Wing honors CCAF degree recipients Published Nov. 23, 2017 By By Tech. Sgt. Carlos J. Treviño 433rd Airllift Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- The 433rd Airlift Wing recognized 38 Community College of the Air Force graduates during a special ceremony Nov. 18, 2017 at the Defense Language Institute auditorium. The Community College of the Air Force was established in 1972 to meet the education and training requirements of the Air Force and help Airmen achieve their professional goals. While only 38 Airmen could make it to the ceremony, there were 158 Airmen in all who obtained their associate degrees from the college. “Although I participated in off duty education, I began to ask myself why,” Chief Master Sgt. Michael S. Senigo said. He serves as the deputy commandant, Career enlisted Aviator Center of Excellence and is assigned to the 733rd Training Squadron of the 433rd Airlift Wing. Senigo holds three CCAF degrees before earning a bachelor of arts and a master’s degree. “Why does education make you better, why does education make you valuable to the Air Force,” he asked the graduates, friends and family gathered. The CCAF is the world's largest degree granting institution of higher learning. It is a federally chartered degree-granting institution that serves the United States Air Force's enlisted total force. They partner with over 108 affiliated Air Force schools, 82 education service offices located worldwide and more than 1,500 civilian academic institutions to serve approximately 300,000 active, Guard and reserve enlisted personnel, making CCAF the world's largest community college system. The college annually awards over 22,000 associate in applied science degrees from 68 degree programs according to the Air University website. “The answer to my question is: self-growth, gain confidence, improved communication and time management skills, and the exemplified commitment,” he said. “You can now bring these qualities to your unit enabling more effective mission accomplishment meeting the wing’s vision of providing the best combat ready force.” The next degree recognition ceremony is scheduled for May 2018.