Air Force community college hits milestone - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Air Force community college hits milestone

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. — The Community College of the Air Force — the world’s largest community college — conferred its 300,000th degree in September.

The milestone degree — an associate’s of applied science in logistics — went to Staff Sgt. Danyail King of the 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron out of Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

King received the degree in early October at an Air Force Association conference in Washington, D.C. from Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley.

Since its 1972 inception, the Air Force’s in-house community college has issued more than 308,500 degrees. More than 17,450 will be awarded this year alone. Like King, the average degree recipient is a staff sergeant, though most graduates earn their degree after nearly 11 years in the service. King is still in her first enlistment.

“The 300,000th-degree milestone highlights the significant role advanced education plays in sustaining a highly skilled and highly motivated enlisted airman corps,” said Lt. Col. Raymond Staats, commandant of the college.