In case you Pursue your Master’s Degree in the Military?

OPINION: I’m sure looking at the title the majority of people who have not served will assume it’s a no-brainer. I mean the military is paying for your education. Organizations like Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) have thousands and thousands of lobbyers advocating for service people. Kind one decide never to earn their Master’s degree? Well…I will explain now, neither I nor other people can answer any time you are looking for speaking to the mass.


The Military allow us the opportunity to meet individuals from all areas of life. Being in the environment Force (that i am sure it’s the same for many branches), everyone’s story is unique. Perhaps you enlisted with your associates or bachelor’s degree already now you’re looking to strengthen knowing about it. Otherwise you honestly must check a box for professional development. In accordance with the Air Force Demographics, Air Force enlisted members only are the cause of 1.8% of master’s degree when compared to the 46.3% with their officers. This statistic emphasizes the varying education levels between people who find themselves enlisted vs officers.

So why NOT

Now, why would any serviceman or woman elect never to pursue traditional learning? Again these circumstances cannot speak for everybody, but just only snapshot products I’ve experienced both personally via the eye area of my peers. Usually, one of the most challenging obstacle is time, specifically duty schedule for shift workers. Virtually all active duty members having benefit from educational benefits may attend classes on the web due to an unpredictable schedule. Determined by your learning style this may become another barrier compared to traditional learning environments. As time passes being unpredictable obstacles inevitably arise, like developing a family, households where both mom and dad serve, single parents, etc. All circumstances vary, but you will always find challenges along this rocky road.

Twelve years into my service and that i had (Permanent Change of Station) PCS into my eighth assignment, taking out deployments. Each assignment provided its own struggles; including times when I was scheduled for duty sunrise to sunset – or even the opposite. Another hurdle for Armed Forces members may be the uncertainty of continuous in their current vocation post service. There are many career paths that make use of permission or certification rather than a graduate degree. Or simply one joined the intend to avoid an elegant educational setting, but wind up forced to participate in traditional learning environments a lot more than expected.

For you to

Equally as I gave you main reasons why service members elect never to continue the amount (or otherwise offered a fight), you’ll find just like a number of, or more, why they ought to. Personal growth can be purchased through countless platforms but let’s tell the truth if it’s not documented from the right institute the validity of one’s degree or certification declines. There’s more than just adding your business to some certificate; it’s gaining the technical understanding your respective field. It’s additionally a a few proving your dedication if you take the extra step, letting others know you take yourself seriously and so are on the way to the chief level.

Why wouldn’t anyone want to expand her or his knowledge in their dedicated field of preference? There is a type of assumption that you’re “in the field” experience enables you to really understand the particulars of the function. The expectation is the fact that you’ve got a good grasp how things be employed in their current field, degree gives the possiblity to visit a different side of the industry. Whatever field you’re in, people who obtain a degree in degree start to jump out and so are considered the expert. Let’s face the facts, post-service effort is not the things they was once. So why wouldn’t you use your education like a return on your investment – of yourself.

WHY DID I?

Exactly like the tastes service members I’ve faced the same obstacles discussed. I have been previously through eight assignments and diverse deployments including Pakistan and Iraq. Even though it was difficult, it absolutely was both your own choice and accomplishment I was thinking I possibly could not achieve. My ambition originated from wanting to set the bar for my family, and convince myself I possibly could complete my Master’s degree from Liberty University while serving. Lastly, I desired growing professionally, expanding my knowledge and reaching a professional level during my potential industry.

Ultimately, while serving from the military the opportunity to juggle both roles of student and Airman is crucial. While serving being familiar with your work will almost always be the main focus. Depending about the push from each of the branches leadership will drive how soon members move towards pursuing education while serving. Once the world is conflict school will take a backseat. Because of high operation tempos in select career fields, scheduling is something one must consider when deciding to pursue an extended education. Like anything, the persistence for a graduate degree is ultimately your choice of the baby who would like to formulate their very own educational path.
Check out about Armed Forces check out this popular web site: here

Leave a Reply