For enlisted members, it is important to note that ELA is not a commissioning program. While enlisted can use this program to obtain the necessary Bachelor’s degree to become an officer, the application for Officer Training School (OTS) is a separate process.
The Air Force has rededicated itself to supporting education by offering the Educational Leave of Absence. ELA effectively allows Air Force members to take a sabbatical for up to two years to pursue a degree which need not be aligned with their Air Force career. If this program sounds right for you, stop by your base education office for details.
My friend Derek offers the following caution about ELA participation by commissioned officers:
A word of caution for Officers: Officer Performance Reports (OPR's) are due even while on ELA. (And according to Air Staff, ELA students are forbidden to receive training reports, even though AFIT students receive them.) OPR's are explicitly banned from referencing an officer's educational achievements (see AFI 36-2406 §3.7.29; note this doesn't apply to enlisted). Imagine this: An officer's annual OPR is due every Aug 1st. If that officer starts a 1 year ELA program on Aug 1st and finish the next year, their OPR for that year will then literally be blank. After all, they didn't work, and only went to school, and school activities are barred from the OPR. An officer on ELA for the maximum 2 years will be in an even worse situation-two blank OPR's. In short, contrary to logic, an officer may ruin their career potential by going on ELA. Officers that don't go on ELA will have stronger OPR's and this policy forces the educated officers out of the Air Force. Therefore, ELA may only be a good option for officers planning to separate early. This has been made known to the Air Staff at the Pentagon, but their response has been to ignore the issue.
