If you have an MBA, has it been useful, and what career field did you enter?

2013-12-27T11:12:11-05:00

How many of you have MBA's and what is your career field?

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 27 at 2013 5:33 PM

2013-12-27T17:33:33-05:00

I did just about everything an MBA degree holder would or might due accept have the degree, I was a CFNCO for 3 years, helping Soldiers with their finances via counseling, did investment counseling, taxes, government assistance, advised for tax incentives and deferments via IRAs and 401s, advised on education investing, etc.

Just never put in the effort to get the degree, as I didn't want to get pigeon-holed into the finance MOS field at the time, even though the Army was going to pay for my schooling to be a full time financial advisor when the program was being created for permanency.

Response by SGT Matt Nickeson made Mar 14 at 2014 8:16 PM

2014-03-14T20:16:52-04:00

I am currently attending Wake Forest University's MBA program concentrating in Operations and Consulting.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2014 8:44 PM

2014-03-14T20:44:49-04:00

Currently pursuing my MBA with a focus in marketing. I was a prior military police officer, but now I am a recruiter.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2014 9:58 PM

2014-03-19T21:58:35-04:00

I don't have a masters degree yet but I am currently working on my bachelors' degree in business management. Once i complete that I will go for my masters. Currently my career field is mechanics. I believe the masters degree will help me when I retire to get a career with a government contract type corporation. I was thinking something along the lines of Lockheed Martin or Oshkosh Defense. Course I have tossed around the option of getting into law enforcement after I get out too, The masters degree will help in that situation as well.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Mar 19 at 2014 10:03 PM

2014-03-19T22:03:56-04:00

MS in Management; project management. I am in the non profit organization; United Way of Faribault, Minnesota Literacy Council, as an AmeriCorps VISTA. I have 2 years completed in my EdD in organizational leadership. After my VISTA tour, I aspire to delve into the foreign service, State Dept, USAID or Peace Corps.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2014 1:00 PM

2014-03-21T13:00:50-04:00

MBA from St. Martin's University, 2006. I was a SSG, Combat Engineer at the time but I am an MI Officer now. Now working on a Master's in International Security through University of Arizona.

The administrative skills and organizational management training from the MBA has been a huge benefit in my military career, especially with the job I hold right now. Having a better understanding of group dynamics is essential to successful leadership.

The IS degree is giving me a broader understanding of the complexities of international policy and security. The most important lesson I've learned so far: there is NEVER a simple answer to an international issue.

Although I am fast approaching retirement, I have no idea if either the MBA or IS grad degrees will have a direct impact on my next career. Hell, I may just go get a PhD. :)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2014 4:47 PM

2014-03-21T16:47:13-04:00

I am currently working on my MBA, and am almost 1/2 way through. I am a 35P Arabic Cryptolinguist. I got my Bachelor's in Middle Eastern Studies because I was focused on enhancing my knowledge as an Arabic linguist. I switched over for my Masters to the MBA though because I wanted to broaden my civilian marketability when I retire. I am learning a bunch of stuff that can be applied to the military and everyday life as well. Either way, I am enjoying it, but I wouldn't recommend taking two masters classes at the same time unless you have a LOT of free time. I am currently at SLC, and figured that since I am without my family and living in a barracks room, I can handle it. I am stumbling my way through taking two courses right now, but I am still managing to get A's! It just comes down to time management.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Spencer made Apr 27 at 2014 9:32 PM

2014-04-27T21:32:48-04:00

Master of Science in Transportation Management, essentially an MBA for transportation organizations. I am the Program Manager for Intelligent Transportation Systems at the Federal Transit Administration. Have been in transportation planning and research since 1998.

Strangely, I started my government career as a transportation specialist supporting the Army's research unit, CDEC at Ft. Hunter Liggett.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2014 11:40 PM

2014-07-02T23:40:03-04:00

I have an MBA in finance from Grand Canyon University.

Response by MSG Sean Milhauser made Jul 2 at 2014 11:48 PM

2014-07-02T23:48:16-04:00

I am about halfway through earning a MBA with Columbia Southern University. I may go with a concentration in either HR or Marketing but haven't totally decided yet. As the Army becomes more competitive at the Senior NCO level (E7, E8, E9), college education is going to be more of a determining factor in who makes the cut for our selection boards.

Response by CPL Jay Strickland made Jul 4 at 2014 12:10 PM

2014-07-04T12:10:48-04:00

I have a JD, and work for a bank I am considering an MBA to broaden my ability to work in various banking fields.

Response by MAJ Randy R. made Jul 6 at 2014 4:09 PM

2014-07-06T16:09:39-04:00

A graduate business degree of some sort is valuable. I recall then-BG Hatch speaking to a number of us engineers 30 years back--"Yes, you should be proud of your engineering degrees, but to be more effective as you move up, business education is critical." He was correct.

But I would not limit myself to a common MBA, unless I were fairly sure that such generality is most appropriate, such as if I did not have an idea what field I might want to work in upon military retirement. Better-focused programs exist in order to better prepare students for the details of their chosen fields. For example, those going into healthcare should consider a master's in healthcare administration. Those going into construction should consider a master's in construction management--like the distance learning program at Purdue, essentially an MBA for construction industry professionals: https://tech.purdue.edu/degrees/ms-building-construction-management-online. Students go through the two-year program in a cohort, and they come to campus for four days at the start of each academic year, to meet their peers and faculty members. It is more personal than many programs in its treatment of students.

Response by LTC Omar Hamada made Jul 6 at 2014 4:54 PM

2014-07-06T16:54:15-04:00

I have an MBA from Vanderbilt (strategy, finance, and entrepreneurship). I am an MD who got frustrated with the direction that healthcare was/is taking and believe that if we as physicians are to have any say, we need to speak the same language as the legislators, attorneys, bankers, financiers, etc... driving reform.

Though I am still in clinical medicine, I am also an entrepreneur and consultant, and effect change in any way I can.

Response by Cpl Jay Anger made Jul 8 at 2014 9:07 AM

2014-07-08T09:07:51-04:00

I completed an MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management on a full-ride academic scholarship. It was quite easy as a concentration since I was Motor-T in the Corps; and at that time, was general manager of a consolidation and export facility for Assemblies of God World Missions - Africa. Basically, I was studying the theory behind what I was already doing in real life.

I'm really an entrepreneur at heart. Recently, I became a full business partner at Rockin H Ranch/Real Farm Foods where I handle "off-ranch" marketing, sales, and distribution. They approached me and wanted to hire me as an employee. Instead, I sold the assets I had in a small business, took out a business loan, and started my own business within the company. I'd rather take on the risk to have more autonomy and have the opportunity to receive a higher reward for my time and energy.

Response by Sgt Randy Hill made Jul 10 at 2014 10:43 AM

2014-07-10T10:43:00-04:00

I have a master of science degree in human resource management from Chapman University Orange Ca. The psychology of business is my business.

Response by SGT Jay Hertzler made Jul 14 at 2014 12:47 PM

2014-07-14T12:47:29-04:00

I received my MBA in 2007, along with my PMP certification. I am currently a Technical Project Manager for Sprint.

Response by SSG Eric Burleson made Jul 26 at 2014 6:13 PM

2014-07-26T18:13:03-04:00

I'm working on it, one year left in a full time program. I work in university lead generation.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Spencer made Jul 27 at 2014 11:50 AM

2014-07-27T11:50:25-04:00

I have an AS in real Estate, BS in Business admin & Management, and an MS in Transportation Management (MBA for transportation organizations). I work at the USDOT, but also find my KSAs transferable to local, regional, or state government. My degrees and experience can relate to public administration and/or political science.

My practice has largely been in the planning field.

Response by SPC James Mcneil made Oct 5 at 2014 6:28 PM

2014-10-05T18:28:39-04:00

MBA's? None. I am working on my first. I have an associate's degree in Business Administration.
ETA: I am a public speaker.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2014 6:49 PM

2014-10-05T18:49:34-04:00

I have a BBA with a concentration in Finance and Marketing. I worked in retail operations for a few years and then into Business Development. I was working on a MBA in Operations Management and moved into Logistics a few years before being picked up for AGR. I have put my MBA on hold to work on a Construction Management degree in order to further my military career and bridge the gap in my knowledge. Once I complete this I have a plan to finish my MBA and supplement it with either a MS in Data Analytics/Big Data or a MS/PhD in Economics. I keep getting drawn into the Financial Engineering field but I can't see myself trying to make that a lifestyle even if the field is immensely interesting to me.

Response by SPC David S. made Oct 5 at 2014 7:53 PM

2014-10-05T19:53:39-04:00

MBA from Benedictine University, Business undergrad as well. I'm currently the Systems Manager for a trade show marketing firm.

Response by SPC David Shaffer made Oct 7 at 2014 8:28 AM

2014-10-07T08:28:50-04:00

I recently started going to school for my bachelors in business administration. I'm going to take psychology as my minor. I take my classes online at Ashford Univ. but I think i'm going to transfer to AMU next year some time.

Response by SFC Stephen Carden made Oct 7 at 2014 10:25 AM

2014-10-07T10:25:05-04:00

I currently hold a B.S in Business Administration. I began a double Masters in Business Administration and Healthcare Management (I know nothing about the healthcare field, but I know that it was one of the only industries that grew during the recession). After about three classes, I started deploying and I was always in very austere environments with a high OPTEMPO, so that precluded me from continuing my studies while deployed. When I was able to start up again, I had lost all motivation, but I was determined to gut through it anyway. Then, I found out from some employers that the market was saturated with MBAs, and that a lot of employers were looking now for people with Masters degrees in Management. It was explained to me that it was basically an MBA without all of the finance classes. So, now I am in vapor lock about what to do. Has anyone else heard this besides me? One of the people that told me this is a retired GO, so I tend to trust his word. I don't want to waste my time getting a degree that doesn't set me apart form the crowd!

Response by CW4 Aaron Rasmussen made Nov 9 at 2014 12:01 AM

2014-11-09T00:01:08-05:00

I earned my MBA through University of Colorado at Colorado Springs while stationed at Fort Carson in 2007. I'm a GS-0301 (Misc Admin and Program Series) in the federal govt now. I was a 270A Legal Administrator then. I don't really think it helped me in my career in terms of getting promoted or getting a job. But it helped me learn a lot about myself and techniques that I used in my job almost immediately after classes. It was well worth my time and the money I spent on it. And it certainly doesn't look bad on my resume. :)

Response by MSgt Brent Danberry made Nov 10 at 2014 11:39 AM

2014-11-10T11:39:42-05:00

Charles, I have a Master of Arts in Management (University of Redlands 2013) and considering pursuing a MBA with a logistics concentration. My Bachelors degree is in transportation and logistics management and I really enjoyed the logistics material. I was looking at a master of science in leadership, however I am more intrigued by the MBA with logistics concentration.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Dec 12 at 2014 6:03 AM

2014-12-12T06:03:03-05:00

SFC Charles W. Robinson - I have a Master of Science in Accounting from New York University Graduate School of Business Administration. I'm old school, so I don't call that place the Leonard N. School of Business unless I must.

Response by SSG Robin Rushlo made Dec 12 at 2014 6:49 AM

2014-12-12T06:49:39-05:00

My MBA is in Marketing. I own my cigar shop and online cigar store. Also working on the third smoking lounge

Response by MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht made Aug 8 at 2015 9:58 PM

2015-08-08T21:58:43-04:00

got my MBA after I retired. Helped me get a career broading assignment to Dayton Ohio. After that--to old to over qualified. Fielded stupid questions for interview guys--long story.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Aug 25 at 2015 11:23 PM

2015-08-25T23:23:32-04:00

I used my MBA to become a hospital CFO. I eventually went on to get my PhD, so now I'm a professor at a private university.

Response by Andrew Keady made Jun 26 at 2017 2:56 AM

2017-06-26T02:56:17-04:00

I have an MBA and it is invaluable in my current workplace in healthcare. However, I choose a specific focus of healthcare administration. Healthcare is a rapidly growing industry and MBAs that focus in that field are invaluable. however, keep in mind the healthcare courses for the masters can be considerably hard to grasp.

Response by SSgt Michael Corry made Sep 5 at 2019 6:25 AM

2019-09-05T06:25:46-04:00

I received an MBA in marketing and cute ring working on a DBA. I found that even with extensive military experience in a combat arms unit (15 years, Marine Corps Field Artillery Operations Chief) and an MBA, that experience in a particular field is crucial. I separated from the Marine Corps in Oct 2017 and finished my MBA March 2018. In the civilian sector it is very difficult to find a position at the level your background suggest you should have. I am currently employed as a low level groundman for an electrical construction company and still looking for a suitable position in at this point any industry within my field of study. If anyone has any recommendations or advice I’m open for all.