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

OPINION: I’m sure after reading the title many people who may have not served will assume it’s a no-brainer. I mean the military is purchasing your education. Organizations like Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) have hundreds of thousands of lobbyers advocating for service males and females. So why would one decide never to earn their Master’s degree? Well…I will show you now, neither I nor someone else can answer that whenever it comes to speaking for your mass.


The Defense force are suffering from the chance to meet individuals all walks of life. In air Force (which I am sure it’s the same for many branches), everyone’s story is unique. Maybe you enlisted using your associates or bachelor’s degree already and now you’re seeking to strengthen your understanding. Or you honestly simply need to check a box for professional development. Based on the Air Force Demographics, Air Force enlisted members only be the cause of 1.8% of master’s degree compared to the 46.3% of the 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 all, but just merely a snapshot of what I have experienced both personally and throughout your eye area of my peers. Usually, probably the most challenging obstacle is time, specifically duty schedule for shift workers. Virtually all active duty members who take good thing about educational benefits will more than likely attend classes on the web as a result of an unpredictable schedule. Based on your learning style this could become another barrier in comparison with traditional learning environments. As time passes being unpredictable obstacles inevitably arise, including creating a family, households where both parents serve, single parents, etc. All circumstances vary, but there will always be challenges along this rocky road.

Twelve years into my service and that i had (Permanent Change of Station) PCS into my eighth assignment, not including deployments. Each assignment provided a unique struggles; including when I had been scheduled for duty sunrise to sunset – or perhaps the opposite. Another hurdle for Masters members will be the uncertainty of continuous inside their current industry post service. There are a few career paths that make use of permission or certification instead of a graduate degree. Or simply one joined the plan to avoid a proper educational setting, but wind up required to participate in traditional learning environments a lot more than expected.

Why you ought to

In the same way I gave you main reasons why service members elect never to continue the amount (or at best placed a fight), you will find in the same way many reasons, or even more, why they must. Personal growth can be obtained through countless platforms but let’s boost the comfort if it’s not documented with the right institute the validity of your degree or certification declines. There’s more than just adding your business with a certificate; it’s gaining the technical knowledge of your respective field. It’s also a few proving your dedication by taking the extra step, letting others know you take yourself seriously and they are going to the chief level.

Why wouldn’t anyone want to expand their knowledge inside their dedicated field of choice? There is a very common assumption that you’re “in the field” experience allows you to really view the particulars of the part. The expectation is always that you’ve got a good grasp on what things work in their current field, higher education gives the chance to see a different side of an industry. It doesn’t matter what field you’re in, those that obtain a degree in higher education start to stick out and they are considered the expert. Let’s face the facts, post-service effort is not whatever they was once. So why not make use of education being a return on your investment – of yourself.

WHY DID I?

Like the majority of service members I have faced the same obstacles discussed. I have been through eight assignments and numerous deployments including Pakistan and Iraq. Although it was difficult, it turned out both a personal choice and accomplishment I believed I really could not achieve. My ambition originated in wanting to set the bar in my family, and convince myself I really 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 inside my potential industry.

Ultimately, while serving inside the military a chance to juggle both roles of student and Airman is crucial. While serving being proficient in your career will almost always be the main focus. Depending for the push from each of the branches leadership will drive how rapid members move towards pursuing education while serving. If the world is within conflict school may take a backseat. Because of high operation tempos in select career fields, scheduling is one area one must consider when determining to pursue an extended education. Like anything, the commitment to a graduate degree is ultimately the decision of the baby who would like to develop their very own educational path.
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