Should the military grant a 4 year "General Studies" degree to soldiers whom have served in the Armed Forces?

Ma'am,
TRADOC is realigning all enlisted NCOES to work toward more accredited course and more focus on academics as well as Soldier skills. However, to get a full degree through the military assumes you make it all the way through the NCOES system to the Sergeants Major Academy (apx 1% of the Active Force). Still, through the Army University, they are working towards college equivalent at all levels. The Sergeants Major Academy is working towards full academic accreditation for a 4-year degree. This assumes an NCO shows up with the prerequisite two-year equivalent courses completed. This also assumes that a student will want a degree in the field provided. Thus, now most must have a Masters degree completed to become an instructor in the Academy. Another reason why the SMA started the fellowship program for E-9s to get a Masters Degree in Adult Education from Penn State.
That is the problem with the enlisted NCOES versus the Officer. The level of education of the instructor and the rigor of the courses to meet the equivalent civilian education requirements. There is more information out there but the short answer is the Army is working to raise the level of education in our enlisted Corps. With that said I earned a Masters by going to school while in the military through Go Army Ed programs and credit for military schools and service. Only took a few decades, but I still had the GI bill if unable to complete while serving. These are great programs, the issue is that each career field is different and the onus is usually left up to the Soldier to get after it. The Army can not do it all regardless of programs and realignment of the NCOES system. There is more information out there I can track down if needed, but, a lot has been in the news lately from the SMA and the TRADOC CSM on what their goal is.
Take Care,
SGM OB

Sorry, but the education received during a four year "hitch" most often does NOT equate to a four year college degree. While a hard-charging sailor, marine, soldier, or airman MIGHT learn much in this four years, so very many do not, choosing to "coast along" for this term. Anyone who desires to EARN a college degree can fairly easily do just that by using G.I. Bill benefits accrued during his/her service.

Like an honorary general studies degree? Yea, that and a $1 May be able to get you a cup of coffee at McDonald’s off the dollar menu if you can bum the tax from someone. There are plenty of jobs available on USAJOBS that don’t require a degree. I just hired four GG13 and GG14 no degree was required. One had too many degrees but that wasn’t why we didn’t hire him. A BA in General Studies is just BS.

Somehow this popped up on my feed from 4 years ago, wondering if anything ever worked out for this idea?

I believe it is something that should be evaluated, but I absolutely believe that 4 years on Active Duty is not the same as 4 years in college. I would love to hear more as this unfolds.

Absolutely, positively, heck no! You want a degree, go out and earn one. You'll likely get some credits to transfer from boot camp and training school. The rest is up to you. You can basically CLEP & DANTES up to dang near an Associates, but most schools require a "residency" of at least 15 hours. I can say this from experience. I took online classes for a few years and earned a bachelors degree from Mississippi State back in 2011 doing shift work. It CAN be done, but you need the discipline and direction to make it happen!

Perhaps they could do something like the Community College of the Air Force. Fayetteville Technical Community College currently offers an associates degree in General Studies that fully recognizes the skills and knowledge learned through military training. There is still a need in the Army just as there is in the Air Force to complete the General Education classes such as Math, English etc. Thanks - Dave

http://www.faytechcc.edu/military-veterans/

No. We all make the choice to enter the service. Often times we join to avoid going or staying in school. Some of us serve and attend school concurrently. Handing out a degree in "General Studies" for service is not a good idea. Obtaining a college degree is hard, as it should be. When I think about my degree, I often think about the late nights and sacrifice it took to graduate. A big part of getting a degree is the journey. Do you have the moxie to do it? Often times, that is what employers really want to know. I know that my employer doesn't ask about GPA, they just want to see that you gutted it out. To reward someone a college degree without attending college defeats the whole point.

I earned a college degree while on active duty. The rigors of studying, researching, and preparing papers earn a degree when coupled with attending classes. The average service person maybe exercises a lot in body but many if not most never exercised their minds. During the years I was not attending classes I did read a lot but even with that intellectual exercise I would not deem my efforts to be at the level that college credit should have been awarded. I recall my nearly 5 years of living in the barracks that a lot of partying occurred during off duty hours with very little introspection or contemplation being done. I do not believe that college credit should be awarded to service members for simply being on active duty.

the real question is should the military denounce those many predatory for-profit companies selling degrees to military personnel. HR personnel should have more respect for military experience, but the first step is for the US in general to run out of business all these predatory for-profit colleges.