OPINION: I’m sure after reading the title many 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 hundreds of thousands of lobbyers advocating for service people. Sort of search one decide never to earn their Master’s degree? Well…I will tell you now, neither I nor someone else can answer any time looking at speaking to the mass.
The Defense force are suffering from the opportunity to meet individuals from all walks of life. Finding yourself in the environment Force (that we believe it’s precisely the same for all those branches), everyone’s story differs. You may enlisted using your associates or bachelor’s degree already and now you’re planning to strengthen your knowledge. Or perhaps you honestly just need to check a box for professional development. Based on the Air Force Demographics, Air Force enlisted members only take into account 1.8% of master’s degree in comparison to the 46.3% of these 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 never to pursue traditional learning? Again these circumstances cannot speak for everybody, but just snapshot of the items I’ve experienced both personally via the eye area of my peers. Usually, probably the most challenging obstacle can be time, specifically duty diary for shift workers. Many active duty members who take benefit of educational benefits may attend online classes as a result of an unpredictable schedule. Determined by your learning style this will likely become another barrier compared to traditional learning environments. With time being unpredictable obstacles inevitably arise, like having a family, households where single 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, eliminating deployments. Each assignment provided a unique struggles; including instances when I used to be scheduled for duty sunrise to sunset – or opposite. Another hurdle for Marines members could be the uncertainty of continuing of their current industry post service. There are many career paths that make use of a license or certification rather than graduate degree. Or perhaps one joined the intend to avoid an official educational setting, but find themselves necessary to be involved in traditional learning environments a lot more than expected.
WHY YOU SHOULD
Just as I gave you main reasons why service members elect never to continue their education (at least set up a battle), there are just as a number of, if not more, why they should. Personal growth can be purchased through countless platforms but let’s be honest if it’s not documented through the right institute the validity of your respective degree or certification declines. There’s more than just adding your name into a certificate; it’s gaining the technical knowledge of your respective field. It’s also a matter of proving your dedication through the excess step, letting others know you adopt yourself seriously and so are heading to the executive level.
Why wouldn’t anyone need to expand his / her knowledge of their dedicated field of? There is a type of assumption that you’re “in the field” experience lets you really see the nuances of the role. The expectation is that you have a fantastic grasp about how things be employed in their current field, higher education increases the possibility to go to a different side associated with an industry. It doesn’t matter what field you’re in, people that have a degree in higher education begin to stick out and so are considered the expert. Let’s face it, post-service effort is not the things they was previously. So why not make use of your education as being a return on your investment – of yourself.
WHY DID I?
Like the majority of service members I’ve faced precisely the same obstacles discussed. I have been previously through eight assignments and various deployments including Pakistan and Iraq. Even though it was difficult, it was both a personal choice and accomplishment I figured I can not achieve. My ambition originated in attempting to set the bar in my family, and persuade myself I can complete my Master’s degree from Liberty University while serving. Lastly, I needed to develop professionally, expanding my knowledge and reaching an executive level in my potential industry.
Ultimately, while serving within the military the ability to juggle both roles of student and Airman is crucial. While serving being proficient in your career will 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 in conflict school might take a backseat. Due to high operation tempos in select job areas, scheduling is something you need to consider when choosing to pursue a continued education. Like anything, the persistence for a graduate degree is ultimately your decision of the individual who wants to produce their very own educational path.
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