5 answers
Parker
Student
Wichita, Kansas
2
Questions
Asked
1301 views
Once I complete my bachelors degree in business management, should I continue my schooling in the Air Force or not get any more school?
I am going to get a Bachelors Degree in Business Management with a minor in Aviation. I will be participating in Air Force ROTC also. #college-major #military #military-pilot
Login to comment
5 answers
Johana Pizarro
Networkmarketer
5
Answers
Panama
Updated
Johana’s Answer
Hello Parker,
I hope you are doing good. What I know is that you get education for free due to being in the Air Force, is this is correct, you should get advantage of it without leaving your work behind. Education these days are getting expensive, so if you get the privilege of getting this for free, you should keep studying.
Thank you Johana!
Parker
Steve Jones
Assurance Associate at PwC
7
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Steve’s Answer
Hello Parker,
I think the bottom line is that it depends on what your future career goals are. I was in the military before I went to college. Since I was planning on leaving the military after my enlistment, I made the decision to take online college courses. Obviously, this helped me toward my future goals.
Unless the regulations surrounding education recently changed, I believe any classes you take while actively serving will be completely covered financially by the military. However, that is something you will have to discuss with your chain of command. The military can be a very demanding and stressful lifestyle. It may not always be in the service member's best interest to overextend themselves regarding commitments outside of the workplace.
However, in my personal opinion, any extra activities that you can effectively integrate into your military life will only serve to benefit you. Not only will you be advancing yourself, but will also set you apart from your peers. Don't forget that if taking classes during your time in the military is too difficult, there is always the GI Bill.
I think the bottom line is that it depends on what your future career goals are. I was in the military before I went to college. Since I was planning on leaving the military after my enlistment, I made the decision to take online college courses. Obviously, this helped me toward my future goals.
Unless the regulations surrounding education recently changed, I believe any classes you take while actively serving will be completely covered financially by the military. However, that is something you will have to discuss with your chain of command. The military can be a very demanding and stressful lifestyle. It may not always be in the service member's best interest to overextend themselves regarding commitments outside of the workplace.
However, in my personal opinion, any extra activities that you can effectively integrate into your military life will only serve to benefit you. Not only will you be advancing yourself, but will also set you apart from your peers. Don't forget that if taking classes during your time in the military is too difficult, there is always the GI Bill.
Joe LaFerriere
Product Technologist - Dell Solutions Excellence Center
60
Answers
Nashville, Tennessee
Updated
Joe’s Answer
Look at it this way. All of the benefits the Air Force offers (advancement, travel, training, education, etc.) are just that...a benefit. No one will force you to utilize any of the benefits available. So if you do not take advantage of the opportunities available, whom do you have to blame in the end?
Like attending a buffet with thousands of different food choices available and you leave hungry.
Bottom line...IF you want to continue your education then do so. I served for 22 years and the opportunities I desired and took advantage of were because I was motivated to do so. Figure out what motivates you and I am sure there are benefits and opportunities available to help you reach your goals!
John McCarthy
U.S. Military
91
Answers
Honolulu, Hawaii
Updated
John’s Answer
Parker,
As a business major myself, and a current active duty service member in the Navy, I promote going to school and furthering your education once you get a firm grasp of your job and you are able to juggle the demands of each.
I have never been one for school and figured I would join the military to avoid it. I have done nothing but learn, take classes (military courses and traditional college classes) for the last 14 years of my career. I would recommend never saying no to something that will personally and professionally develop you.
Get everything you can from the military since they will take everything you are willing to give, and then more.
As a business major myself, and a current active duty service member in the Navy, I promote going to school and furthering your education once you get a firm grasp of your job and you are able to juggle the demands of each.
I have never been one for school and figured I would join the military to avoid it. I have done nothing but learn, take classes (military courses and traditional college classes) for the last 14 years of my career. I would recommend never saying no to something that will personally and professionally develop you.
Get everything you can from the military since they will take everything you are willing to give, and then more.
Joseph Ferrante
Military Pilot
12
Answers
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
There is a little bit of inaccurate, or perhaps outdated, information in some of the other posts. Having recently used some of the military educational benefits allow me to clarify.
First, the Air Force wants its members to be educated. Enlisted can, and are expected to, get associates degrees through the community college of the Air Force (CCAF) for free. For Officers you don't get that option since you already have a bachelors prior to commissioning. Everyone however has access to two programs.
The most well known is the GI Bill. This will provide about enough money to get a 4 year degree from an in-state public university. Note that you will actually get more money using this after you've gotten out than while your still in (you don't get a housing allowance under the GI Bill if your actively serving, but you do get the allowance if you use it post-separation). The GI Bill can also be used for some other programs provided they lead to certifications required for employment (regardless of if you plan to use them for that). Finally, the GI Bill can be transferred to family members (spouse or children) with some restrictions and service requirements so that even if you don't need it your family can still benefit from it. Note that transferring it the first time incurs a 4 year service commitment (you must stay in the military for 4 years from the date of the transfer). Transferring it again later incurs no additional commitment. I typically tell people transfer it as soon as you are eligible whether you actually intend for the recipient to use it or not and then you can re-designate later.
The less known to the outside world is Tuition Assistance (TA). TA provides a specific dollar amount per semester hour (differs depending on degree level) towards your degree up to an annual max payout. The biggest catch is that it must be used to attain a higher level degree than what you already have. So if you have a Bachelors you can use it for a Masters. Once you get your Masters you can use it towards a PhD but not for another Bachelors or Masters. It also incurs a two year service commitment based on the last time you used it.
Another consideration is that, depending on your job and related training, you may be able to get credit towards an additional Bachelors or a Masters degree without having to take additional classes. I got 2 of my 12 classes for my masters done that way. While it doesn't sound like a lot, that saved me about 6 months.
The nice thing about service commitments is that they all run concurrently. So only the commitment that ends last actually matters. IE if you had a 4 year commitment for transferring your GI bill and a 2 year commitment from TA it's not a 6 year commitment. You could get out at the end of the 4 year GI commitment assuming no other commitments extended past that. I've had 4 or 5 commitments all running at once before.
First, the Air Force wants its members to be educated. Enlisted can, and are expected to, get associates degrees through the community college of the Air Force (CCAF) for free. For Officers you don't get that option since you already have a bachelors prior to commissioning. Everyone however has access to two programs.
The most well known is the GI Bill. This will provide about enough money to get a 4 year degree from an in-state public university. Note that you will actually get more money using this after you've gotten out than while your still in (you don't get a housing allowance under the GI Bill if your actively serving, but you do get the allowance if you use it post-separation). The GI Bill can also be used for some other programs provided they lead to certifications required for employment (regardless of if you plan to use them for that). Finally, the GI Bill can be transferred to family members (spouse or children) with some restrictions and service requirements so that even if you don't need it your family can still benefit from it. Note that transferring it the first time incurs a 4 year service commitment (you must stay in the military for 4 years from the date of the transfer). Transferring it again later incurs no additional commitment. I typically tell people transfer it as soon as you are eligible whether you actually intend for the recipient to use it or not and then you can re-designate later.
The less known to the outside world is Tuition Assistance (TA). TA provides a specific dollar amount per semester hour (differs depending on degree level) towards your degree up to an annual max payout. The biggest catch is that it must be used to attain a higher level degree than what you already have. So if you have a Bachelors you can use it for a Masters. Once you get your Masters you can use it towards a PhD but not for another Bachelors or Masters. It also incurs a two year service commitment based on the last time you used it.
Another consideration is that, depending on your job and related training, you may be able to get credit towards an additional Bachelors or a Masters degree without having to take additional classes. I got 2 of my 12 classes for my masters done that way. While it doesn't sound like a lot, that saved me about 6 months.
The nice thing about service commitments is that they all run concurrently. So only the commitment that ends last actually matters. IE if you had a 4 year commitment for transferring your GI bill and a 2 year commitment from TA it's not a 6 year commitment. You could get out at the end of the 4 year GI commitment assuming no other commitments extended past that. I've had 4 or 5 commitments all running at once before.