Enlisting in the United States military is often a dream-come-true endeavor for many men and women who serve our nation admirably and protect the many freedoms we take for granted each and every day. While some of those who enlist serve for an entire career, the majority of service members bid farewell to the military with many years of potential education and working life left in the tank – pun fully intended. This is why there are so many veteran and military education benefits in terms of the importance of earning a degree.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the required enlistment service time for military personnel is between 2 and 6 years. Of course, there are many factors that determine this, and each branch is unique in certain rules.
For all branches, the average enlistment time is just shy of 15 years. On average, military officers stay in the armed forces for about 11 years.
As for those who are members of the reserves, most are committed for 3 to 6 years.
These enlistment figures demonstrate that a large percentage of military members will return to civilian life with many years to devote to another occupation. As such, attaining a college degree within your field of choice can significantly aid in your professional pursuits, career advancement, and a higher quality of life.
In many cases, active-duty military personnel and veterans who pursue higher education can use some of their military training toward course credits within a degree program at a college or university. This is just one of many military education benefits.
The American Council on Education, which is made up of over 1,800 colleges and universities, suggests individuals who have served in the military should follow these steps to determine if any of their military work could help reduce their college course loads by transferring hours:
If you are an active-duty military member, a college degree can help you:
If you are a veteran, a college degree can help you:
Of course, there are reasons for earning a college degree that have nothing to do with your next career move or salary increase. Many working professionals commit the time and effort to earning a degree to be role models for their children. Others do so to keep a promise to a family member or to fulfill a lifelong dream.
The beauty of higher education is that even if you are not totally sure of your next step in life, a college degree gives you ample options. It can open doors to possibilities that you never knew existed.
In our complex global economy, the demand for skilled employees has never been greater. A 2016 Lumina Foundation Report indicated that 2 million jobs were unfilled in the U.S. because of the lack of qualified applicants for them. With two-thirds of all jobs being created requiring some form of post-secondary education or training, this gap will only increase in the years to come.
At the same time, statistics indicate that the pay gap between college graduates and those who do not possess degrees continues to grow. Figures from the U.S. Department of Education show that higher education attainment is associated with higher median earnings and lower unemployment rates.
Research conducted by the College Board indicates that college, in general, improves the quality of people’s lives and of society as a whole. College-educated adults are:
Is the on-campus college experience important to you? Do you learn best face-to-face in a typical classroom setting? If so, a traditional, campus-based program may be the right fit for you to ensure you receive all of your desired goals out of your higher education endeavors.
However, if you are active military or a veteran with a career and family obligations, you might want to consider enrolling in an online-based education program. There are countless military education benefits to distance learning. Online programs provide greater flexibility to organize and maintain your busy life while going to school. And if your duty station changes or you are deployed, it is possible to continue your studies without interruption, keeping you on the path to college degree completion in a timely manner.
Some other important reasons to opt for an online degree program include:
Without a doubt, online education has become mainstream for good reason, and the number of adults enrolling in online courses goes up significantly every year.
Despite the advantages and high satisfaction rates of online learning, it is not for everyone. Taking courses online can present certain unique challenges than traditional classroom learning processes and procedures.
Online degree programs are not intended to replicate a classroom lecture and reading it word-for-word on a computer screen or tablet. Rather, quality online courses are carefully designed to directly engage students with the course content at-hand, their fellow classmates, and their instructor.
Many college students feel more engaged in online courses than they ever did in traditional classes. Nobody can sit in the back of a large lecture hall and hide to avoid revealing that they didn’t do their required reading from the textbook the night before class. Instead, in an online setting, all students must participate by answering questions from the instructor, posting regularly to discussion boards, and completing assignments and exams that have specific deadlines. And just as in face-to-face classes, courses in online degree programs often include collaborating with other students on group projects.
Regardless of the field of study that you intend to pursue, from creative writing or cybersecurity to criminal justice or psychology, an online degree program requires you to:
While attaining a college degree means meeting high academic expectations, you can be confident that with your military background, you already possess a number of strengths that will greatly assist you in pursuing a college degree online. Leveraging these attributes that you have honed during your military experience will help you be successful – and could actually give you a leg up compared to your fellow classmates who haven’t had the opportunities you already have had in your life.
Such military-related skills that can be translated into military education benefits include:
As you can see, there are a number of fantastic reasons why military members and veterans should explore the possibility of earning a college degree. From solidifying a career track to aiding in their return to civilian life, there is no question that a degree can transform the quality of life for a service member after he or she valiantly serves our nation.
Consider Saint Leo University for Your Military Education Benefits
Saint Leo University has a proud and rich history of educating both active-duty military members and veterans. In fact, we offer a number of online degree programs and Education Centers on several military bases around the United States.
For further information, contact Ernest McClees, director of military affairs and services, at 352-588-8234 or by e-mail at ernest.mcclees@saintleo.edu. You can also learn more on our Office of Military Affairs and Services page.
