Posted on Mar 30, 2018
Matthew Douglas
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Hi all, I'm looking at the military as a possibility after I graduate from college. Currently I'm a junior at the University of Michigan studying economics with a minor in computer science. I was curious which branch has the best MBA preparation and/or develops skills that translate well to business.
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CSM Stuart C. O'Black
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None,
I know this sounds brash, however, your goal should not be an MBA. Your goal should be to join and become a successful and servant leader. Make sure you look into ROTC otherwise you may have to go enlisted regardless of education level. We have helped many a young successful Soldier with a degree get into the officer "Green to Gold" program. Getting back to the original thought, the follow-on degree should not be your primary goal. Serving and being successful in whatever career field should be your goal. Also, understand you may not always get your first branch of choice. Often the Army or military will choose the branch you go into. Regardless of the branch, the skills you learn as an officer will be of a value seldom achieved anywhere else in the civilian world. Good luck in whatever future endeavors you choose.
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
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I don't believe that you are going to find a specific branch or even MOS for that matter that will do anything special for you in regards to preparing you for an MBA.
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LTC Kevin B.
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The branches are basically immaterial. All provide opportunities to lead, which forms a base of relevant experience for pursuing an MBA. The functional areas are a more appropriate guide for development in business-related areas. Unfortunately, the MBA is often a prerequisite for moving into many of those functional areas.

The MBA curriculum doesn't assume you have a business-related background. They teach all of that from scratch. Given that you are coming in with an economics background, as well as a more quantitative foundation (from the CS curriculum), you will be just fine. Most programs draw students from all across the academic spectrum (math, sciences, liberal arts, business, etc.), so you will already be ahead of many of your peers. I would just focus on doing well on the job in whatever branch you pursue, and then prepare for doing well on the GMAT (or GRE, which many business schools also accept these days).
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
6 y
Matthew Douglas I wish to build on my distinguished colleague, LTC Kevin B.'s Comment. When I did my MBA, I noticed that my counter parts had largely never been in charge of anything but themselves and three feet around themselves. I had commanded two Army companies (the second in combat) and led hundreds of people and subordinate leaders. What that did was bring to life decision making, interpersonal issues, motivating, and integrating those activities. I was also able to actively debunk so of the management guru hokum because I had practical experience. The debate between leadership and management.

I did specialize my MBA in Supply Chain Management. I happened to be an Army Logisitician. I was well suited to do that, but I also had no business academic preparation as my bachelors degree was in Civil Engineering.

Doing well on the GMAT is a critical entrance requirement, especially for an AASCB accredited program.

You may want to consider the following: if you enter the Military, it is not to posture for a graduate degree. When you enter you need to focus on your craft as a Soldier. focus on leadership and tactical/technical competence as a junior officer. While I was sent to complete an MBA, I was selected for the assignment because I had proven myself as an Officer that also had a GRE score on file.
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Which branch sets you up the best for a future MBA?
COL Deputy G2
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Whatcha Branch? They are all the same if an MBA is your goal. That is because none of the services are business. They are government agencies/departments. You may learn some leadership traits which may be helpful beyond what you need to learn for an MBA. So they are all as equally worthless or worthwhile which ever way you look at it.
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CPT Clay Autery
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I did my MBA work after hours and on weekends while I was stationed stateside. I was an Army officer in San Antonio at the time. But most of my classmates were Air Force.
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LT General Medical Officer
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Everyone has their own personal bias because of the branch they’ve joined. In my opinion, the air force would probably do well to you. They most likely have the most translatable skills in the field you’re in. The army would probably be my second choice if I was in your place. Regardless of what branch you join, however, it’s purely your responsibility to set yourself up for civilian life after the military. Regardless of what branch you join there are still programs to further your education while you’re in to set you up for life after the military. Just stay motivated!
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SMSgt Craig Smith
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The opportunities and skills learned in the Air Force translated well to civilian employment following military service.
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CPT Director Of Banking Solutions
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Edited 6 y ago
I have more of a question than an answer here. Why do you want an MBA? Seems like an intermediate step to an end state rather than the end state itself. As both an MBA and hiring manager, I can say that the degree carries positive and negative qualities in the job market. MBAs are general managers by education, which is also a skill you’ll learn as an NCO or Officer in ANY military service or billet. One of the biggest mistakes I see Veterans making is to go be a manager in the service, come back and learn about manangent, then apply for management roles only to learn that your lack of specific industry or organizational knowledge inhibits your ability to manage (or even be hired) in that arena.

A better question might be ‘what do you want to be when you grow up,’ which I will be the first to admit is one I still don’t know the answer to. But if you want to be in cyber, or medical, or LE, you can probably find a military career that prepares you for THAT transition. Then, if it still makes sense, you could go back and get an MBA to enhance the technical skills that the military gave you. Better yet, you can go get a targeted masters degree in that field rather than spending time learning the civilian version of leadership and management lessons that you already know from your time in the military.
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CPT Director Of Banking Solutions
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6 y
The following statement indicated otherwise, unless you were talking about a junior service member getting an MBA and joining an organization at an equivalent junior level.

"Also, people can indeed leave the military and take positions (with a newly acquired MBA) leading equivalent numbers of people. I have seen it happen first-hand, many times. I've even been involved in helping make that happen. Does it always happen? No. Does it regularly happen? Yes."
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LTC Kevin B.
LTC Kevin B.
6 y
You're reading things into my words which aren't there. The OP never explicitly or implicitly wrote that he'd be doing a full career as an enlisted or an officer, and then pursuing an MBA to go into business. The only realistic assumptions anyone can make is that he'd get out as a young enlisted or a junior officer. Moreover, many career NCOs and virtually all career officers already have a graduate degree upon retirement.
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CPT Director Of Banking Solutions
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I feel like it's just arguing for arguing's sake at this point. You don't have to agree with my position, Sir. You are clearly very protective of the MBA programs that you've been a part of, and I'm sure some folks have done great things with those degrees. I simply refuse to mislead future students to the narrative that an MBA is their ticket to success. Lots of unemployed MBAs out there.
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LTC Kevin B.
LTC Kevin B.
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CPT (Join to see) - True. Lots of unemployed lawyers too.

I'm not "very protective" of MBAs. I just don't like for them to be characterized using a broad brush. The MBA isn't for everyone, and I've never implied that. I just said that an MBA can be useful for some people, based on their career goals.
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Potential Recruit
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Considering your career choice is all about leading and decision-making, the obvious answer, to me anyways, is to become a Commissioned Officer. You get put onto a staff team and assigned to the position of platoon leader, which usually consists of about 40 soldiers.

However, considering you're a junior, I think you've missed your chance at ROTC, which is one of the few ways to become an officer in the Army. However, you should still contact the ROTC department if your school has one, just to confirm.

Below is an article explaining the other ways:
https://www.todaysmilitary.com/joining/becoming-a-military-officer
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LT General Medical Officer
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I became an officer through a program that commissioned enlisted sailors. I’m not saying that the options are easy. By no means is any of it easy. There are options. There is at least 3 programs in the navy to commission available for enlisted sailors to commission.
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Potential Recruit
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LT (Join to see) - I don't know much of the Navy, but "3" doesn't really apply in the "many" category. I've been doing a lot of research lately, in order to prepare for my future career as an officer in the Army, and the paths are narrow. Not much room to jump off course.
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LT General Medical Officer
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Nothing can substitute hard work. I’ll leave this conversation at that. That was my point from the beginning.
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Potential Recruit
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LT (Join to see) - I understand that, and I 100% agree with you. However, he didn't ask about which branch would offer him the most discipline. I was answering the question with facts rather than personal testimonies.
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Sgt Field Radio Operator
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Edited 6 y ago
Matthew Douglas Below is information regarding the branches. I would look at all the branches and what opportunities that each will provide you. What are your long range goals? Are you planning on working on your MBA while serving? All of the branches offer skills that translate well to business.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/military-service-branches-compared.html

https://www.usmilitary.com/30697/choosing-which-branch-to-join/
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