Posted on Feb 7, 2018
Is education a big deal in the Army and Marine Corps?
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One of my biggest gripes about the Air Force is how much emphasis there is on education. I mean, I guess I should've expected that when I enlisted given the nature of the branch, but I definitely wasn't expecting to be told basically that I'll be kicked out after my first enlistment if not doing some sort of schooling. I understand that school is important and I probably should go but I just truly don't want to go and have no interest in it. Even if it is free.
Posted in these groups: 
Education
Education
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 23
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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.
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What are the core values of the AF? How does what you just wrote apply to them?
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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.
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We do a lot of things in the service that we don’t want to do. Part of the game.
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Suspended Profile
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
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
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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.
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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.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
I received no educational guidance in my early years! SrA (Join to see) You are in an improvement focused military!
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MSG Dan Castaneda
High PT scores are good. I think that Soldiers that max their PT will go further than Soldiers that don't. However, you need to be smart too. Educated service members always produce the best products from training concepts, to OPORDS, to NCOERs. I've seen way too many NCO that could not write and their Soldier's evaluations were garbage. Balance the two, ultimately it's what make a great Soldier.
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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.
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