CLEP Prep program starting at Maxwell Published Feb. 26, 2015 By Senior Airman William J. Blankenship 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- A new program is starting at Maxwell to better prepare Airmen striving to complete their Community College of the Air Force degrees. With the final planning meeting taking place as February concludes, the Maxwell-Gunter Top 3 organization encourages Airmen to take part in the new CLEP Prep program as they work toward their associate degree in Applied Science. "Our target audience is technical sergeants and below who are working on their first associate degree from CCAF, but other members who are interested in taking the (College Level Examination Program) tests for these core classes are welcome, as well," said Master Sgt. Janet Rainey, from the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education and who helped spearhead the new program. "Classes will be offered on an alternating basis between Maxwell and Gunter. As we prepare and add more classes, we will ensure they are advertised through the Top 3 and via the monthly professional development calendar." Program coordinators are creating a pool of instructors knowledgeable in many of the core credit requirements, to include Ethics, Analyzing Literature, Introduction to Psychology, English Composition, Math, Public Speaking and Principles of Management. "The first step toward reaching a goal can be the most challenging to take," said Rainey. "It might be as simple as finding out what classes are needed or what information will be covered in the CLEP test. It might be a matter of developing the confidence to take a particular CLEP. Or, it could be the common practice of postponing working on the degree due to current circumstances in professional or personal life. This program will encourage Airmen to go ahead and take that first step. It will provide support and encouragement as well as a structured curriculum delivery without committing to a six- to eight-week course." Enlisted Airmen are automatically enrolled in CCAF on enlistment and maintain student status throughout their military careers, providing them with an opportunity to earn a degree as long as they are in the military. "I was terrified to go back to school," said Senior Master Sgt. Billie K. Simonson, from the 42nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron and president of the Maxwell-Gunter Top 3. "In fact, I joined the Air Force so I would not have to go to school and still have a career. Little did I know that to keep progressing in my career I would have to go to school. Eventually, I discovered that I could still get my associate degree without stepping into a classroom. I took the CLEP exam for every subject I could in order to receive my associate degree from CCAF. In a matter of three months, I had my degree." The number of credits earned in technical training place Airmen in a position to be able to quickly knock out the last handful of credit hours remaining, as long as they use all of the assistance the Air Force provides them. This program is another tool that can catapult Airmen who want to further their education quickly by better preparing them to test out of taking entire courses. "At the end of the day, I just want the Airmen to realize that getting their degree is so much easier than they realize," said Simonson. "People tend to procrastinate when they don't know what to expect, but hopefully, after they attend these prep classes, there will be no more excuses. Their degree is within their grasp, they just need to put in a few hours of studying. They can have their associate degree done in a matter months, not years." For more information on the CLEP Prep program, contact Simonson at 953-2986.