Earning Your College Degree to Advance Your Career

by Alex A. Kecskes

If you want to advance your military career, you’ll need more education above and beyond your initial MOS training. If you’re in the Air Force, you’re automatically “plugged into” an associate degree program through CCAF (Community College of the Air Force). While a number of colleges will give you some credit for specific MOS classes, others may not; so it’s always a good idea to talk to a college counselor before you enroll.

Once you’ve decided to pursue a college degree, keep the following in mind:

6 to 10 years for a B.S./B.A. degree. According to military statistics, service members need the extra time due to changes in duty station, deployments, and other competing military-related priorities.

More rank, less study time. The higher you move up in rank, the less time you’ll have for study. And if you get married and start a family, you’ll have even less time to attend classes and study.

Loss of tuition assistance. While you are entitled to yearly tuition assistance (up to $4,500 per year), if you don’t use those funds, they’re gone. So it’s important to plan ahead to ensure you’re always working toward your degree. Remember, too, that many schools offer scholarship-like benefits and discounts to active service members.

Apply coursework to your MOS. College courses can often be put to use right away. For example, an electronics or computer-programming course can make you make you a better soldier. It can also make more you more eligible for promotion.

Take it slow and easy. Spread it out. Take one course at a time instead of loading up with several courses at once. Don’t make it a grind. Take breaks for holidays and summer vacations. Team up with a buddy or two and support each other through study sessions and exam preps.

Plan Ahead. Keep your ultimate career objective in mind when pursing any degree program. Make sure it will move your military and civilian career forward.

For an additional perspective, check out this video: