Here's a unique source of college and graduate school units: Air Force Distributed Learning Programs. But you say, "I don't wanna to join the Air Force, I wanna stay home with Mom!" As a member the Civil Air Patrol " http://www.cap.gov/ ", the civilian Auxiliary of the USAF, one is eligible to enroll in almost all AF DL courses. For example: I'm enrolling in the Air War College (course AF-1511-0011). The ACE " http://www.militaryguides.acenet.edu/ " recommends: "In the graduate degree category, 6 semester hours in military history and evolution of strategic thought, 3 in regional studies, 6 in defense resource management, and 12 in defense policy/national and international security" AF DL courses are FREE to CAP members (some material costs possible)
I need to retire and work with CAP! A few academic oreintated NCOs like myself would love the opportunity to take AWC or ACSC via correspondance or seminar. Many officers (most) begrudgingly slug away at these courses because they are required to for promotion. I wish they were open to enlisted troops who wanted an opportunity to excel, or even just see what there about. And, several programs (like Touro, AMU) award significant grad credit for these classes. Even the senior NCO academy only awards lower level undergrad credit. Too bad I got my CCAF degrees 10 years ago.
re: re: Air Force DL courses for CAP This policy is a pretty strange since the DL courses cost the AF essentially nothing and you would be studying on your own time. It's not as though there are matters of National Security in the course. To take the Air War College course as a CAP member one does have to be a "Lt Col select", for Air Command and Staff College CAP students must be a Major, and Squadron Officers School requires CAP Captain. However, CAP ranks are not to be compared to ranks in the REAL Air Force. Because the CAP is voluntary and unpaid, rank is one of the few rewards to give out for participation. EVERY member is made at least a margarine Lt after 6 months faithful one-evening-a- week service (unless they expressly refuse rank). Other courses in AF DL may be used for undergraduate credit but I think only these 3 are graduate credit. I'll speak powers that be about EM's taking these classes.
The USAF - Civil Air Patrol is a great opportuinity for service. CAP performs 95 % of the Inland search and rescue in the US, Homeland Security missions, Counter Drug operations, and of course the cadet programs. Their is a Legal Serivce, Medical Service, etc. All of this done by volunteers, who receive no pay. You can retire after 20 years service and keep your rank. Former military officers are eligible to enter at their old rank up to LTC. Unless you make it up to Regional & Wing Commands...LTC is the highest you will likely go in USAF-CAP. As pointed out, Majors can take the nonresident Command & General Staff College, USAF CAP LTC selectees can take the non resident War College. USAF-CAP members can take any of the USAF distance learning courses that do not have prerquisities or restrictions. Lastly, there are some squadrons that have cadets and some that do not. Those that have both are called composite squadrons. http://www.cap.gov I think at one time Rich D. joked that as he retired as a USAF CPT he might go back into the USAF-Aux CAP in order to retire as a LTC. Let's see.....Rich Douglas, PhD Lt.Col, CAP (Ret) North
The USAF-Aux Civil Air Patrol is a great opportunity for service. CAP performs 95 % of the Inland Search and Rescue in the US, Homeland Security missions, Counter Drug operations, and of course the cadet programs. There is a Legal Serivce, Medical Service, etc. All of this done by volunteers, who receive no pay. You can retire after 20 years service and keep your rank. Former military officers are eligible to enter at their old rank up to LTC. Unless you make it up to Regional & Wing Commands...LTC is the highest you will likely go in USAF-Aux CAP. As pointed out, Majors can take the nonresident Command & General Staff College, USAF CAP LTC selectees can take the non resident War College. USAF-Aux CAP members can take any of the USAF distance learning courses that do not have prerequisities or restrictions. Lastly, there are some squadrons that have cadets and some that do not. Those that have both are called composite squadrons. http://www.cap.gov I think at one time Rich D. joked that as he retired as a USAF CPT he might go back into the USAF-Aux CAP in order to retire as a LTC. Let's see.....Rich Douglas, PhD Lt.Col, CAP (Ret) North
