Active duty officers: Where did you get your Masters Degree?

2018-06-11T02:13:28-04:00

This is a survey based on another question asked by an NCO about why NCOs aren't afforded time in their career path to get a masters degree. I think that most officers do it on their own time and not on the Army's, but I could be way off. When and where did you get your masters degree if you have one. Just the active duty officers (counts if you were active and got one but are now retired). Certainly not scientific, but I'm curious now. I'll add another one to balance for the NCOs. I forgot to add an option to the survey if you don't have one. If you never got a masters while on active duty, just add it in the comments without taking the survey.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jun 11 at 2018 5:27 AM

2018-06-11T05:27:36-04:00

I actually could select two answers, but the survey only allowed one selection. I earned my MBA as a full-time student through a fully funded program at Syracuse University. I also attained another masters on nights/weekends through a part-time program. Neither were online or through a military institution, and both were earned while on active duty.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2018 7:21 AM

2018-06-11T07:21:23-04:00

Due to my excessive prior service I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to attend a fully funded program so I pursued an MBA through the Post education center and went to class every week for two years while serving as a Company XO. It can be done but a sacrifice must be made.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2018 7:56 AM

2018-06-11T07:56:53-04:00

COL Private RallyPoint Member - Quality, Cost, Time. You can have two of the three so which will it be? My wife went to the University of Oklahoma while she was stationed in Germany. They had a brick and mortar portion and an on line portion. I used TA and did the complete on line Master's course at night. So it will cost one's personal time and depending on the name you want or need on the framed paper it will cost some money.

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Jun 11 at 2018 9:05 AM

2018-06-11T09:05:34-04:00

I went to night classes after work. My supervisor allowed me to use some of my work time to study and/or complete projects as long as I kept up with my primary duties. To pay for it, I used TA coupled with a small loan to cover the rest.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Jun 11 at 2018 9:07 AM

2018-06-11T09:07:25-04:00

Working on it right now- about a third done. Air University- Air Command and Staff. Master of Military Operational Art and Science degree- but oddly enough I am not eligible for the Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase I or Intermediate Developmental Education (IDE) because I am a Guardsman. How does that effect me? Well I do many joint ops exercises from planning to execution- and now moving into DOMOPS with our Army counterparts.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Jun 11 at 2018 9:42 AM

2018-06-11T09:42:14-04:00

I worked on my first one on my own time. It was a one year intensive study program at Troy State University. Every other Friday night and all day Saturday for one year. I had tuition assistance pay for most of it but it was on my own time. I was an executive officer at the time and 9/11 hit as well but it took perseverance to get through it. Anyone can do it especially with the online degrees that are out there. I wouldn't accpet any excuses for anyone not getting it if they want it. I also had guys downrange that were running ops and on their "off time" they were studying for bachelors and masters programs. My second one was easy...another one year program at Air Command and Staff College but that was all I did.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2018 12:49 PM

2018-06-11T12:49:08-04:00

One from Colorado Tech while on Active Duty and one from Syracuse while a reservist and full time employed.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2018 4:13 PM

2018-06-11T16:13:57-04:00

I started mine while I was still in the Air Force using TA and the GI Bill "Top Up" program to pay for the portion of tuition not covered by TA. I was working on mine between two deployments and while at SCCC. I went through University of Maryland University College for the Master's in Information Technology.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Jun 12 at 2018 3:17 PM

2018-06-12T15:17:37-04:00

Some paid for a degree on-line because a lot of the majors and colleges I've never heard of before.

Response by CWO4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2018 9:00 PM

2018-06-12T21:00:08-04:00

Sir, I received my MBA from Park University and my M. A. in Leadership Studies from Marshall University. I completed both programs online.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Aug 27 at 2018 4:28 PM

2018-08-27T16:28:35-04:00

Troy State University

Response by COL Thomas F. made Aug 27 at 2018 5:05 PM

2018-08-27T17:05:32-04:00

I did mine online while working as a Dep Bde Cdr. Took two years and paid it with the Tuition Assistance program. In the end, I haven't used it (Information Systems), and its just another box checked on my promotion board. I look forward to getting another one when I go to the Army War College. Be curious to see how to get on the PhD program in the Army.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 7 at 2021 1:14 AM

2021-11-07T01:14:51-04:00

CGSC