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 paying for your education. Organizations like Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) have hundreds of thousands of lobbyers advocating for service males and females. Kind one decide to never earn their Master’s degree? Well…I will show you now, neither I nor anybody else can answer that whenever you are looking for speaking to the mass.


The Military are suffering from the ability to meet individuals all areas of life. Finding myself the environment Force (which I am sure it’s exactly the same for those branches), everyone’s story is different. Perhaps you enlisted with your associates or bachelor’s degree already and today you’re planning to strengthen your knowledge. Or perhaps you honestly simply need to 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% of the officers. This statistic emphasizes the varying education levels between those who find themselves 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 products I’ve experienced both personally and thru the eye area of my peers. Usually, one of the most challenging obstacle is time, specifically duty schedule for shift workers. The majority of active duty members who take advantage of educational benefits will more than likely attend classes on the web on account of an unpredictable schedule. Determined by your learning style this could become another barrier when compared with traditional learning environments. Eventually being unpredictable obstacles inevitably arise, such as having a family, households where both mom and dad serve, single parents, etc. All circumstances vary, but there will always be challenges along this rocky road.

Twelve years into my service and i also had (Permanent Change of Station) PCS into my eighth assignment, taking out deployments. Each assignment provided its very own struggles; including instances when I was scheduled for duty sunrise to sunset – or perhaps the opposite. Another hurdle for Armed Forces members is the uncertainty of continuous within their current career field post service. There are several career paths that take advantage of permission or certification rather than a graduate degree. Or possibly one joined the plan to avoid a formal educational setting, but are required to be involved in traditional learning environments over expected.

For you to

In the same way I gave you logic behind why service members elect to never continue the amount (or at least put up a battle), you can find in the same way a lot of reasons, or more, why they ought to. Personal growth can be purchased through countless platforms but let’s boost the comfort if it’s not documented through the right institute the validity of one’s degree or certification declines. There’s more than simply adding your company name into a certificate; it’s gaining the technical expertise in your respective field. It’s another a few proving your dedication if you take the excess step, letting others know you’re taking yourself seriously and they are heading to the executive level.

Why wouldn’t anyone desire to expand his or her knowledge within their dedicated field associated with preference? There is a very common assumption that you’re “in the field” experience permits you to really see the particulars of the function. The expectation is that you’ve a fantastic grasp on how things work in their current field, college increases the possiblity to view a different side associated with an industry. No matter what field you’re in, people who obtain a degree in college commence to stand out and they are considered the expert. Let’s face the facts, post-service jobs are not whatever they was once. So why wouldn’t you make use of your education like a return – of yourself.

WHY DID I?

Similar to the tastes service members I’ve faced exactly the same obstacles discussed. I have already been through eight assignments and diverse deployments including Pakistan and Iraq. Community . was difficult, it absolutely was both an individual choice and accomplishment I believed I can not achieve. My ambition originated from looking to set the bar in my family, and prove to myself I can complete my Master’s degree from Liberty University while serving. Lastly, I desired growing professionally, expanding my knowledge and reaching a professional level inside my potential industry.

Ultimately, while serving from the military a chance to juggle both roles of student and Airman is crucial. While serving being experienced with your employment can be the primary focus. Depending on the push from every one of the branches leadership will drive how quickly members move towards pursuing education while serving. When the world is in conflict school usually takes a backseat. Because of high operation tempos in select career fields, scheduling is a thing you need to consider when determining to pursue a continued education. Like anything, the resolve for a graduate degree is ultimately your choice of the people who desires to build up their very own educational path.
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