Is education a big deal in the Army and Marine Corps?

Well I want to thank everyone for their time and advice on this thread. It's truly been so insightful and has made me realize the need to at least do something to help have a better future for myself and others. Thank you guys again, I'll get on it.

What are the core values of the AF? How does what you just wrote apply to them?

Every service has it's own educational timeline and while not as strict for the enlisted as it is for the commissioned side of things, you are expect to attend the services schools developed for your rank and encouraged to take additional schools and continue your civilian education. Yes, I would expect that you wouldn't be retained if you were not trying to advance in your career. Why waste a slot when there are people out there that want to better themselves.

We do a lot of things in the service that we don’t want to do. Part of the game.

Here's my reality. Keep in mind I'm only one person out of about 7 billion...

Not everyone is cut out for school. The more you follow education the less you'll focus on your daily/weekly duties, that's just basic math and human nature.

It seems like you're being pushed aggressively, fine. Choose something that YOU would be interested in doing after your time in service. Most of the people I've worked for after my service time had no college (which causes issues when you're the educated one) or their education had nothing to do with their jobs (which also causes issues when you are).

Overall, you are in control of you. Once you leave the service none of those guys will remember you or care in official capacity.

Okay, almost a negative response here's something positive. Some basic reading, writing, and arithmetic will never hurt... So give your leadership some college classes, and take something directly useful.

Hope that helps

If it's absolutely necessary that you go to school then I would check out MyComputerCareer. Sitting in a class or doing homework online for 2-4 years can be tiresome but at MyCC you can get 9 IT certs in just 10 months. MyCC also has guaranteed job placement/career services for life, that way if you choose to get out of the Air Force because your tired of being told to go to school, you'll always have MyCC to assist you in finding a job. If you want more information just get back with me and I'll point you in the right direction.

If you want to make it to senior ranks, yes.

Yeah, I didn't get much advice or counseling on education or professional development requirements. It was just a kind of you should go or it's not likely to make it out of your first 6 years.

I have my doubts. I think High PT scores are important.

Let's put it this way. If you were one of my troops, I would encourage you to get as much schooling as you can so that your career progression would be easier....but I would not use scare tactics and the like to basically force you to go. That is a sign of poor leadership (IMHO). You want to go to school, I'll help you get there. If you don't want to go, I will still gladly have you on my team.