Reading the CCAF PJ degree info page, I see that you will be earning quite a few semester hours throughout training. Will the CCAF, at the point of enrolment after BMT, give you a letter stateing that you are enrolled in that degree as a part/full time student?
The reason I ask is such a letter would fulfill my student loan deferment requirements of being at least a part-time student. That would be just one thing less to worry about while devoting attention to completing Indoc and hopefully the Pipeline.

Your CCAF degree starts automaticly after completion of BMT. The PJ CCAF you are not entitled too until completing the pipe line (CDQC, Airborne, PJ School, etc.).

If you do not make it through the pipe line, the Air Force will authorize you a CCAF in what ever AFSC your in.

You still need complete your basic classes (i.e. College Algebra, English, Science, History) in order to get any CCAF degree.

Hope this answers your question and good luck.

Check with your student loan holder. There should be a deferment available (up to 3 years) if you are in military service. You could defer the loan, just like being in college, until you are settled and start the repayment. Again, check with your loan holder.

I've got a question for anyone here. It seems to me that a CCAF degree is absolutely useless except to the military.You can only go as high as an associates, which only fills a block for promotion boards when your rank requires it . I realize that some colleges accept transcripts from CCAF but the majority don't, so my question is this: Why devote time to completing a CCAF degree when you can start on a bachelor program from a college that is much more accepted in the adademic circles?

Here's my thoughts on the CCAF degree. For anyone who cares.

I think it all depends on what you (whoever) are planning to do. If you are planning to market yourself (in whatever field) with an Associate's degree then it is worth getting. There are some jobs that give raises or promotions based on this (law enforcement). I wouldn't mess with it if you are planning to get a BS, BA, or whatever. Like you say, most schools don't recognize an Associate's, nor does it help you get into these schools. Being a transfer student (CCAF) out of the military is enough for acceptance.
Useless? I think it useless only if you are planning to obtain a more advanced degree.

If you are planning to obtain a higher degree, your time is probably better served by taking classes that will transfer to whatever school you are planning to get your degree. You can contact many of the schools to find out what will transfer in directly and will count towards your degree. I would be sure to do this (call), because you will be surprised what will and will not transfer in. When I transferred, I had 50+ CCAF hours. ~20 transferred directly, ~9 as electives, and ~6 transferred by petitioning, 15+ were lost. Funny thing, you get 4 hours for basic training (physical education), but 0 for INDOC. I think 3 for basic jump, 0 for freefall. 3 for EMT-basic, 0 for EMT-P. Of course, if you go to a school that offers these courses (specifically EMT-P) you can get a lot more hours to cross-over. One would think that SF Combat Diver course would count for Underwater Basket Weaving 101 (only open to University athletes). At the time I transferred CCAF was still working on a lot of this, hopefully some of the bugs are worked out of it.

Although especially difficult if you're an AD PJ...if you are planning to go further than B.S., B.A., like M.D., D.O., PA-C, P.T., or whatever, I would recommend getting your undergraduate degree while your in the service. Then applying directly to the professional programs. I just think it is a much easier (and acceptable) transition.

CX, I thought you already had your Master's or something.
As far as payment goes, I would talk to your lender. It probably depends a lot on the type of loans.

"If you are planning to obtain a higher degree, your time is probably better served by taking classes that will transfer to whatever school you are planning to get your degree. " Is a true statement, but not unique to courses completed to obtain a CCAF degree.

I have a bit more positive opinion of the worth of a CCAF degree. Getting that CCAF demonstrates completing something started. In my book it is more of a character quality rather than what's going to put the most money in my pocket or give the more impressive degree to brag about.

A Couple points:

For deferment of a Federal Perkins Loan you must serve "in an area of hostilities that qualifies for special pay under section 310 of Title 37 of the US Code."

For a Federal Stafford Loan the best I could find is that you can get a military deferment if the loan was made before '93

I found the CCAF Website and email the Registrar the same basic question I had asked here earlier and received the prompt reply that they could issue me such a letter as soon as I completed BMT.

The CCAF is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and somthinorother. this is the same Accreditation body that accredits most of the colleges and universities in the south including the universitys of Tennessee and Georgia. So basically any class you take from CCAF should, notice I didn't say would, transfer to another school, as long as they have a class that is simmilar to the one you are transfering. i.e. any general education classes (ENGL, MATH, BIOL, CHEM, etc) you take should transfer into pretty much any other school's degree program.

Hope this will help someone else out.

Cheers,
KS

I think that Brock summarized the CCAF situation nicely. I have a B.S. in aeronautics, and almost a M.S. in AE......yet do NOT have a CCAF degree in Airway Science! Why? Don't the credits transfer right over? The education people on each base are supposed to gather your transcripts and fill out a CCAF form that is sent off. There was a big push on my base to raise the CCAF statistics, so I was contacted to get the paperwork done. I did, and they (CCAF) advised that I was 6 credits short of my A.S. in Airway Science. I laughed, and said "I've got triple the credits that's required", and the base education guy just shruggs his shoulders. What does all the above mean? Quite simply; that CCAF is a program that the USAF can tout when they go on Capitol Hill to get money. It extolls the Air Forces' view that they are the most highly educated branch of military service (which they are...but for other reasons having nothing to do with CCAF). I guy in my unit is working on his undergrad degree. He has completed his CCAF A.S. degree and therefore should be about a sophomore in any college, right? Well the registrars office does not think so. They ended up giving him about 15 credits out of his 60 plus. That sucks in my book. I advise anyone that is interested in persuing higher education to focus on your interests, not CCAF (unless that is your focus). Get your associates, bachelors etc in the area of concentration that will assist you the most in civilian or military life. Take classes that you'll enjoy. After you attain your goals/degree, go over to the base education office and check into the CCAF thing. Maybe you'll have enough credits to automatically transfer. Don't let the tail wag the dog. As far as you receiving a letter from the USAF saying that you are enrolled in CCAF after BMT, the answer is no. You must get that from the education office. Also, I have found (after 18 years AD) that not all military education centers are created equal. Sometimes they are full of info and knowledge, but half the time I ended up doing the research for them.

PRC- I've seen much the same screw up transfering credits from one school to the next. A friend of mine PCS'd and had to start taking classes at a different college to finish his degree. About a quarter of his credits from his previous college did not 'transfer'. A real load of crap. Some colleges recognize the curriculums of other colleges based on their reputation. Most times the college will not recognize the credits taught at another college. One more indicator to make me look upon 'higher education' with a bit of skepticism. Yes, I took 3 years of college before enlisting, so I know a bit about 'undergraduate studies'.

Brock,

I think you may have me confused with D. Cox, I am N. Cox. But my masters will be coming here in the future anyway, thanks for the vote of confidence.

CX