From the Air Force to College

The Air Force can be the initial platform of a lifelong career pathway for individuals interested in serving one contract or those who stay on active-duty for a full career. The education and certification options available to airmen can enhance the career viability of those who choose to take advantage of the benefits, but learning about and navigating the possibilities can be difficult. From the Air Force to College: Transitioning from the Service to Higher Education is designed to help readers navigate through this process and to assist them throughout their Air Force journey, including individuals who are just about to join, active-duty airmen, and those preparing to transition back into the civilian sector.

This book serves as the go-to guide for those who actively seek opportunities to further develop their education and improve their current and future career prospects. The Air Force offers many different opportunities for career-enhancement and self-betterment, but if an airman does not know whom to seek out for advice, the process can get complicated. Plus, deciphering the world of higher education and navigating the available active-duty and veterans’ benefits is challenging. Incorrect choices can mean extended periods of time backtracking later on or running out of payment options.

Jillian Ventrone is an Education and Career Counselor aboard a federal installation , helping service members transition to education or to other professions. She is the go-to expert for professional advice for Servicemembers and dependents who want to successfully transition into higher education. She writes for the base Education Newsletter monthly and has articles published in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Consortium publication and the Military Press Magazine.

Andrew Hollis has served over 28 years in the Air Force, reaching the highest enlisted rank of chief master sergeant in the United States Air Force. He is currently the Vice Commandant of the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), which is the only regionally accredited institution in the world dedicated to granting degrees and certifications to enlisted military members and where Hollis, also, became a college graduate.