Posted on Aug 13, 2015
Military Officers don't need a degree? What say you?
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Military Officers Don’t Need College Degrees
Military recruiters and top brass like to repeat the refrain that the average member of the armed forces is better educated than the average American. It’s true. According to the Defense Department, nearly 94% of enlisted personnel have a high-school diploma, while only 60% of Americans do. About 83% of officers have a bachelor’s degree, in comparison with 30% of the general population.
These statistics, though, involve a bit of self-selection: Most officers have a bachelor’s degree because becoming an officer generally requires one, though this prerequisite appears increasingly anachronistic.
For one thing, the requirement of a college degree is simply a box for officer candidates to check. It doesn’t matter to the armed forces where you went to school, what you studied, or how well you did—short of a minimal GPA level of about 2.5 out of 4.0.
Scholarships provided by the Reserve Officer Training Corps and military academies such as West Point and Annapolis may have more stringent criteria, but in general anyone with a four-year degree who can pass the basic background checks and physical requirements of the military may apply for Officer Candidate School.
Instead of mandating that officers have college degrees, the military should expand alternative avenues to officership. A few exceptions to the degree mandate already exist: Warrant officers or limited-duty officers—typically highly trained specialists in technical fields like avionics or equipment maintenance—have worked their way to officership. Their service is akin to apprenticeship, where useful knowledge is gained through practical experience, not textbook theory. Why not offer the same deal to other recruits?
Historically, a college degree signaled superior intelligence, critical reasoning and writing skills, and dedication. A degree holder could be expected to form logical, coherent arguments and effectively communicate ideas. But a college degree in 2015 no longer signals—let alone guarantees—much of anything.
According to a 2014 Lumina-Gallup poll, “just 11% of business leaders strongly agree that higher education institutions in this country are graduating students with the skills and competencies that their business needs, and 17% strongly disagree.” In a Chronicle for Higher Education survey published in March 2013, employers said that applicants with degrees lacked decision-making and problem-solving abilities, written and oral communication skills, adaptability, and even the capacity to manage multiple priorities.
Even more than in civilian environments, those are skills needed for war. If a college degree no longer confers them, then why should the armed forces require it at all? Beyond the usual arguments about the prohibitive cost for many high-school graduates unable to take on debt, a college degree isn’t needed to be successful. Peter Thiel, an accomplished tech businessman, offers a fellowship of $100,000 for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to skip college and build businesses instead. Companies started as a result now employ 200 people and have generated $200 million in economic activity, according to the fellowship.
Some may argue that obtaining a bachelor’s degree shows responsibility or maturity. Yet how much responsibility does a typical single, childless 22-year-old college senior have? Has he demonstrated greater responsibility than a 22-year-old corporal at the end of his first tour of duty? Has he even demonstrated greater responsibility than a 19-year-old private first class after six months of service?
The only mark of distinction that a college degree still indicates, perhaps, is dedication. It usually requires four or more years to achieve, and following through to the end suggests long-term commitment to a goal. Yet clearly, college and putting off the working world is not for everyone. In 2013, the six-year graduation rate in the U.S. was only 59%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Commitment is certainly important to success in the military, but the armed forces already have a way to measure and test it: a four-year enlistment. If aspiring officers must demonstrate commitment and responsibility, completing a four-year enlistment should suffice. If they must prove raw intellectual aptitude, high scores on the military’s own General Classification Test should be enough. If they must have general knowledge and the ability to think and write coherently, an exam akin to the State Department’s Foreign Service Officer Test would work.
A combination of these could easily form a new path to an officer’s commission—and providing an alternative to the bachelor’s degree would produce an even more qualified officer corps.
http://www.wsj.com/article_email/military-officers-dont-need-college-degrees [login to see] -lMyQjAxMTI1NzE3MzMxNTM3Wj
Military recruiters and top brass like to repeat the refrain that the average member of the armed forces is better educated than the average American. It’s true. According to the Defense Department, nearly 94% of enlisted personnel have a high-school diploma, while only 60% of Americans do. About 83% of officers have a bachelor’s degree, in comparison with 30% of the general population.
These statistics, though, involve a bit of self-selection: Most officers have a bachelor’s degree because becoming an officer generally requires one, though this prerequisite appears increasingly anachronistic.
For one thing, the requirement of a college degree is simply a box for officer candidates to check. It doesn’t matter to the armed forces where you went to school, what you studied, or how well you did—short of a minimal GPA level of about 2.5 out of 4.0.
Scholarships provided by the Reserve Officer Training Corps and military academies such as West Point and Annapolis may have more stringent criteria, but in general anyone with a four-year degree who can pass the basic background checks and physical requirements of the military may apply for Officer Candidate School.
Instead of mandating that officers have college degrees, the military should expand alternative avenues to officership. A few exceptions to the degree mandate already exist: Warrant officers or limited-duty officers—typically highly trained specialists in technical fields like avionics or equipment maintenance—have worked their way to officership. Their service is akin to apprenticeship, where useful knowledge is gained through practical experience, not textbook theory. Why not offer the same deal to other recruits?
Historically, a college degree signaled superior intelligence, critical reasoning and writing skills, and dedication. A degree holder could be expected to form logical, coherent arguments and effectively communicate ideas. But a college degree in 2015 no longer signals—let alone guarantees—much of anything.
According to a 2014 Lumina-Gallup poll, “just 11% of business leaders strongly agree that higher education institutions in this country are graduating students with the skills and competencies that their business needs, and 17% strongly disagree.” In a Chronicle for Higher Education survey published in March 2013, employers said that applicants with degrees lacked decision-making and problem-solving abilities, written and oral communication skills, adaptability, and even the capacity to manage multiple priorities.
Even more than in civilian environments, those are skills needed for war. If a college degree no longer confers them, then why should the armed forces require it at all? Beyond the usual arguments about the prohibitive cost for many high-school graduates unable to take on debt, a college degree isn’t needed to be successful. Peter Thiel, an accomplished tech businessman, offers a fellowship of $100,000 for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to skip college and build businesses instead. Companies started as a result now employ 200 people and have generated $200 million in economic activity, according to the fellowship.
Some may argue that obtaining a bachelor’s degree shows responsibility or maturity. Yet how much responsibility does a typical single, childless 22-year-old college senior have? Has he demonstrated greater responsibility than a 22-year-old corporal at the end of his first tour of duty? Has he even demonstrated greater responsibility than a 19-year-old private first class after six months of service?
The only mark of distinction that a college degree still indicates, perhaps, is dedication. It usually requires four or more years to achieve, and following through to the end suggests long-term commitment to a goal. Yet clearly, college and putting off the working world is not for everyone. In 2013, the six-year graduation rate in the U.S. was only 59%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Commitment is certainly important to success in the military, but the armed forces already have a way to measure and test it: a four-year enlistment. If aspiring officers must demonstrate commitment and responsibility, completing a four-year enlistment should suffice. If they must prove raw intellectual aptitude, high scores on the military’s own General Classification Test should be enough. If they must have general knowledge and the ability to think and write coherently, an exam akin to the State Department’s Foreign Service Officer Test would work.
A combination of these could easily form a new path to an officer’s commission—and providing an alternative to the bachelor’s degree would produce an even more qualified officer corps.
http://www.wsj.com/article_email/military-officers-dont-need-college-degrees [login to see] -lMyQjAxMTI1NzE3MzMxNTM3Wj
Officers
Education
Rank
Bachelors Degree
Commission
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 126
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Absolutely the worst idea I have heard. Military leaders need more than just knowledge of their particular field. They need more than intelligence. A college degree doesn't just mean you're trained at something, it means you have had the experience of challenging and defending statements. It means you have researched and broadened your knowledge of multiple topics. It means you have networked with individuals that are at the peak of their fields. It means you have diversified your understanding of the world.
Are there eaches? Sure. But these should be handled on a case-by-case basis, with the end result of working towards and attaining a degree.
Are there eaches? Sure. But these should be handled on a case-by-case basis, with the end result of working towards and attaining a degree.
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Speaking myself as both a former officer (wht prior enlisted experience) and a bachelor's degree holder, I've seen plenty of college graduates on both the civvy and military side of the house with no common sense or street smarts, i.e. overeducated fools. And I've met my fair share of non-degreed commission officers (Army warrants, LDOs, and whatnot) who had their sh*t together. So yeah, while the bachelor's is cerrtainly great, it should NOT be an end-all, be-all when it comes to qualifying for a commission IMHO.
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I joined the service with a near Associates too old to get into any officer's programs. At the time the services considered it worth a jump form E1 to E3. Enrolling in college is easy. Getting the degree is not. That requires work which is why so many don't make it to graduation. Going to college doesn't make you smart. Getting through college and earning that degree will give a person strengths to apply to other endeavors.
Took me a while to finish as life kept getting in the way, but I have my degree now and can say it still takes a lot of work, persistence and personal strength to obtain. Those are things we want in officers.
Took me a while to finish as life kept getting in the way, but I have my degree now and can say it still takes a lot of work, persistence and personal strength to obtain. Those are things we want in officers.
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I have a very jaded opinion of college degrees from my time spent as an Army Recruiter. We had an applicant who had her Bachelors, and was 12 hours shy of her Masters, and she couldn't pass the ASVAB. I know it's an isolated incident but I have heard this same issue from others who were Recruiters. In addition I receive emails all the time from Officers with degrees who write like my 8th grade son. I have a friend who has his Masters Degree who can't spell Masters. (at least it seems that way from reading his emails)
With that being said, I do plan on getting my degree before I get out as it's all but required to get a good job (if I indeed get one when I retire). I realize I am the exception rather than the rule with making CW5 without a degree. (see jaded above)
I get frustrated when I deal with people who appear ignorant but have degrees. So, I hate the way we put so much emphasis on them, but there has to be a benchmark somewhere.
With that being said, I do plan on getting my degree before I get out as it's all but required to get a good job (if I indeed get one when I retire). I realize I am the exception rather than the rule with making CW5 without a degree. (see jaded above)
I get frustrated when I deal with people who appear ignorant but have degrees. So, I hate the way we put so much emphasis on them, but there has to be a benchmark somewhere.
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LCDR (Join to see)
Well Chief, there are college degrees and there are college degrees. A document from a diploma mill will not make the applicant any brighter. You should realize that.
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CW5 (Join to see)
LCDR (Join to see) - The school this applicant went to was a brick and mortar 4 yr college unfortunately.
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SFC (Join to see)
I am a former officer who was made to resign my commission due to being passed over for promotion. I graduated OCS and went to officer basic for EN officers and passed that. When I became promotable to CPT, however, I was not promoted because I lacked a Bachelor's degree. My first reaction was "Does the Army want leaders or robots?" My life did not allow me to go back to school then. I am talking about 20 years ago, so online colleges were not as plentiful as they are now. I am now an SFC, but was "dropped" to a SGT. I do have an AAS degree and work in a position where I don't need a 4 year degree, so I don't think they are always the answer. Some "book smart" people with degrees have zero personalities and do not make good leaders.
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Suspended Profile
I do not think my degree has had any influence on my ability to lead as an officer. I credit my prior enlisted experience, military education, and civilian managerial skills as the most important factors in my success as an officer.
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As a college education becomes more expensive, leaving many graduates $100,000 or more in debt, colleges, I believe, are quickly pricing themselves out of the market that most can afford. This may reduce the pool that the military has to pick from, especially the Marines, who get most of their officers thru OCS. Alternative paths to a commission may have to be developed, perhaps a return to more military academies.
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I couldn't agree less. College teaches individuals a wide array of skills and knowledge that the average high school enlistee doesn't have. It ensures that all officers have a common background when it comes to general knowledge, grammar, written proficiency, and much more. If nothing else, it is a great way for officers to get through their "wild years" and come into a professional atmosphere with less likelihood of facing disciplinary issues.
To me, this is why we have the warrant officer and LDO route. The experience gained in the service is considered commensurate to a 4-year degree and affords individuals with a proven track record the chance to apply.
I used to be on the "no degree needed" boat until I got my degree. The caliber of individual is generally much higher, especially in graduate school.
I did notice that you opted for a blended route for becoming commissioned. I can bite on that. I think it would be nice to see an education mixed with other factors (outside of ROTC, etc.) in order to become an officer.
To me, this is why we have the warrant officer and LDO route. The experience gained in the service is considered commensurate to a 4-year degree and affords individuals with a proven track record the chance to apply.
I used to be on the "no degree needed" boat until I got my degree. The caliber of individual is generally much higher, especially in graduate school.
I did notice that you opted for a blended route for becoming commissioned. I can bite on that. I think it would be nice to see an education mixed with other factors (outside of ROTC, etc.) in order to become an officer.
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Sure why not. While we are at it Why do soldiers need High School? Heck, anyone can do it right. How do you think high school or a GED is a must for being a Soldier or NCO?
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Other counties do not require officers to obtain a Bachelor's degree, Sanhurst (UK) probably being the most famous example, and their officers are just fine. However, the point of our system is not to produce officers with highly professional, but limited, and cookie cutter experience. The purpose of our system is to not only provide the services with officers who have a well rounded education, but also officers from various backgrounds and disciplines, making the service better. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, but I was not a PAO, I was an infantry officer and later an aviation officer. ROTC provided me with a start, in the army, my officers and NCOs were my teachers, and quickly I became a good officer. My degree had little to do with leadership, management, and operations of any kind, but I could write, brief, speak, and generally communicate better than must of my peers, I shared my skills with others, and some of that talent rubbed off on my peers. Just one example of the benefits of wide range of disciplines in the officer corps.
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I agree that a degree signifies some accomplishment, but usually that comes from experience in frat parties, keg stands and beer pong. I (along with a number of other Marines) was commissioned without a degree, did well in all of the formal schools I attended, and achieved the rank of Major. We did not have the degree completion program back then, and were much too busy in our jobs and deployments to attend school while serving. I've known many fine officers who did not complete their degree. Many other officers I knew, who did have degrees (including the Naval Academy), performed poorly, both professionally and in their inter-personal relationships. Leadership traits, common sense, and respect for your subordinates are much more important than a sheepskin. There is a strong sense of intellectual snobbery out there.
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