Should a 4-year degree be a requirement for selection to E-9?

I do not feel that it should be a requirement but given the draw down I highly recommend everyone officer and enlisted to pursue all the civilian education they can and still maintain the standards required for their Army profession. It will most definately be a disqualifier for promotion at some point and to think otherwise is just setting yourself up for failure.  On another note all together everyone seems to think that officers are given masters degrees for breathing that is anything but the truth. Those in the Army who pursue masters degrees while at Army schools are putting in a full day of work at their army level education and then going to school 3-4 nights a week for almost a year. After that year most still have a few classes they need to take. It takes a toll on their family and social lives but is something many are willing to do to improve themselves as a person, a professional and as a leader...

I'm a little torn on the subject. I never obtained a college degree, instead I headed for the Vo-Tec world. I completed a mechanics course at Boise State University and went to work. As a Reservists I ended up doing a lot of correspondence courses(MOS based). I worked in the back country as a guide, before internet and such. During these years I had no abilities to attend college or take courses. After moving to Denmark I've attended Cornell's farrier course, went through the Danish farrier certification course (3yrs) while at the same time teaching myself a different language and starting a business. During this time I was doing my Reserve duty. I did the non-res SGM COURSE along with all the other duties I had. Do I feel I was educated enough to do my job as a SGM? YES! Do I feel a college degree would have been an asset to my job as a SGM? For me no. I was fully capable to complete any mission given me. There are more ways to improve oneself than obtaining a degree. I think every individual situation is different. The key I feel is "Are you doing what's needed to improve yourself"? I do feel if you started a college degree, then it needs to be finished. I do know there are many degrees out there which have no rime nor reason to a job one has, yet the degree is earned and valid. In the end, for now, I feel it takes more than a college degree to make a good E-9.

I say NO. It should not be required, but it is always a plus when being considered for promotion.
Here is an example. I have been in for 14 years and I have done everything that is possibly available to me within my MOS. As a young Soldier I put in extra time to get a degree, and I got the Associates completed. As I moved up the ranks, and the deployments increased, I did not sign up for more classes because I chose to spend more time with my wife and children who are growing up fast, and I want to be there for family time and special occasions. When I am at work, I focus on the work that is needed to be done, and I absolutely do not think Soldiers should be doing their college classes during duty time. I plan on getting back to the college classes and work on a bachelors degree, but it will be after I finish my current assignment as an AIT PSG, because this job takes more than enough time from the family. NCOs who balance their career, training young Soldiers, military education, and professional development, and have a family that they would like to keep intact should not be forced to include a college degree in order to progress up the ranks. I will be continuing my education when I get the time, but if we make a degree mandatory for NCO's it will take away from the focus that they should have on the Army, their Soldiers, and their families.

A college education should not be a requirement for any position in the Army.

To me, the Sergeant Major is the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commander. As such, the SGM should be the organizational expert on the training and administration of enlisted personnel.

A SGM should be selected based on his or her previous performance duty experience.

NO. Being able to read and write is a good idea. Not everyone with a 4 year degree seems to have that ability.

I am not sure if "requirement" would go over well. I've read through some of the comments and found a surprising spread across the ranks.

My only concern is the ability for NCO's to express themselves effectively in a written format. I can't say I've reviewed any E8 or E9 papers for syntax, punctuation, or overall flow, but I have seen it to be a problem for NCO's who have to counsel junior leaders and soldiers. It is often for this reason that some NCO's put off counseling until the last minute (if it is done at all). A college education can help these leaders at a young age to develop different, more universal communication skills.

I have to agree that OPTEMPO doesn't often lend itself to higher learning. The type of command team that allows soldiers to leave a field exercise for college work is to often the exception, not the rule.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've come to believe that a 4 year degree was implied for selection into the senior NCO ranks.

Since different jobs have different stresses and OPTEMPO, perhaps prorating credit for college completion based on MOS would work. An infantryman or intel specialist working in an MTOE, ARFORGEN modeled unit would get more "points" for completing a degree in their off time. Whereas an intel specialist or operating room tech gets a few less "points" for completing their degree because of the implied time availability in a TDA unit. This already seems too convoluted to work.

All in all, the college degree should be backed up by ALL levels of the chain of command and NCO support channels. Put it in an ALARACT or MILPER message if need be. I received college credit for military experience, but it was a sporadic mix of credits that didn't compile into a degree. The college education is the type of experience that can compliment military leadership and prepare a soldier for the rigors of civilian employment and continuing education.

No. While I may feel that a college education is beneficial it is not an indicator of leadership anymore than a 300 pt score.
That being said the emphasis on education for promotion has created an environment of shady activity to obtain said credentials. An audit of educational credential in people's files would most likely reveal diplomas from non-accredited institutions, diploma mills, etc...
The average S1 or records clerk has no clue nor does the requisite check to verify if the school is legit. They get a sealed envelope that they assume came from a school registrar and they just add the degree to the records.

As a junior NCO, it says a lot about an E-9 who promotes education if that individual has taken advantage of the military education opportunities in his/her career. As an E-5, I have already used Tuition Assistance to complete my Bachelor's degree and am currently using it to work on my post-Bachelor certificate . I do not see how an E-9 has not taken the time to do the same. I do not think it is unreasonable to make it a requirement. It shows a lot about leadership, character, and self-motivation to use your personal time to complete this education.

I say absolutely not. I've had some great NCO leaders that didn't even finish high school, but chose to take the initiative to educate themselves. Not everyone has the means to go to college, and becoming a leader isn't learned in a college classroom.

Besides, once you have a degree, unless you are near the top end of the Enlisted rank structure, what would be the incentive to stay enlisted when you could take a pay jump into the Officer realm?