CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Have you started your Community College of the Air Force degree or any other degree?
Most of you experienced this question during a feedback session or some other formal gathering. At times it seems as if earning a degree is a prerequisite for success in the military. Well, this is partly true. In return, should this be the primary reason for continuing your education? If not, then what should serve as a driving factor?
Simply put, education is learning how to learn. Every time you learn something new it serves as a building block. If done frequently, proficiency, technical skill and critical thinking develop rapidly. Ultimately, this enables you to become a problem solver and contribute to the mission.
In this era of doing more with less and relying on advanced technologies to fight the Global War on Terrorism, each of you must find a way to stay afloat. This is vital since research demonstrates that many jobs and skills sets, both civilian and military, become outdated within three to five years. As a result, expect an environment of perpetual retraining in order to stay ahead of our adversaries.
Moving on, what is the primary factor which prevents people from pursuing a degree? Too often I hear people claim they do not have time. Is this really the case? I firmly believe procrastination proves detrimental, especially as life's complications creep into daily routine. You'll notice the longer you remain in the military and the older you get, the more responsibility you acquire. Think about it. Where does your free time go when you get married, raise children, take care of aging relatives or become a supervisor who writes performance reports and award packages every day?
How do you unravel the mystery of getting started? Pick something interesting, for nothing inhibits motivation more than doing something you don't like. Pick a school that is right for you. Don't just enroll somewhere because your buddy told you the program is easy. Moreover, seek out people who give sound advice. Set up a time to talk with your supervisor or commander. You may even want to contact a previous teacher or coach.
How about contacting the base education office? Set up a time to meet with a counselor. Ask about your educational entitlements, including the GI Bill, tuition assistance and other forms of subsidized aid. What about earning credit for what you already know? Well, you can take College Level Examination Program or Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education exams for almost any core class. And guess what ... it's free of cost on base!
Furthermore, take ownership in your experience. Take time to research programs through various means. For example, the Internet is one of the best methods. You can find a wealth of information by scrolling through Web sites. Also, read multiple periodicals. Each year "US News and World Report" and "Money" generate rankings for both graduate and undergraduate schools and specialized programs.
The positives outweigh the negatives. From an Air Force perspective, education improves your chance for promotion. Moreover, research demonstrates it pays to have a degree, upwards to $12,000 more per year for each degree you obtain. Finally, it's never too early to set yourself up for transitioning back into the civilian world -- somewhere we all end up.
At a minimum, view education as a means to create options or to increase your market value. Have a plan! A failure to do so could place limits on your personal endeavors.