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

OPINION: I’m sure after reading the title most people who’ve 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 hundreds of thousands of lobbyers advocating for service men and women. Utilize this type one decide never to earn their Master’s degree? Well…I will show you now, neither I nor anybody else can answer that whenever it comes to speaking for the mass.


The Military are suffering from the opportunity meet individuals from all parts of society. In mid-air Force (that we am sure it’s precisely the same for many branches), everyone’s story differs. Maybe you enlisted together with your associates or bachelor’s degree already and after this you’re seeking to strengthen your understanding. Or you honestly just need to check a box for professional development. According to the Air Force Demographics, Air Force enlisted members only are the cause of 1.8% of master’s degree when compared to 46.3% of the officers. This statistic emphasizes the varying education levels between those who are enlisted vs officers.

BUT WHY NOT

Now, why would any serviceman or woman elect never to pursue traditional learning? Again these circumstances cannot speak for everybody, but a mere snapshot products We’ve experienced both personally via your eye area of my peers. Usually, the most challenging obstacle can be time, specifically duty diary for shift workers. Many active duty members taking advantage of educational benefits may attend classes online on account of an unpredictable schedule. Determined by your learning style this may become another barrier in comparison to traditional learning environments. Eventually being unpredictable obstacles inevitably arise, including having 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, excluding deployments. Each assignment provided its struggles; including times when I was scheduled for duty sunrise to sunset – or the opposite. Another hurdle for Armed Forces members will be the uncertainty of constant inside their current vocation post service. There are a few career paths that reap the benefits of a license or certification rather than graduate degree. Or simply one joined the service to avoid a formal educational setting, but are required to engage in traditional learning environments greater than expected.

Why you ought to

Just as I gave you reasons why service members elect never to continue the amount (or at least offered a fight), you can find just like various reasons, or even more, why they ought to. Personal growth can be purchased through countless platforms but let’s be truthful if it’s not documented from the right institute the validity of your respective degree or certification declines. There’s more than simply adding your business to some certificate; it’s gaining the technical understanding your respective field. It’s additionally a few proving your dedication by taking the extra step, letting others know you are taking yourself seriously and they are maneuvering to the executive level.

Why wouldn’t anyone wish to expand her or his knowledge inside their dedicated field associated with preference? There is a type of assumption that you’re “in the field” experience enables you to really understand the how to go about the part. The expectation is you have a good grasp about how things operate in their current field, higher education provides the chance to visit a different side of an industry. Whatever 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 it, post-service effort is not the things they had been. So why wouldn’t you takes place education as a return on your investment – of yourself.

WHY DID I?

Like the majority of service members We’ve faced precisely the same obstacles discussed. I’ve been through eight assignments and numerous deployments including Pakistan and Iraq. Although it was difficult, it turned out both an individual choice and accomplishment I thought I really could not achieve. My ambition originated from planning to set the bar in my family, and persuade myself I really could complete my Master’s degree from Liberty University while serving. Lastly, I needed to grow professionally, expanding my knowledge and reaching an executive level in my potential industry.

Ultimately, while serving from the military to be able to juggle both roles of student and Airman is crucial. While serving being proficient in your employment can be the principal focus. Depending on the push from each one of the branches leadership will drive how rapid members move towards pursuing education while serving. Once the world is in conflict school may take a backseat. As a result of high operation tempos in select career fields, scheduling is one area you need to consider when opting to pursue a continued education. Like anything, the commitment to a graduate degree is ultimately the decision of the person who would like to develop their own educational path.
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About the Author: Valerie Clancy

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