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Trading stripes for bars...Six Shaw Airmen selected for AECP

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Gordinier
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Six Shaw Airmen were selected for the 2006 fiscal year Airman Education and Commissioning Program. 

The AECP gives enlisted members the opportunity to become commissioned officers, said Sam Dairyko, flight chief for base training and education services. “This program will send the individual to school full time to pursue a technical degree while on active duty.” 

Staff Sgt. Sharhonda Hampton, 20th Medical Group, Staff Sgt. Erick Mulkey, 20th Equipment Maintanence Squadron, Senior Airman Cynthia Brown, 609th Air Intelligence Squadron, Senior Airman Kevin Beatty, 31st Intelligence Squadron, Senior Airman Andrew Huck, 31st IS and Senior Airman Daniel Sorensen, 31st IS were all selected for AECP. 

Shaw did very well against the competition Air Force wide. 

“We have had the most applicants chosen for AECP Air Force-wide for the second year in a row,” Mr. Dairyko said. “This year, six out of eight applicants were selected."

The applicants were stunned when they heard the news of being selected. 

“I was thrilled,” said Airman Brown. “I almost fell out of my seat when I received the call from my commander. I am pursuing a degree in Physics at Oklahoma University.” 

“I was completely ecstatic and relieved when I found out I was selected,” said Sgt. Mulkey. I will be attending Montana State University to pursue a degree in Computer Engineering.” 

There are a few requirements to submit a package for the AECP. 

“If a person wants to apply for the AECP they must have at least 30 semester hours of graded college work,” said Mr. Dairyko. “That means that college hours from the Community College of the Air Force do not count. It has to be graded college work. And if you do not have it, we can help you. With motivation and the education center’s help, you can achieve the 30 semester hours within a year or so. (Also), the applicant’s grade point average for the college credit hours must be a 3.0 or better. 

“(The program) searches for applicants who want technical degrees, such as foreign languages, engineering, nursing, computer science, meteorology, physics and math,” he said. “If an individual wants another type of degree, there are many programs available, but AECP may not be the right one.”