When you Pursue your Master’s Degree inside the Military?

OPINION: I’m sure seeing the title many people who may 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 of lobbyers advocating for service women and men. Kind one decide to never earn their Master’s degree? Well…I will explain now, neither I nor anybody else can answer that when you are looking at speaking for the mass.


The Armed Forces are suffering from the opportunity meet individuals coming from all parts of society. Finding yourself in the Air Force (i believe it’s the identical for all those branches), everyone’s story is unique. You may enlisted together with your associates or bachelor’s degree already now you’re trying to strengthen your understanding. Or you honestly just need to check a box for professional development. In line with the Air Force Demographics, Air Force enlisted members only be the cause of 1.8% of master’s degree when compared to 46.3% of their officers. This statistic emphasizes the varying education levels between those 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 everyone, but merely a mere snapshot of what We have experienced both personally via your eyes of my peers. Usually, one of the most challenging obstacle turns out to be time, specifically duty schedule for shift workers. Many active duty members taking benefit of educational benefits will most likely attend classes online as a result of an unpredictable schedule. Based on your learning style this may become another barrier when compared with traditional learning environments. With time being unpredictable obstacles inevitably arise, for example having a family, households where single parents serve, single parents, etc. All circumstances vary, but there are 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 very own struggles; including times when I had been scheduled for duty sunrise to sunset – or even the opposite. Another hurdle for Air Force members will be the uncertainty of constant of their current vocation post service. There are some career paths that reap the benefits of a license or certification instead of a graduate degree. Or possibly one joined the service to avoid an elegant educational setting, but find themselves forced to participate in traditional learning environments over expected.

For you to

Just like I gave you reasons why service members elect to never continue the amount (or at best placed a fight), you can find just as a number of, or maybe more, why they ought to. Personal growth can be had through countless platforms but let’s be truthful if it’s not documented by the right institute the validity of your degree or certification declines. There’s more than simply adding your business into a certificate; it’s gaining the technical comprehension of your respective field. It’s another couple of proving your dedication by taking the additional step, letting others know you’re taking yourself seriously and are on the way to the chief level.

Why wouldn’t anyone wish to expand his or her knowledge of their dedicated field associated with preference? There is a very common assumption that you’re “in the field” experience lets you really view the nuances of the part. The expectation is the fact that you’ve got a good grasp on how things are employed in their current field, higher education gives the possiblity to see a different side of the industry. No matter what field you’re in, people who have a degree in higher education set out to jump out and are considered the expert. Let’s admit it, post-service jobs are not the things they was once. So why not use your education being a roi – of yourself.

WHY DID I?

Like the tastes service members We have faced the identical obstacles discussed. I have already been through eight assignments and various deployments including Pakistan and Iraq. Community . was difficult, it was both your own choice and accomplishment I was thinking I could not achieve. My ambition originated attempting to set the bar in my family, and convince myself I could complete my Master’s degree from Liberty University while serving. Lastly, I needed to cultivate professionally, expanding my knowledge and reaching an executive level within my potential industry.

Ultimately, while serving from the military the opportunity to juggle both roles of student and Airman is essential. While serving being proficient in your employment will be the primary focus. Depending around the push from each one of the branches leadership will drive how fast members move towards pursuing education while serving. When the world is within conflict school might take a backseat. Due to high operation tempos in select job areas, scheduling is a thing you have to consider when opting to pursue a continued education. Like anything, the persistence for a graduate degree is ultimately your choice of the individual who wants to produce their particular educational path.
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