I enlisted in the United States Air Force right after high school in 1986.
After serving 24 years, I performed in three different career fields with my primary being Air Force Recruiting, where I held four different positions over 15 years. My first career field was logistics, where I worked within base supply logistics. My second was as a military training manager, a position that oversees the students who are going through technical training. For my third career, I got into Air Force recruiting, and I was blessed to stay within the Air Force recruiting service for 15 years. I did my initial enlisted recruiting in Orlando, FL, but the Air Force moved me to Valdosta, GA, where I was the senior trainer for the recruiting squadron.
After 24 years, I retired from the Air Force in 2010. Over the past 14 years, I've worked in higher education with a focus on assisting the military community with pursuing their educational goals. It’s been very exciting. I made some unbelievable relationships, and I hopefully made a positive impact on many lives.
Here, I share some of what I have learned about the benefits of an online education on your career after active-duty military.
Skills Military Members Earn Through Online Education
A common question many active-duty military members have when considering an online education is, “What kind of skills am I going to bring back to the civilian sector?” Active-duty military members looking to enter the workforce after their time in the armed services can hone in on skill development in the following areas:
- Leadership: Earning a college degree brings leadership skills to the forefront, to be part of a team, as well as a good teammate. Some people can supervise younger troops after just a few years of service, and they can help members grow personally and professionally from a leadership role.
- Communication: Developing good communication with colleagues and fellow students can foster confidence and success, especially if a class or project is interactive. Students are going to have networking opportunities that will allow them to set themselves apart from others.
- Problem solving: In the military, servicemen have to be strategic thinkers. It allows them to see the big picture and plan accordingly, especially once they get up higher in rank. This brings resourcefulness within the classroom as well.
- Critical thinking: The knowledge sets developed through an online degree provide a foundation for critical thinking in real world scenarios. Students are going to meet people of similar career paths and might have the ability to access opportunities that are outside the military.
- Discipline: When attending online school, students should learn self-discipline to successfully complete the courses. Taking the knowledge and desire to complete the program and applying it to routine and organization is a helpful method.
- Digital Literacy: Students need those skills in the military and in the civilian sector. Branches like the Air Force use digital literacy across equipment usage and data knowledge, which can also apply to online learning.
The Benefits of an Online Degree
A large percentage of the active-duty military population attends an online university. Over 40 percent enrolled in an online institution of some kind, according to the American Council of Education, and they see the benefits from this learning method in a variety of ways.
Flexibility
Online flexibility is a huge benefit. Military members are full time, whether it be an airman, a soldier, a marine, or a sailor. As opposed to a part-time college student, military members can often only take one course at a time because their schedule doesn't allow for a more robust workload.
Accessibility
Internet access is the main catalyst for success with an online program. Online universities like the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) offer classrooms that are open 24/7. Whether it's morning, noon, or night, whenever students have the free time to complete their weekly assignments, they have that ability to access the online classroom through remote learning.
Networking
Many online programs offer a variety of ways for active-duty students and Veterans to connect with peers and professionals from diverse backgrounds. From forums and virtual events to course projects and student clubs and organizations, there is always a chance to connect with others and establish relationships that could lead to future opportunities.
Popular Degree Programs for Active-Duty Military Members
There are many different reasons people want to enlist into the Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and other military branches. Therefore, one of the first questions recruiters might ask recruits is what they want to do after military discharge.
When people visit recruiting offices, they might express a specific career field they want to specialize in and refer to the education benefits the military offers as an incentive to join. However, a future student might not know the exact online degree program they want to start when they sign up for a military position.
Luckily, there are several to choose from. Human resource management, project management, information technology, and homeland security are popular choices for online learning for military career enhancement, along with health care, information technology, and more. Any of these majors can help current service members and Veterans continue on the path they started through their professional military education.
These degrees are ideal because service members who plan to transition to civilian life will seek to acquire new skills that will benefit them as they prepare for this endeavor. Many service members don’t necessarily wish to transition into the same career path they hold in the military, so these popular degree options may assist with career enhancement and personal development.
Earning Credits Through Service
Most branches receive what they call a joint service transcript, which is a document that can allow military members the potential to transfer credit to an online university. Air Force members receive a Community College of the Air Force transcript.
Therefore, taking classes online benefits a service member. No matter where they are stationed in the world, if they can connect to the Internet, they can stay at one specific school and avoid transferring. The more transfer credits a student can receive, the quicker the completion time for a degree program.
How To Enroll in an Online Degree Program
There are a few things you should do before registering for an online degree. Follow these steps to ensure you are making the right decision for your future.
Write down questions
Since choosing a degree is a significant decision, it needs to be an informed one. I always tell my students to write down questions to ask an advisor.
Speak to branch education centers
Each branch has its own resources. For example, the Navy has a virtual education assistance center. While the branch closed the Navy college offices and now operates 100% virtually, there are counselors available for Navy personnel.
Consult a counselor
There are plenty of options beyond speaking to branch education centers on the installation. Consult with an enrollment advisor from the online university in question or someone on a military alliance team to understand what is needed to start the process.
Overview
When it comes time to transition out of uniform and enter the civilian world, education is a prime tool for career enhancement. However, choosing to pursue a degree while in uniform does more than offer a diploma. It provides a foundation for learning the ability to adapt, be decisive, and to inspire and motivate others. It shows the capability to be reliable, have discipline, and take accountability for actions, whether it's a success or a failure.
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Dan Allen is the Director of National Guard and Reserve Partnerships at UAGC.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
Use of military-affiliated images does not imply endorsement of Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).