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379th AEW Airman becomes 400,000 CCAF graduate

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bryan Swink
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Imagine being the one person selected from the 400,000 people in the city of Miami, Fla. to represent the city for recognition. The odds of being picked are extremely low, but someone has to be chosen.

Senior Airman Emily Barchenger, 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron intelligence analyst, happened to have those odds in her favor recently.

She became the 400,000 graduate from the Community College of the Air Force while deployed to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.

Barchenger, deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., obtained an Associate Degree of Science in Intelligence Studies and Technology. She began work on her CCAF degree shortly after enlisting in the Air Force and completed approximately 50 credits in two-and-a-half years.

She is continuing her studies to become a registered nurse through the American Military University and will be applying for the Air Force Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program within the next two years.

Barchenger finalized her classes two weeks before she deployed to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. While here, she learned of this Air Force milestone and was recognized by her squadron leadership here at the 379th AEW.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to represent the 399,999 people who came before me and to mark a large milestone in the Air Force's rich tradition of helping Airmen achieve their educational goals," said Barchenger, a native of Salem, Wis. "Education was my main purpose for joining the military and I am very grateful to have the excellent opportunities the Air Force has provided."

According to their official website, the CCAF serves the educational needs of the Air Force enlisted community by offering associate in applied science degrees and other credentialing programs that enhance mission readiness, contribute to recruiting, assist in retention and support the career transitions of enlisted members.

The college is the only federally chartered institution in the United States that awards college degrees solely to enlisted personnel. CCAF is regionally accredited through the Air University by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.