Should you Pursue your Master’s Degree within the Military?

OPINION: I’m sure after reading the title most people that have not served will assume it’s a no-brainer. I mean the military is spending money on your education. Organizations like Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) have thousands and thousands of lobbyers advocating for service men and women. Utilize this type one decide to never earn their Master’s degree? Well…I will advise you now, neither I nor anyone else can answer any time looking at speaking for the mass.


The Armed Forces are suffering from the opportunity to meet individuals coming from all areas of life. Finding myself mid-air Force (which I am sure it’s exactly the same for many branches), everyone’s story is different. Maybe you enlisted with your associates or bachelor’s degree already and now you’re seeking to strengthen knowing about it. Or you honestly must check a box for professional development. According to the Air Force Demographics, Air Force enlisted members only be the cause of 1.8% of master’s degree in comparison to the 46.3% of these officers. This statistic emphasizes the varying education levels between those people who are enlisted vs officers.

So why NOT

Now, why would any serviceman or woman elect to never pursue traditional learning? Again these circumstances cannot speak for anyone, but merely just snapshot of what I have experienced both personally and throughout the eye area of my peers. Usually, the most challenging obstacle can be time, specifically duty diary for shift workers. Virtually all active duty members having good thing about educational benefits may attend online classes on account of an unpredictable schedule. Determined by your learning style this might become another barrier compared to traditional learning environments. After a while being unpredictable obstacles inevitably arise, such as having a family, households where both dad and mom serve, single parents, etc. All circumstances vary, but there’s always challenges along this rocky road.

Twelve years into my service and i also had (Permanent Change of Station) PCS into my eighth assignment, eliminating deployments. Each assignment provided its own struggles; including occasions when I became scheduled for duty sunrise to sunset – or even the opposite. Another hurdle for Military members will be the uncertainty of continuing inside their current career field post service. There are some career paths that benefit from permission or certification instead of a graduate degree. Or simply one joined the intend to avoid a formal educational setting, but find themselves required to be involved in traditional learning environments more than expected.

For you to

Equally as I gave you explanations why service members elect to never continue the amount (or at best set up a battle), you can find in the same way a number of, or maybe more, why they need to. Personal growth can be purchased through countless platforms but let’s tell the truth if it’s not documented by the right institute the validity of your degree or certification declines. There’s not just adding your business into a certificate; it’s gaining the technical expertise in your respective field. It’s another matter of proving your dedication by taking the excess step, letting others know you adopt yourself seriously and therefore are maneuvering to the manager level.

Why wouldn’t anyone wish to expand her or his knowledge inside their dedicated field of preference? There is a kind of assumption that you’re “in the field” experience permits you to really comprehend the ins and outs of the part. The expectation is always that you have a fantastic grasp how things be employed in their current field, advanced schooling gives the chance to visit a different side of your industry. No matter what field you’re in, those who get a degree in advanced schooling commence to stick out and therefore are considered the expert. Let’s face the facts, post-service tasks are not whatever they was previously. Filter systems make use of education being a return – of yourself.

WHY DID I?

Exactly like the tastes service members I have faced exactly the same obstacles discussed. I have been previously through eight assignments and various deployments including Pakistan and Iraq. Community . was difficult, it absolutely was both an individual choice and accomplishment I believed I could not achieve. My ambition originated from attempting to set the bar in my family, and prove to myself I could complete my Master’s degree from Liberty University while serving. Lastly, I want to to develop professionally, expanding my knowledge and reaching an executive level in my potential industry.

Ultimately, while serving in the military a chance to juggle both roles of student and Airman is important. While serving being experienced in your career will almost always be the principal focus. Depending about the push from all the branches leadership will drive how soon members move towards pursuing education while serving. When the world is in conflict school will take a backseat. Due to high operation tempos in select career fields, scheduling is something you must consider when opting to pursue an extended education. Like anything, the persistence for a graduate degree is ultimately your choice of the individual who aspires to develop their unique educational path.
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