Posted on Oct 21, 2014
The Importance of an Advanced Degree to Active Duty Military and Veterans
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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs documented in a 2009 report that there were close to 600,000 veterans enrolled in educational programs. That number increased to slightly more than 900,000 in 2012. In our current political climate, across the board cuts in spending and a reduction in our military forces are inevitable. The sequestration in 2013 had an immediate impact on military students and veterans. The cutbacks required in 2014 (and beyond) are causing members of our military to consider educational options for their future. As the number of people in the general population who possess a bachelor’s degree increases, the requirement for an advanced degree, such as an MBA, has risen significantly.
The Air Force encourages its members to obtain a master’s degree to advance in their military career. Officers entering as military lawyers need a law degree. For commissioned officers, promotions may require a combination of a degree with training and experience.
An MBA can provide numerous opportunities for all military personnel. These opportunities can promote the learning of new concepts and ideas, collaborating with peers, examining new research, and integrating classwork into the workplace. There can be both personal rewards from learning new management practices and professional rewards from bringing new skills and credentials to the workplace.
In introduction forum posts for one of the business courses at AMU, one student pointed out that his main reason for getting an MBA is because it’s required to continue progressing in rank in the Air Force. Another student is anticipating that a balanced background of a bachelor’s degree in engineering, and a master’s degree in business management, may help him prepare for the competitiveness of the aerospace industry.
The MBA program at AMU covers proven business practices, strategic planning, operational management concepts, and budgeting—all useful skills for those who might be transitioning from a military to civilian career. For example, one AMU student will be returning to the private sector after more than 12 years of military service and is planning a new career in the finance field. Another has a few years before he will reach 20 years of military service and is planning a post-service career in business management. A third graduate, retired after more than 30 years of service in the Air Force, shared an interesting reason for returning for an MBA—to motivate his children to never stop achieving and to keep pace with the high-caliber people joining the ranks today. Whether it’s a personal goal or a career requirement, earning an MBA is an important learning experience as you prepare for your future inside the military our out.
As originally posted by In Military Education
By Dr. Kathleen Shriver and Jodi Bouvin
American Military University
http://rly.pt/2kTwX0G
The Air Force encourages its members to obtain a master’s degree to advance in their military career. Officers entering as military lawyers need a law degree. For commissioned officers, promotions may require a combination of a degree with training and experience.
An MBA can provide numerous opportunities for all military personnel. These opportunities can promote the learning of new concepts and ideas, collaborating with peers, examining new research, and integrating classwork into the workplace. There can be both personal rewards from learning new management practices and professional rewards from bringing new skills and credentials to the workplace.
In introduction forum posts for one of the business courses at AMU, one student pointed out that his main reason for getting an MBA is because it’s required to continue progressing in rank in the Air Force. Another student is anticipating that a balanced background of a bachelor’s degree in engineering, and a master’s degree in business management, may help him prepare for the competitiveness of the aerospace industry.
The MBA program at AMU covers proven business practices, strategic planning, operational management concepts, and budgeting—all useful skills for those who might be transitioning from a military to civilian career. For example, one AMU student will be returning to the private sector after more than 12 years of military service and is planning a new career in the finance field. Another has a few years before he will reach 20 years of military service and is planning a post-service career in business management. A third graduate, retired after more than 30 years of service in the Air Force, shared an interesting reason for returning for an MBA—to motivate his children to never stop achieving and to keep pace with the high-caliber people joining the ranks today. Whether it’s a personal goal or a career requirement, earning an MBA is an important learning experience as you prepare for your future inside the military our out.
As originally posted by In Military Education
By Dr. Kathleen Shriver and Jodi Bouvin
American Military University
http://rly.pt/2kTwX0G
MBA
Education
Command Post
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 35
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The responsibility for leaders is to personally and professionally develop subordinates. This makes them better people as well as better sailors/soldiers/airmen/marines. The official/unofficial degree requirements for advancement are way of incentivizing this personal development in senior personnel.
In most cases it also develops better written communication skills which, in my opinion and experience are lacking in most junior officers and enlisted personnel. I know I thought I was god's gift to military prose when I was a PO2, now I just shudder when I reread my commissioning packages or any other endorsement I wrote from then.
In most cases it also develops better written communication skills which, in my opinion and experience are lacking in most junior officers and enlisted personnel. I know I thought I was god's gift to military prose when I was a PO2, now I just shudder when I reread my commissioning packages or any other endorsement I wrote from then.
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As regards the Navy, which I've been out of for a little more than a year now, the only degree I think a chief petty officer needs is a Bachelor's in Abnormal Psychology.
If you get sheepskins on the side while on active duty, that's a plus. I wouldn't judge that to be the compelling factor to advance Person A over Person B, though.
Our job, at least as NCOs and enlisted personnel, is to make sure we and our subordinates are victorious in battle, not collect university degrees.
If you get sheepskins on the side while on active duty, that's a plus. I wouldn't judge that to be the compelling factor to advance Person A over Person B, though.
Our job, at least as NCOs and enlisted personnel, is to make sure we and our subordinates are victorious in battle, not collect university degrees.
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SGT (Join to see)
While it is true that NCOs and enlisted personnel are supposed to win in battle, promotions in the Army have increasingly become dependant on civilian education. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard an E-6 say "I should have taken some college courses. It could have helped me make E-7." Besides, there is nothing wrong with preparing for the future. After all, we will all take the uniform off at some point.
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CPO Greg Frazho
No argument there. My point being, getting college degrees or working toward them on active duty are noble ventures. However, it shouldn't be the overarching factor in somebody's advancement (or not) given everything else that comes into play.
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I agree wholeheartedly with the Air Force retiree. His goal "to motivate his children to never stop achieving and to keep pace with the high-caliber people joining the ranks today" could apply to all of us.
Long ago I heard the advice to never stop learning, and that's some great advice. In my day an advanced degree set a person apart. Nowadays, it still sets you apart, but it probably won't be too long (another 10 or 20 years?) before not having an advanced degree will set you apart ... and not, obviously, in a good way.
Long ago I heard the advice to never stop learning, and that's some great advice. In my day an advanced degree set a person apart. Nowadays, it still sets you apart, but it probably won't be too long (another 10 or 20 years?) before not having an advanced degree will set you apart ... and not, obviously, in a good way.
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A recent study in 2015 (from data collected over 2014) has shown the trend in the corporate world is leaning more towards hiring those with experience than with an advanced degree. In fact, with the flood of graduates it is becoming harder and harder to find qualified candidates because so many lack any relative experience not provided through college or graduate course work.
Does it still make sense for the military to promote advance degrees simply for the purpose of proving a use of education funds? Would the funding be better served to expand experiences or expertise within a career field that also translates into civilian experience that would make hiring veterans an invaluable commodity?
Does it still make sense for the military to promote advance degrees simply for the purpose of proving a use of education funds? Would the funding be better served to expand experiences or expertise within a career field that also translates into civilian experience that would make hiring veterans an invaluable commodity?
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Capt Brandon Charters
Great observation Chris. I think that the way our military has incentivized the "check the box" degree is all wrong. Service members should be encouraged to take technical and fully accredited degrees that will help them find a career after transition. More employers are learning how to translate military experience into their company core mission sets, which is a great thing for all of us. Something Joseph Wong, LTC Paul Turevon, Lucas Buck, Sgt (Join to see), MAJ George Hamilton, LT George Bernloehr & SFC Chad Sowash are all very familiar with.
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Sgt (Join to see)
Funny we are discussing this because behind closed doors in companies, and rather recently, this very discussion is starting to taking place. Employers are starting to understand the value of experience over all. I am happy to see that the "artificial" importance of degrees is finally starting to wane. Education is important, and a degree is important as well. But for a while, college education, and particularly advanced degrees were being artificially held on this pedestal as if you would be flipping burgers for the rest of your life if you didn't get one. This logic was particularly harming the majority of enlisted service members who maybe didn't have, or hadn't finished a bachelors while they exit the military.
The fact is that as jobs become more specialized and production comes back to the US, the workforce NEEDS specialized people... not just degrees. A degree can be excellent for a position that needs certain traits or intellectual information, so they still have their great importance. But degrees can't teach leadership, demeanor, calm under pressure, culture, and other intangibles.
My final 2 cents on advanced degrees... if it won't break your bank or upset your life balance (work schedule, paychecks...etc) and/or if it can be financed via GI Bill or other means, then by all means...go for it. An advanced degree WILL, statistically, create a more competitive path for your career; and more money. But, you can still become wildly successful without it.
The fact is that as jobs become more specialized and production comes back to the US, the workforce NEEDS specialized people... not just degrees. A degree can be excellent for a position that needs certain traits or intellectual information, so they still have their great importance. But degrees can't teach leadership, demeanor, calm under pressure, culture, and other intangibles.
My final 2 cents on advanced degrees... if it won't break your bank or upset your life balance (work schedule, paychecks...etc) and/or if it can be financed via GI Bill or other means, then by all means...go for it. An advanced degree WILL, statistically, create a more competitive path for your career; and more money. But, you can still become wildly successful without it.
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If an advanced degree doesn't help you do you job better, why get one? For the past several years, for-profit institutions have been bankrolled by the 'need' for AF officers to have an Advanced Degree in order to be promoted. This wasn't official policy, but it surely shook out in the rack-and-stack when two equally qualified officers went up for promotion and the one with an advanced degree (regardless of its relation to their career field) was placed higher. Because a box was checked, someone got an edge.
The opportunity of Tuition Assistance should be used to advance one's personal education in order to achieve their goals in life. Ideally (for the DoD), things that help them do their job better, or for other things, like SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, who used his to get a leg up for his post-military service career.
I'm slightly pessimistic in regards to the Advanced Degree because I think many tax payers dollars have been spent by individuals getting degrees because they thought they had to have one to get promoted and were just playing the game. (New AF guidance should help alleviate this.)
The opportunity of Tuition Assistance should be used to advance one's personal education in order to achieve their goals in life. Ideally (for the DoD), things that help them do their job better, or for other things, like SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, who used his to get a leg up for his post-military service career.
I'm slightly pessimistic in regards to the Advanced Degree because I think many tax payers dollars have been spent by individuals getting degrees because they thought they had to have one to get promoted and were just playing the game. (New AF guidance should help alleviate this.)
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I completed a master's degree in anticipation of the upcoming promotion boards...Gen Welsh has decided to mask all education data until promotion to Col. I applaud the decision to mask the AADs...many folks were just hammering out the fastest, cheapest online degree they could get to check the box for the Air Force, and not getting much in the way of an education.
When you have a force that has such a high OPSTEMP as we currently do, it is becoming ever more challenging to balance work, home, and a worthwhile education. I think Gen Welsh understands that and is attempting to force USAF members to concentrate on their professional and personal lives.
When you have a force that has such a high OPSTEMP as we currently do, it is becoming ever more challenging to balance work, home, and a worthwhile education. I think Gen Welsh understands that and is attempting to force USAF members to concentrate on their professional and personal lives.
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I am continually telling Soldiers how important getting an education is for thier future. My standard remark is that the Army (or whatever service) is for 20 years, but your education is forever. You can get your degree in absolutely anything that your heart desires, but it's the skills that you bring to the table as a soldier that will set you apart from other degree holders.
It used to be the common belief that if you had a degree, you would get hired because any company or agency knows that you will finish what you start because you completed your degree. That's not the case anymore. Yes, you did finish your degree, but so did 1,000 other people that are applying for this position. What sets you apart? Your attention to detail? Your self-discipline to get your assigned tasks completed?
A soldier or vet with a degree is a much more valuable commodity than a civilian with the same credentials; at least that's my belief.
When I first enlisted, many moons ago, I used the Loan Repayment Program to pay off my BA degree that I received prior to enlisting. Since then, I've used TA to do all of my coursework for my MA; with only my thesis to complete.
The opportunities are there, if someone chooses not to use them, they've no one to blame but themselves for not attempting to get ahead. How do you spend 20 (or more) years in the service and come out with an Associate's? That makes no sense. As our world advances and becomes more educationally advanced, the services must adapt and educationally advace as well. It only makes sense.
It used to be the common belief that if you had a degree, you would get hired because any company or agency knows that you will finish what you start because you completed your degree. That's not the case anymore. Yes, you did finish your degree, but so did 1,000 other people that are applying for this position. What sets you apart? Your attention to detail? Your self-discipline to get your assigned tasks completed?
A soldier or vet with a degree is a much more valuable commodity than a civilian with the same credentials; at least that's my belief.
When I first enlisted, many moons ago, I used the Loan Repayment Program to pay off my BA degree that I received prior to enlisting. Since then, I've used TA to do all of my coursework for my MA; with only my thesis to complete.
The opportunities are there, if someone chooses not to use them, they've no one to blame but themselves for not attempting to get ahead. How do you spend 20 (or more) years in the service and come out with an Associate's? That makes no sense. As our world advances and becomes more educationally advanced, the services must adapt and educationally advace as well. It only makes sense.
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Having an advanced degree isn't about 'importance' per se. As CPO Greg Frazho stated, having a degree in Abnormal Psych is helpful.
That being said, I earned my advanced degree purely for personal satisfaction. I have a Masters in Liberal Studies, which doesn't translate to anything more than the ability to think and reason my way through an additional two years of college.
That being said, I earned my advanced degree purely for personal satisfaction. I have a Masters in Liberal Studies, which doesn't translate to anything more than the ability to think and reason my way through an additional two years of college.
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Yes advance degrees are important but, over educated or to many will hinder you also. I got my PhD and when I went to apply I found barriers that came back as too much education or I would not be happy in that position. At the time All I did was want to work. I ended up starting three businesses and selling them off and finally found the one I own now and will keep for all time.
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If you do chose o pursue a degree while serving, do it because you want it, not because "you need it" to progress or promote in the military. Get a degree that you are interested in, and that you think would be value added to your personal/professional life. This will save you many frustrating nights and weekends, especially as you balance a full time job and family.
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