USAF wouldn't make such a stupid policy decision.

Answer 6

You can. I am in the Army and I do college classes. The only thing about the Air Force, is that you have to use the take classes dealing with your job. The Army will pay for any classes you want to take. No matter what your job is.

Answer 7

I'm in the air force so listen to me. If you join do not i repeat do not go open in any career field. If you want to go to school in your free time you can but just choose a career in the military that will allow you to have that time. Me myself i am a aircraft maintainer i don't have time to go to school because i am constantly work 12 hour shifts but i have friends who do jobs like public health and they always have the same schedule m-f 8 hours and have plenty of time to go to school. Basically you have to choose an office job in the air force if you want to go to school and have time to study during the week. Even though i work 12 hour shifts i go to school but it is extremely hard so i'm telling choose an office career field but choose the right office career field. If you need any help e-mail me at [e-mail].

Answer 8

My cousin joined the reserves in hope of getting money for college. He started his school and was then shipped to basic training, then he started to earn some money with a job. So he never completed school. All Im saying is that it would be difficult becuase your mind is not entirely focued on school.

Answer 9

Absolutely true...for all services. I served as a platoon leader and XO in the Army. I went to graduate school completing my MBA during my nights, weekend....leave time. It can be done you just have to remember that our duties come first. Don't worry....the USAF will remind you of that fact if you forget!

Good luck.

Answer 10

Well I can tell you this do not take the word of the recruiter only the word of black ink on official paper.

Listen to me why would you join the air force, risk your life, and throw precious years of your youth to harsh discipline? If you want to get a degree from a respectable university the best way to go about it is start from a community college, then transfer to a 4 year university. Why must you throw your life in harm’s way? If you are worried about the money there is BOG, there is FASFA, GRANTS, LOANS, etc don't trade your well being in for a few bucks.

If you want to serve your country become a doctor, become a scientist, become a teacher, a counselor, but if your idea of serving the country is holding a gun and shooting stuff go ahead be my guest we need more people to join so that people like me don't have to.

The military should be the last resort right above sleeping on the streets.

On base universities? 70% tuition pay for an associate’s degree? Are you kidding me an associate’s degree is worthless unless you want to become a manager of a fast food joint, and from an on base university? Your degree is worthless without a credible university.

Go ahead listen to these people enlist they make it sound like you’re going to Disneyland lol but wouldn’t you rather be in the comfort of your own home studying to become a doctor sure you will probably have a dead end job with increasing debt but when you are finished it will be all worth it my friend. Or you can go join the military get an AA degree absolutely worthless, get shoved, shot and yelled at and turned into a mindless drone and then at the end become a manager at SEARS.

The military is for the .. how can I put this lightly, it is for those who do not have the mental capacity or willingness for academics. Are you one of those people?