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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Importance to Active Duty? Depends on the service. In USAF, gotta have it. But, could be from anywhere on anything. Not a good reason to get the advanced degree. Get it because it qualifies you for something you couldn't do without it. My JD qualified me to practice law. My MBA from a good school qualified me for investment banking and consulting. Couldn't do that with an MBA from someplace without a good program I got in the missile silo. Sometimes, though, the weak MBA might show you are serious about your education and qualified for better degrees.
Keep Studying!
Keep Studying!
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MSgt Scott Gaston
Never seen the "Weak School List" for MBAs, but GPA (3.90, Liberty University) might make a difference and Magna Cum Laude honors (3.864) never hurt as the precursor to the MBA on my Undergraduate degree. Now I do suppose the "Weak Theory" may have some play on the Doctorate, but at 34 hours into it, I just want to get it finished. As for back to the question at hand, it's just like a resume in that it's only going to open the door to the interview, the rest is on you...did you just finish a degree or did you actually apply yourself and learn something?! Just my thoughts on the matter!
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Col Paul Schubert
Yes, sir. JD Santa Clara. MBA Wharton. After the JD, no way I'd get an MBA unless it was a good one.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
Used to be you had to have it. Gen Welsh has masked it and issued guidance that senior raters cannot use it as a factor in the rack-and-stack. We'll see if his successor undoes this guidance...after all, Gen Jumper masked it, telling us "If you need a degree, we will send you to get one", only to have the policy reversed under Schwartz.
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What do you plan to do with you education (advanced degree) when you retire or separate? Will you put it to work for you? Do you know how?
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I have always wanted a college degree, but with the addition of CCAF requirement for senior enlisted promotion I am moving that up on the list of things to accomplish. In addition to that...once i complete my CCAF I'll be able to use that to hopefully springboard into a bachelors. Once I complete my bachelors I plan on shooting for a commission.
It won't take me long to finish my CCAF, but its been so long since I've done school work that i'm unsure of how I'm going to complete it. I can do the online classes or the CLEPs...just got to get started on it all again.
It won't take me long to finish my CCAF, but its been so long since I've done school work that i'm unsure of how I'm going to complete it. I can do the online classes or the CLEPs...just got to get started on it all again.
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You have to plan for a future no matter what it is a degree can and will help with whatever your future may be.
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I wholeheartedly agree that service members and veterans need to make use of their education benefits as much as possible. I know several friends that are very limited in their career choices after leaving (retiring) from the military by having no degree or only a bachelor's. A senior NCO will take several steps backward in duties and responsibilities in the civilian market without a bachelor's and in more cases every day, without a Master's. The number of young people unable to get a job in the last few years when getting their Bachelor's decided to take on more debt and complete their Master's. They now have a higher powered civilian resume than a veteran on paper. The experience level is not there to match a veteran but the documentation accepted in civilian jobs is key to getting the interview. It is at this point that the veteran and his/her experience will shine. Without the documentation to get past the computerized word search programs reviewing resumes, the veteran resume does not even get out to the interview process.
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As far as veterans go, what is important is finding what you love to do for a living. If that job requires and advanced degree, then by all means find a way to make that happen. It is of no benefit what degree you have if you dread getting up in the morning and going to work.
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Chose wisely and with extreme prejudice when picking a MBA or any graduate program. What are your motives? Online MBAs are more about learn than ROI, if you want to make money from your MBA you need to go a top tier school. There are so many variables at hand, you need to be able to think short- and long- term. Have a plan, take the time to do it right, and remember significant changes to the GI Bill will help cover a lot more costs than it did five years ago. If you know you are not going to be a lifer - I would think the right answer for many is to wait until you separate then take 18-24 months to focus on a graduate program.
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SSG (Join to see)
I disagree sir, if you know you are not a lifer the time to focus on college is while you are in. Military members across the board need to put their TA to work and get the little classes out of the way. I have completed my bachelor degree since I have been in. I now have my gibill to fallback on when I get out. Going this route sets me up so I can work and still purse more college when I get our without putting financial stress on my family. But each student is different and should pick the path that suits their educational needs.
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COL Randall C.
Regarding the type school, assuming you mean "something close to, or on the level of, an Ivy league" when you say 'top tier', I disagree (if you mean, accredited, certified, 'not fly-by-night', etc., then I wholeheartedly agree). There are many different types of institutions that are very acceptable venues that are respected within the related career field.
I also agree with SSG (Join to see) regarding tuition assistance provided while still serving, though, as he points out, not all individuals will be able to swing the demands of a full-time job as well as academic coursework (Capt Douglas A. is very correct in that it would be the right answer for many to wait until you can devote time to one or the other).
I also agree with SSG (Join to see) regarding tuition assistance provided while still serving, though, as he points out, not all individuals will be able to swing the demands of a full-time job as well as academic coursework (Capt Douglas A. is very correct in that it would be the right answer for many to wait until you can devote time to one or the other).
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SPC David S.
Workload was heavy in my MBA program. It was an accelerated program which meant you had to prepare for your next class while finishing up the class you were in at the time. Imagine putting together a 20+ page paper and then having to read at least 2 chapters with some course work, usually chapter reviews, that were due first session of next class. I was up many nights until 0200 - 0300 and then off to work at 0800. All my lunch breaks for 18 months were spent reading. My cohort started out with 16 and finished with 7. But I must add two that finished were single mothers with kids. So proud of these two as they were in my group. Also while you do not need a business degree to get an MBA it is very helpful when it comes to finance or accounting classes. In most programs these are core classes that require at least a B grade. You will also need to know some basic calculus as well. Not trying to scare anyone off from an MBA just want to paint a realistic picture of what life is like for those 18 to 22 months. Find ways to stay motivated bang it out and get'er done. Also I wouldn't worry to much about the tier 1 stuff. Warren Buffett went to Kansas.
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I have my direct commission with my BS Nursing degree. I found out while still a junior captain that while a nursing certification and/or Masters of Nursing were not required, when you are racked and stacked against your peers and they all had both..... you would be passed over. I took that as an omen and got my nursing certification as a Certified Medical Surgical Registered Nurse and completed my MSNurising in Healthcare Education. Seems to have worked so far. Now preparation for retirement from the AF..... having to take a long hard look at the civilian markets...
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After my 10 years of GI Bill was up, I still didn't use all of the money I had, left. as a result I could not finish my degree as I didn't have any way to pay for it. That was my story.
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A member of the DoD Warrior Transition Team told me that only 3% of vets enrolling in a four year program enroll on-time. We know there is a high drop out rate, but what needs to be looked at is how many need more than four years?
In any event, working full time and endeavoring to go to school full-time at night was one of the least enjoyable periods in my life - so any education you can get in the military would be incredibly useful to you after you ETS or retire. I was in during and after Viet Nam, and colleges were a royal pain in the ass. I had to hunt for one that was reasonably friendly. One college, Pace University, even tried to deny my NYS TAP that was properly awarded. I eventually tore up my registration papers, dropped them off at the Registrar, who lied to me, and left. I could not see me paying them to harass me for no reasonable purpose. I was disabled, not an idiot who could not think. Being forced to take a computer course that relied on punch cards to program the ancient computer that was being discarded after that semester was not even remotely useful, yet it was a required course.
I went for only my BS in accounting so I could sit for the CPA exam. Any further credentials for me were unessential. Time has changed the requirements, but if you are able to target a professional license or certification, then MBA may be unnecessary.
Good luck to all!.
In any event, working full time and endeavoring to go to school full-time at night was one of the least enjoyable periods in my life - so any education you can get in the military would be incredibly useful to you after you ETS or retire. I was in during and after Viet Nam, and colleges were a royal pain in the ass. I had to hunt for one that was reasonably friendly. One college, Pace University, even tried to deny my NYS TAP that was properly awarded. I eventually tore up my registration papers, dropped them off at the Registrar, who lied to me, and left. I could not see me paying them to harass me for no reasonable purpose. I was disabled, not an idiot who could not think. Being forced to take a computer course that relied on punch cards to program the ancient computer that was being discarded after that semester was not even remotely useful, yet it was a required course.
I went for only my BS in accounting so I could sit for the CPA exam. Any further credentials for me were unessential. Time has changed the requirements, but if you are able to target a professional license or certification, then MBA may be unnecessary.
Good luck to all!.
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SGT Erik Prano
After my 10 years of GI Bill was up, I still didn't use all of the money I had, left. as a result I could not finish my degree as I didn't have any way to pay for it. That was my story.
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SGT Craig Northacker
I understand - it is very tough road, and not doable for too many people. Which is why we are pushing the programs we are that make sense and are preparatory to give people a chance to get ahead of the curve. Part of the problem is then need of the military to retain quality soldiers so they do not encourage those soldiers to leave, allowing them to feel secure, only to RIF them or to otherwise allow them to not start school. It is not a simple process - again, prompting us to encourage continuous self-improvement while in-service.
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