WASHINGTON — Airmen studying for career development and promotion opportunities will begin to receive study materials solely online by Oct. 1, 2017.
Electronic delivery of Career Development Course volumes and Weighted Airman Promotion System study references have been in place for several years with a majority of the materials accessible on Air Education and Training Command websites.
“Air Education and Training Command’s e-WORLD websites provide Airmen the opportunity to download study materials for use globally with the click of a mouse,” said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Lumpkin, Chief of Air Force Enlisted Force Development. “The electronic format also gives courseware developers the ability to add interactive content, making learning material more interesting, with the goal of increasing student comprehension.”
The electronic WAPS Online Reference Library Database, e-WORLD, is currently available to .mil users only at http://cdc.aetc.af.mil. Once downloaded to their military desktop, Airmen can email the WAPS materials or burn them to a CD in order to transfer them to a personal electronic device. The complete Enlisted Promotions References and Requirements Catalog is also available online at https://www.omsq.af.mil/TE/EPRRC.pdf, along with the Professional Development Guide at http://pdg.af.mil.
A phased approach will be used to ensure that every Air Force Specialty Code is prepared for electronic delivery of its study material. The three-phased approach will focus on the target of complete electronic delivery of unclassified CDCs by Oct. 1, 2017. The process for electronic delivery of classified CDCs will remain unchanged. Career Field Managers for those AFSCs transitioning over the next several months will execute specific plans as the printing and shipping processes are phased out.
Since February 2012, the primary WAPS study material, the PDG, has been available online in a variety of electronic formats through the Advanced Distributed Learning Service and AETC Airman Advancement Div-ision websites. The Airman Advancement Division will no longer print or distribute the PDG beyond fiscal year 2015.
In fall 2015, the PDG will be published electronically as “Air Force Handbook 1, Airman.” The handbook will support the enlisted promotion system with the publication of individual study guides from each enlisted promotion testing grade (staff sergeant to chief master sergeant). These study guides along with other tools will be available to support all mobile devices this fall.
“The transition to electronic study materials is a step forward we need to take to ensure a fiscally responsible approach,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody. “The online libraries and easy-to-use formats will give Airmen the flexibility they need to study when and where they want to, while still delivering the education and information they need to succeed in their Air Force careers.”
The transition to electronic delivery of materials will save the Air Force approximately $5.9 million annually. Unit commanders through their unit WAPS monitor will have the option to authorize printing of eCDCs and eWAPS on a case-by-case basis to support study effectiveness or mission requirements. Print options from non-common access card enabled devices will be available for those Airmen interested in using personal resources to obtain hard copy study materials.
For more information on the transition to eDelivery, Airmen can visit the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil.