If one had to choose between the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club and a master's degree, which would you pick?

Master's degree, hands down. One will look great in a shadow box while the other will be your ticket to higher civilian pay, e.g., the difference between starting as a GS-7 or a GS-9, for example.

They both make you standout above the rest, however in the civilian world we are lucky if they even know what memorial day and veterans day are and the difference between the two are. So I'd have to choose the Masters degree

No choice to be had. Get the Masters.

Well, they both set you apart from your peers...so you would have to decide which benefits you the most.

I guess it would depend on your goal. The Audie Murphy Club is prestigious, but is in-service centric. A Master's applies to your in-service career and after retirement opportunities. Your future employer may not realize the accomplishment of attaining membership in the Club, but will certainly recognize the value of the Master's. (depending of course on what your Master's is in) Membership in the Club is only important to those in it, and those who wish to be in it. The Master's is recognized by everyone as an additional level of commitment and education beyond the normal.

On a promotion board, is membership in the Club a tie breaker between you and another, does it carry on in relevance to the E9 board, later? I think a Master's adds value on both boards (E8 and E9), unless you feel as though the board will look at your educational accomplishment as an indicator you have too much time on your hands. And, later after retirement, will a 25 - 28 year old recruiter recognize Club membership as having greater value than a Master's? My inclination is that they won't even know what the Club is and it will become representative of the things civilians view as those things we in the military can't leave behind from our former career...

I would advise the Master's, just my opinion.

From what I understand, the SAMC is a very high honor. However, it won't pay the bills after retirement...a master degree will. You should be able to do both. That would be my recommendation.

SFC James Bacon, I got two masters degrees on active duty (22 years active duty) but failed to capitalize on them in the military. This was my fault. I failed to properly manage my time. It is about the individual not the titles or accomplishments at the end of the day.

Why do you have to choose?

Why not choose to do both?

For me that's an easy one, Masters Degree. Which one last longer and is going to do more for you? After Masters, go for SAMC.