Do you think a Master’s or a Doctorate Degree makes a difference for promotion purposes?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 20:06:37 -0500

I’m currently waiting acceptance into a Doctorate program. My 50 meter target is to apply for WO but I was curious about the weight civilian education has for selection and promotion in the WO side.

Do you think a graduate/post graduate degree coupled with good evals makes a difference for Senior NCO or WO promotions? Are these a plus in WO applications?

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2019 8:18 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 20:18:33 -0500

Any civilian education is going to benefit you as a soldier.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2019 8:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 20:36:02 -0500

It's not a matter of what we think, you can look at the results yourself. Each branch proponent releases a board analysis after alevery promotion board. You can see that every MOS heavily favors civilian education in who they select.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2019 10:18 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 22:18:20 -0500

Degrees will help greatly with promotion, especially as you get to the more senior Warrant ranks. Depending on the MOS, it can be pretty competitive. Promotion boards are all looking for the same things, Civilian Ed, PME, OERs and a DA photo of someone who isn’t fat.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2019 11:24 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 11:24:46 -0500

If the degrees apply to your MOS then they will be look at favorably but you must have great evaluations and PME records as well. It’s the total package that promotion boards look at.

Response by CW4 Russell Cowley made Dec 23 at 2019 1:03 PM

CW4 Russell Cowley — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 13:03:19 -0500

It sure did when I went through the Warrant ranks, but that was from 1968 through 1991. Today it is hard for me to say but it sure can't hurt. The idea is to make yourself stand out in a crowd of those trying for the few slots.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2019 4:44 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 16:44:01 -0500

Currently degrees don’t amount to much in the Warrant cohort. However they are beginning to add them to the career progression with a Bachelor’s around CW3 and Masters towards CW4 or CW5. You’re in an excellent position as is so continue towards your Doctorate while you await Warrant board results. What are you using for financing the Doctorate?

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2019 10:31 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 10:31:08 -0500

It always looks good until it doesn’t. Mediocre OERs and a completed Masters isn’t the same as Phenomenal OERs and only having an Associates. Balance.

Response by CW5 Sean Scott made Dec 24 at 2019 1:34 PM

CW5 Sean Scott — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 13:34:57 -0500

Education is a discriminator in a competitive selection/promotion environment. As someone else pointed out, a PhD will not overcome crappy evals. But a PhD and good evals may put you over someone with just the good evals.