Delaware Air National Guard and Delaware Technical Community College celebrate educational partnership

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NEW CASTLE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Delaware --  On Thursday, February 6, the Delaware Air National Guard will recognize the successful efforts between Delaware Technical Community College and the Delaware Air National Guard to create on-site classes at the New Castle Air National Guard Base for Airmen to make progress towards a Community College of the Air Force associate in applied science degree.

The celebration will occur at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, February 6, at Delaware Air Guard Headquarters, New Castle Air National Guard base, 2600 Spruance Drive, New Castle, DE 19720.

Delaware Tech President Dr. Orlando J. George, Jr. and other representatives of the college, as well as Delaware National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, other senior leaders of the Delaware National Guard, several students and at least one course instructor will be present for the event.

To make it easier for members of the Delaware Air National Guard to obtain a CCAF degree, the 166th Airlift Wing partnered with Delaware Technical Community College to offer classes at the New Castle ANG Base during hours convenient for Guardsmen. Following a successful pilot program in the fall of 2013 with one course, Delaware Tech is now adding a second course for the spring semester.

Twenty-three Airmen successfully completed an oral communications course in the fall of 2013. For five Airmen this was the final course needed for CCAF degree completion. About 40 individuals are expected to enroll in the two courses (oral communications and psychology) that are being offered in the spring of 2014.

"We're happy to have built this educational partnership with Delaware Tech, an established and accredited local college, and we plan to continue it because it gives us the local resources and support we need to better develop our most important resource, our Airmen," said Col. Mike Feeley, commander, 166th Airlift Wing.

A Community College of the Air Force degree is now a requirement to obtain senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant ranks within the United States Air Force. The Air Force is the only branch of the military that offers an associate degree to its members.

A total of 382 CCAF associate of applied science degrees have been awarded to Delaware ANG members since 1976. Of the 382 total degrees awarded, 226 have been awarded in the past 10 years (April 2003 to April 2013).

The CCAF is a federally-chartered degree-granting institution that serves the United States Air Force's enlisted total force and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools through Air University. The CCAF mission, according to the Air University website, http://www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/, is to offer and award job-related associate in applied science degrees and other academic credentials that enhance mission readiness, contribute to recruiting, assist in retention and support the career transitions of Air Force enlisted members.

Delaware Technical Community College is fully accredited by the Commission on Higher Education, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Delaware Tech is an open-admission institution of higher education committed to Delawareans with four campus locations, one in each county in the state and one in the city of Wilmington. Lifelong learning opportunities include: associate degree programs that prepare students to go directly into the workforce; connected degree programs with area institutions for students seeking bachelor's degrees; developmental and general education courses; workforce training and customized corporate training programs for adults in the workplace; summer camps for kids; and courses designed to enlighten and enrich the lives of retirees.

The Delaware Air National Guard has 1,100 members, and continually deploys personnel and subordinate units around the globe. This release is in the public domain, and any part may be used as written.

Delaware Air National Guard: Celebrating our 68th year of Citizen-Airman service to our state and nation, 1946-2014

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