To my senior NCOs, how are you able to balance career progression and plt/squad integrity?

SPC,

Before you ask that question, where's the conflict of interest? Your goal is to become to best leader you can be, becoming stagnant does you no good. Your future soldiers are going to be impressionable in some way, shape, or form....if you don't manage your career, you can't expect them to do the same.

Your aiming point should be focused on a Bachelor’s degree. Skip meeting requirements for an AA that will consume time.

There is no one else who is going to help you progress in YOUR military and civilian education. Just like your team leader and squad leader should have done is give you guidance, purpose and direction. It is up to them or yourself to take that advice and either go with that advice or add to. There will be some long nights since you will have to do that on your OWN TIME to better yourself. I would tell your leaders you are planning on furthering your civilian education but just know that will be on your time. They can work with you but if you don’t let them know that you want to better yourself then they can’t really help you.