Posted on Jun 7, 2016
Having a tough time deciding. Finish my masters degree, or go active duty?
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This post is pretty lengthy so I apologize. Won't blame anyone for not wanting to read my self absorbed dilemma but anyone who does and wants to help.. You're awesome.
There's a few reasons I'm having such a tough time deciding. Some background info, I'm 25, working on a master's degree in forensic psychology. The degree is more to be applied when I get out of the military though, because for now all I want to do is be a pilot.
Why I'm having such a tough time is because the degree I got into really is a great program. Rare, hard to get into.... And I was told if I take a few years out of the program, I'll lose most of my credits. Usually this by itself would make this a no brainer to stay in it... But my goal to fly is in the way.
I was Pretty close to getting it in the Army. Passed the sift, flight physical even got a unit willing to take me... Then big army said no. Fought for it for a bit, then started exhausting other options, and it seems jumping ship to the marines is my best option to fly. They offer a OCS aviation option in itself to apply for. If I don't get accepted, I'm right back where I started no mos branch transfer. Only problem.... Can't get it if I'm 27. I won't be finished with my degree by then. And that's my dilemma. Act now for it, or that opportunity is gone. Any insight, advice at all is appreciated. Regardless if you're in aviation, college or what. Most of you guys have more life experience than me anyways.
There's a few reasons I'm having such a tough time deciding. Some background info, I'm 25, working on a master's degree in forensic psychology. The degree is more to be applied when I get out of the military though, because for now all I want to do is be a pilot.
Why I'm having such a tough time is because the degree I got into really is a great program. Rare, hard to get into.... And I was told if I take a few years out of the program, I'll lose most of my credits. Usually this by itself would make this a no brainer to stay in it... But my goal to fly is in the way.
I was Pretty close to getting it in the Army. Passed the sift, flight physical even got a unit willing to take me... Then big army said no. Fought for it for a bit, then started exhausting other options, and it seems jumping ship to the marines is my best option to fly. They offer a OCS aviation option in itself to apply for. If I don't get accepted, I'm right back where I started no mos branch transfer. Only problem.... Can't get it if I'm 27. I won't be finished with my degree by then. And that's my dilemma. Act now for it, or that opportunity is gone. Any insight, advice at all is appreciated. Regardless if you're in aviation, college or what. Most of you guys have more life experience than me anyways.
Master's Degree
Aviation
College
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 30
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You will still have the academic skills if you defer school for later. You need to weigh your academic interest in this career, versus the cost and debt for this education with the rocking chair effect. When your 80 years old what would you feel most proud about having done ? Perhaps you can do both. Compromise can be the death of your dreams or enable you to truly have it all. Consider, finish degree and FY transport for AF or non combat helos for Army. Combat pilots are the toughest jobs to get with the hardest requirements. Decide exactly what is the minimum and max you need out of each decision to be worth it for you.
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LTJG (Join to see)
Had alot of good notes to consider here. Great opportunities on both ends, both that I feel I'd have alot to be proud of. Thanks for all the insight sir
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LTC (Join to see)
Is flight school age limit the same for the Air/army national guard or reserve? I became an Officer at age 33 yrs 9 months to become a non-aviation MP Officer in 1996. My suggestion is to be a pilot in fixed or rotary wing in the type they are short of. I don't have a Masters Degree and I made Major. I work as a delivery driver for Ups when not in uniform.Get your commission and your flight school and then if you have time get the Masters done. win/win
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LTJG (Join to see)
Does it? I'm new to the military. And even still it's just reserve time. I understood it as having a bachelor's degree gives you pretty much the same standing as having any level of education?
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SSG (Join to see)
LTJG (Join to see) - The higher you go in the Army the more education you will need. To make Colonel you will need at Master's degree.
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PO2 Skip Kirkwood
When I was getting my MS, I attended classes at McGuire AFB. The courses were filled with captains who needed a grad degree to promote major, and majors who wanted to promote to LTC. Once you've got it, you've got it and nobody can take it away.
Only concern would be bumping up against an age restriction for pilot selection, or an age-based physical limitation if you wanted to do SOF.
Only concern would be bumping up against an age restriction for pilot selection, or an age-based physical limitation if you wanted to do SOF.
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Finish your degree first. Look into being a warrant officer when you apply to be a pilot (you can be as old as dirt and still fly). However, if you are able to save money as a pilot to start your master's all over again, then continue the fly option. Either way you'll have a great civilian resume doing either option. Understand that the military doesn't make promises.
Reason is because when you are done with the service and begin your next chapter, what will the military say?, "thank you for your service, here's the door." You cannot blame the service for what you do or cant do after you get out.
Take my situation for example, I started my master's in 2011, I volunteered for a deployment in 2013. When I came home, I was told the program changed and only 9 out of my 27 credits carried over. I was also told I wasn't going to get my ADOS job back. What did I do? No choice but to keep trucking along, started my degree all over again and applied for more military jobs.
I gave years to the military to show my potential for greater responsibility. It paid off! I am a company commander (not active duty) and have a strong resume. But if the military doesn't have a full time paid position for me, I cannot be without something to fall back on.
Thus, I will complete my master's in December 2016 and apply for a civilian job. When I'm offered a military job, I can accept it with confidence that I still have a job when my orders end. The cycle will repeat itself to ensure I can serve and better the Guard, preserve an income to support my family, and die a happy man (like the song says).
Decisions aren't always easy, but nonetheless, they are decisions without knowing the what-ifs.
Reason is because when you are done with the service and begin your next chapter, what will the military say?, "thank you for your service, here's the door." You cannot blame the service for what you do or cant do after you get out.
Take my situation for example, I started my master's in 2011, I volunteered for a deployment in 2013. When I came home, I was told the program changed and only 9 out of my 27 credits carried over. I was also told I wasn't going to get my ADOS job back. What did I do? No choice but to keep trucking along, started my degree all over again and applied for more military jobs.
I gave years to the military to show my potential for greater responsibility. It paid off! I am a company commander (not active duty) and have a strong resume. But if the military doesn't have a full time paid position for me, I cannot be without something to fall back on.
Thus, I will complete my master's in December 2016 and apply for a civilian job. When I'm offered a military job, I can accept it with confidence that I still have a job when my orders end. The cycle will repeat itself to ensure I can serve and better the Guard, preserve an income to support my family, and die a happy man (like the song says).
Decisions aren't always easy, but nonetheless, they are decisions without knowing the what-ifs.
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LTJG (Join to see)
That's my concern. My school told me flat out I'll be losing a decent amount of credits if I leave for a bit. Tough choices to make but as you said either way my resume will be looking pretty strong. So as far as problems go having to decide between these two is a pretty good situation lol
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SPC Rebecca M.
By the way, some schools give veterans discounts and you can use your GI Bill as well. I did my M.S. at Capella (online but it required three one-week in person residencies) which offered at the time a 10% discount to veterans and active duty, plus I used my GI Bill to pay for the majority of it. I had Montgomery, not sure how the post-9-11 GI Bill works. All that mattered for me was that it be accredited so I could do transfer credits into my doctorate when I was able to work on that, and that it advanced me towards where I wanted my career to lead. It was not the best known program but it did the job. That said, rare opportunities are hard to pass up (I've done it before), so I understand the angst involved. Nicholas, perhaps you could ask to transfer temporarily to another school or program, like an online one, then return to complete your degree there? I know a few people who have done that, switched from a brick and mortar school to an online one so they could continue the core coursework while deployed or in training, then those core courses would transfer over into the original program when they went back.
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