Photo By Tech. Sgt. Kentavist Brackin | Tsa Boone, an instructor from Prince George’s Community College, talks to 89th...... read more read more
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The 89th Communications Squadron hosted the first class of its evening college course for Airmen within the unit at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, February 3.
The course is part of the squadron’s initiative to help enlisted 89th CS Airmen achieve their educational goals concurrent with the squadron’s mission requirements.
The mission of the 89th CS includes operating, maintaining and defending continuous Department of Defense global air-to-ground and strategic communications systems and supporting the President, national leaders, combatant commanders and the special air mission operations.
Such taskings require constant manning in 12-hour shifts, which usually do not present a lot of time to pursue education.
“With over 85 percent of the squadron being shift workers, access to traditional educational opportunities are very limited,” said Lt. Col. Robert Cowan the 89th CS commander. “We saw a gap where a large portion of our Airmen were not able to take advantage of standard class offering at the base education center.”
The squadron partnered with JBA Education Center to open up the course at a classroom within squadron’s main facility and ensure it is properly accredited for participating Airmen’s Community College of the Air Force degree.
CCAF is a federally-chartered academic institution that serves the United States Air Force's enlisted personnel.
Degrees offered through CCAF are tailored to Airmen’s career field.
“We’re starting with PSYCH 101 course to get the ball rolling, and we’re going to progress through the entire range of courses needed for a CCAF [degree] for all of our members,” said Senior Airman Daniel Parish, a unit training manager for the 89th CS.
As the 89th CS’s unit training manager, Parish ensures the unit is up-to-date on its military required training and acted as the focal point for setting up the in-house college course.
Each week participating Airmen are slated attend one to two sessions in the squadron classroom, in addition to completing online assignments. The course, while held at the 89th CS main building, will be instructed by a Prince George’s Community College instructor.
“By working with Prince George’s Community College, our Airmen now have the opportunity to learn together while still supporting mission manning requirements,” Cowan said.
While the course is intended for the 89th CS’s shift workers, it’s not limited to them, according to Parish.
“We have a technical sergeant that’s a normal day worker whose coming in at night to complete it because this is the only class she needs at this point to complete her CCAF [degree],” he said.
The unit hopes to extend future courses to other squadrons within wing once its first group of Airmen have completed the course in May.
“This is a great opportunity, and the fact that I can help some of my friends here get [their degree] is a big deal to me,” said Parish, who obtained his CCAF [degree] already. “I think everyone in the Air Force should get their CCAF [degree], it’s one of those free benefits that the Air Force allows us to have. If we don’t take advantage of this opportunity, it’s a waste.”
| Date Taken: | 02.04.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 02.11.2020 20:58 |
| Story ID: | 362619 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD, US |
| Hometown: | DENVER, CO, US |
| Web Views: | 573 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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