Community College of the Air Force The Community College of the Air Force ( CCAF ) is a federal program offered by the United States Air Force which grants two - year Associate of Applied Science ( AAS ) degrees in association with Air University . The CCAF is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools through Air University . History . In the early 1970s , the Air Force decided to attempt to gain accreditation and recognition for Air Force training programs . Representatives of the Air Training Command ( ATC ) , Air University , and the United States Air Force Academy held numerous conferences in 1971 to discuss increased training for Air Force non - commissioned officers ( NCOs ) . These conferences , in turn , recommended the foundation of an Air Force community college . On November 9 , 1971 , Gen John D . Ryan , Air Force Chief of Staff , approved the establishment of the Community College of the Air Force . The Secretary of the Air Force approved the plan January 25 , 1972 , and the college was officially established on April 1 , 1972 , at Randolph AFB , TX . Until the mid - 1970s , the CCAF offered only certificate programs . It became apparent that CCAF standards exceeded the minimum requirements of associate degree programs in civilian community colleges . Therefore , in 1975 the Air Force sought degree - granting authority for the college from Congress . President Gerald R . Ford signed Public Law 94 - 361 on July 14 , 1976 authorizing the AETC commander to confer the associate degree . Following an evaluation in October 1976 , the Commissioner of Education certified degree - granting authority in January 1977 . The college awarded its first AAS degree in April 1977 . When the Commission on Occupational Education Institution charter was limited in 1975 to non degree - granting institutions , the CCAF began seeking accreditation from the SACS Commission on Colleges . The Commission on Colleges accredited the CCAF on December 12 , 1980 . In 2004 , Air University became accredited by the SACS Commission on Colleges to award associate and master ’ s degrees . CCAF now shares in Air University ’ s regional accreditation . CCAF was separately accredited by SACS from 1980 - 2004 . Currently the CCAF is only open to airmen , but Congressman Sestak added language to the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act to open admission to all branches . Academics . The program combines the technical education offered by Air Force schools with a core of general education from regionally accredited civilian institutions , and management education from Air Force or civilian sources . The CCAF offers Associates of Applied Science degrees in five broad career areas : Within those 5 broad areas , the CCAF currently offers 67 specific degree programs . AU - ABC program . In June 2007 Air University announced a new program where four - year colleges accept the entire value ( 60 credits ) of the CCAF Associates degree towards a Bachelor degree , requiring only 60 more credits ( typically upper division , core classes ) . This program is called the Air University Associate - To - Baccalaureate Cooperative . It has been publicized as a convenient way for an Airman to complete their 4 year degree . It has also served to boost the desirability of a CCAF degree , as there is a notion among the enlisted members that a CCAF Associate degree only holds value in the Air Force community . As of October 2009 the AU - ABC program included 42 civilian colleges and universities offering 209 bachelor ' s degree programs . Thirty - six of the ABC schools hold regional accreditation , and six hold national accreditation through the Distance Education and Training Council . For additional information on accreditation please refer to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation ( CHEA ) or U . S . Department of Education websites .