Career Progression: Masters or No

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:19:37 -0500

I understand the value of civilian education but how much does a Masters Degree help career progression as an Army Officer? At what point, if at all, is it critical? Is the field which the degree falls under of importance?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2014 7:30 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:30:14 -0500

Sir, I am not particularly adept on the Officer side of things, but look at it this way: You are competing with your peers for assignments, promotions, etc. If you are planning on making the military a career and you and one of your peers both get looked at to make Major, Lieutenant Colonel, so on and so forth, both of you have the same experience in everything, why would they pick you to get promoted if your peer has a Masters Degree? It shows you that you are trying to better yourself as a well rounded individual. In my opinion, a Masters Degree for a field grade Officer and higher is a must. Just my two cents.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2014 7:50 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:50:32 -0500

I am awaiting the May OCS board results and every officer I talked to said that having my masters done by the time I hit Captain would give me a leg up for Major.

Edit: Also, the Army is allegedly like the real world. A liberal arts degree is seen as inferior to hard science and everyone gets an MBA.

Response by SGT Randy Kuhlman made Feb 27 at 2014 10:07 PM

SGT Randy Kuhlman — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 22:07:22 -0500

Allow me to offer a different perspective, LT. What happens when you are on patrol in some -stan nation and are severely injured and forced out of the military? Sure, you have medical retirement, but I assume you would prefer to work. Having a Masters in nearly a must in civilian life now, as everyone has B.A. and B.S. in everything from Engineering to underwater basket weaving. In addition, most employers no longer require a specific undergrad, just something.

Now, I hope this scenario never plays out for you. As such, you should still consider a Masters for career advancement. Yes, MBAs are frequent (although I am currently working on mine), but you may consider business or accounting. Either one is essential for executive management and would be a definite plus for making Major and higher. Hope this helps!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2014 2:02 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 14:02:16 -0500

Education is always a positive caveat, if it does not help you professionally it will certainly help you personally. Knowledge = Power

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 4 at 2014 2:03 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 14:03:22 -0500

Can further education ever be considered a bad thing?

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Mar 18 at 2014 12:25 PM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:25:39 -0400

SGT Thayer hit it on the head. There is NO REQUIREMENT for a Masters degree. Period. That being said, You want to stand out from your peers in a POSITIVE way.

If you have a Masters and they don't, good for you. If you have a Masters and they don't, no big deal. If they have a Masters and you don't - AND it is a competitive environment where "all other things are equal", sucks to be you.

My expectation is that a Masters will get to be a more and more decisive factor as the drawdown grows and boards get more picky.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 12:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:26:45 -0400

I cannot give a solid answer as an NCO, but from what I have discussed with Officers is that you are almost expected to either have a Master's or be working on one by the time you reach Major. Even though there is no hard requirement like having a Bachelor's to get a commission, you are competing against your peers for promotions. I am working on an MBA right now because I want to stand apart from my peers as much as possible when I get looked at for the MSG board in a couple years.

Response by CW2 Jonathan Kantor made Apr 14 at 2014 12:21 AM

CW2 Jonathan Kantor — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 00:21:26 -0400

Not necessary but mostly paid for so why not? I am getting one and am getting out at 20. It won't really do anything for my career, but there's no reason not to keep studying. Also, it can't hurt when it comes time for a promotion board. The Army offers several Masters programs of its own you might want to look into.

Response by CPT Ryan B. made Apr 14 at 2014 6:39 AM

CPT Ryan B. — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 06:39:45 -0400

It is not neccesary, but it couldn't hurt. My current Battalion Commander has been promoted BZ to Major and Lieutenant Colonel and he does not have a masters, so it can definately be done.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2014 12:08 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 00:08:12 -0400

Absolutely. You will greatly improve yourself in distinguishing yourself from your peers. Even if everyone in your year group gets a Master's you should want one to avoid being the one without one. It will also help you when you get out of the Army in your civilian job regardless of what is it in because you learn how to manage your time with work and school as well as broadening your network with people. If you get one in your field in the military it may be something that they look for when considering below the zone. However, try to make sure that your degree will also help you when you decide to leave the Army so you do not find yourself unemployed and looking to go back to school.

Response by LTC Paul Mullins made Aug 24 at 2014 4:14 PM

LTC Paul Mullins — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 16:14:13 -0400

It isn't a requirement, but as others have said, it can be a discriminator. Having certifications is also important. As an engineer, getting your PMP is very useful to the Army and in civilian employment. PMP and CISSP (computer security) are the two highest paying certs. One of my instructors had a 28 year old female with a masters, PMP, and CISSP, and paid her $189K a year. She was a high-speed low-drag person which also contributed to her success.

I spent 10 years thinking about getting my masters. I never acted upon it as I was concerned whether the school or the type of degree mattered. In the end, I decided it didn't matter significantly enough to keep me from getting a degree.

Labor stats show that you earn an average of $26K a year more with a masters. Also in my research I learned that if your degree is more than 5 years old it is not as relevant and therefore not as useful to you or the prospective employer. It does demonstrate you know how to conduct research and write which is the primary use of the degree unless you get a STEM type degree and then the dating of your degree becomes even more of an issue.

In the end, I used my hours from ILE (you receive 12 hrs of credit from most universities) and then took the other 24 hrs with Webster University and knocked it out with tuition assistance. I cost me $1600 total out of pocket to complete the degree.

I am glad I finally did it, but I have no idea if it is helping me right now or if when I get out I will take employment requiring it. Good luck!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2014 4:36 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 16:36:51 -0400

I would say yes. It is not about just getting a degree, it is about continued education. I started college as a PFC and have been going to school ever since. Why wake up knowing that you stopped caring to learn. Soon as I finished my Bachelors, I finished my Masters in under two years. Now I'm working on my Doctorate. Why? Why not? I still continue to learn. It develops me both professionally and personally. Right now I'm in the FA53 school trying to earn my CCNA and CISSP cert. Basically, why stop learning (even better when the Army is footing the bill).

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Aug 24 at 2014 7:21 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 19:21:06 -0400

In some branches it is an absolute must (my branch being one of them). In all branches it is a negative discriminator. If you don't have one, but everyone else does, guess who's not getting picked up.....

Response by Cpl Christopher Allen-Shinn made Aug 24 at 2014 10:59 PM

Cpl Christopher Allen-Shinn — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 22:59:59 -0400

I separated from the Corps in 2002, earned my BA in 2003, MAT in 2010, and MA in 2013. I'm also still studying for a doctorate. My degrees are in philosophy, history, and education. Advanced education opens doors and separates you from other candidates in the civilian world, and I'm sure that it helps on military promotion boards, too. Get the master's degree, CPT Private RallyPoint Member !

Response by COL John Power made Dec 14 at 2014 12:30 PM

COL John Power — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 12:30:28 -0500

I suggest one might worry not about career progression but rather about knowledge that can permit one to serve more effectively and contribute more to the service and the nation. And if that is useful in one's career (and most likely it will be) then all the better. In my experience the better educated soldier stands out when compared with peers not by the added letters after one's name (like MBA) but rather by their ability to take on complex jobs and create flexible solutions. When I was an undergraduate my class had a motto; "Knowledge in youth becomes wisdom with age". As one's knowledge deepens and the concepts one is exposed to broadens, they are able to do more and contribute more. It probably begins to show up in the mid-grades as you are called on to address more complex staff work for which there are no text book solutions. I do think the degree field is important and there are plenty of fields that have direct application.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2014 7:37 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 19:37:08 -0500

Echo all the previous comments; you need to start now taking at least a one class at all times until you eArn your masters. It will be critical at your Majors board and will give you more latitude with your time as you compete for special programs and assignments. Get a degree in something you can use later in life and not just a check the block. If you are lucky, strive to attain assignments that will afford a second Masters at a brick and mortar University(ACS, West Point Instructor, etc) so you can further distinguish yourself from your peers. Army is trending to Needing a Masters for your LTC board; and after two Masters look to earn your PhD to make you marketable for COL/GO or post Army positions. The roadmap is all in your hands and always keep learning and growing in your craft, art and leadership. There is no one right path, just a path of higher education throughout your military career and into a future civilian profession.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2014 1:21 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 01:21:21 -0500

CPT Private RallyPoint Member in reality nobody knows. Each board is given different instructions that are never published. One year they may want someone with an Engineering degree and they have a BA and you have a MS in education. They get promoted you do not. It will help set you apart so if there is a "tie" in OERs, positions, ASIs, etc. you can be ahead of your peers. I had mine before I my board for CPT. I am working my PhD. Will that help me get promoted faster? In reality probably not, but hey it never hurts to try.

To answer the at what point? I think they the beginning of selections that gets harder (at this point in time) is MAJ where you have a true below the zone look. LTC and COL is where the degree would be more discriminating if you do not have it and others do. The field could help if you are in logistics or engineering or intelligence. In other fields there may not be a degree that matches up such as infantry and armor.

I recommend you look further and see what you want to do after you get out of the Army (retire, MRD, decide to get out, or get pushed out due to cuts or non-select) what will that degree do for you? I got my Masters in education as my BA is also in education and I will go back to teaching. That is my plan. Think long term as well. Just my two cents.

Response by MSgt Rob Weston made Dec 15 at 2014 2:23 AM

MSgt Rob Weston — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 02:23:57 -0500

Lt, a masters will set you apart from your peers that will progress your military career. In addition it is a good reminder that the military is not forever and you want to set your self up for civilian life after the military. Set your self up now for both out comes and don't set yourself up for failure. Lastly, it is better to have it and not need it versuse needing it and not have it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2014 3:20 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 03:20:28 -0500

There are other articles posted on this topic and how it helps or is become required in other services for promotion to Colonel. Not that I think it will ever become absolutly mandatory, but I think it is slowly becoming the unwritten rule.
Many of my classmates at CGSC were looking at ways to get their advanced degree in anything, just so when our LTCs board met it was not a discriminator against them.
So to answer your questions: 1. It can 2. As a Field Grade it is becoming more and more critical 3. Not unless you are in a specialized field like Chemical, Signal, or Engineer, in my opinion.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 11:02 AM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 11:02:48 -0400

If you get a masters in your field it will help you think more outside the box. A MBA or masters in leadership will cover plenty of administrative functions you encounter.

Another way to look at it is credibility. In a time where many junior enlisted have their education, do you want to be one of the least educated at your job? Get it done! You won't regret it!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2019 11:52 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 11:52:01 -0400

O4 to O5 it helps.