CCAF maintains 2.6 million student records Published Aug. 28, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Brannen Parrish Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The Student Services section of the Barnes Center's Community College of the Air Force performs a daunting task on a daily basis. The four-person team is the organization's front line in answering questions and processing transcript requests from current and former enlisted people seeking to further their education. More than 2.6 million records are under the section's care, which makes them the guardians of a great repository of education records dating back to the 1950s. The scope of their work is felt by enlisted members from every military branch. "What we do touches every Air Force member as well as members of other services, because we not only maintain the education records of all enlisted Air Force members, we also have those from other services who attend an Air Force school," said Tech. Sgt. Leon Stovall, who runs the section. "We give those service members credit for the courses and they can use them for credit at civilian institutions." With more than 323,000 students enrolled in its education programs and nearly 6,000 faculty members, the Community College of the Air Force is one of the largest accredited, associate degree-granting institutions. The hefty student population results in a large quantity of inquiries and requests. In a single day the section receives more than 60 phone calls and processes nearly 500 transcripts. Typically, requests for transcripts are processed and mailed the next business day. "Not only are we a full distribution center but we have to know every aspect of CCAF education because we answer 95 percent of the questions," said Sergeant Stovall. "You have to be well versed in CCAF education." René Cintrón, a former emergency management specialist who served in the Air Force Reserve from 2002 until 2008, can attest to the effectiveness of the Student Services section. After earning a doctorate degree in April, he made a decision to complete his CCAF degree. "I am a list maker. I don't like unfinished business and I wanted it finished," said Cintrón, an assistant Dean of the Business and Technology Division at Delgado Community College in New Orleans. Cintrón lacked two credits toward an Associate of Science in Emergency Management. After being contacted, the Student Services section was able to review his education records and apply credits he earned during undergraduate coursework. "It was one of the easiest educational issues to resolve in my experience with higher education, and I have dealt with many," said Cintrón. Though Sergeant Stovall says the job is not mentally taxing, it requires a great deal of patience and attention to detail. "Once you get someone trained to do the job, it's not rocket science but it's detail oriented. You have to be on the ball and focused; you can't have someone who slacks off." The implications of their work are enormous since most of their customers are requesting transcripts in lieu of enrollment in their selected college or university. "Our Student Services section is the gateway through which the business of our college moves," said Lt. Col. Timothy Albrecht, commander of CCAF. "Without the four-member Student Services team, CCAF's unique mission would fall flat. The professionalism with which Sergeant Stovall and his team tackle the enormous volume of mail, e-mail, and phone calls speaks volumes about their dedication to the airmen served by CCAF." For more information, call 649-5000.