Is there any value in holding a higher level degree in education (I can’t find how it would help a direct commission, or anything similar)?

2018-01-02T20:45:29-05:00

Direct Commission

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2018 9:11 PM

2018-01-02T21:11:53-05:00

Thanks! I will research that branch.

Response by SFC Michael Watkins, MPA/EM, CHPP, CJE made Jan 2 at 2018 10:49 PM

2018-01-02T22:49:44-05:00

last I remember you can't get a commission without a degree. And yes, to go higher up in ranks 05-06 requires Command and Staff College, which graduates you with a Masters degree. Without "Higher" level education the most one could hope for is 04, maybe 05.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2018 11:52 PM

2018-01-02T23:52:21-05:00

Graduate degrees are definitely helpful when it comes to any opportunity that requires a board - direct commission being one. Others may have different experiences than mine, but one of the factors in my direct commission as a 70B was my advanced degree.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2018 12:03 AM

2018-01-03T00:03:29-05:00

Thanks everyone! I am trying to make sure I explore all options. My NG contract will be up soon and I was considering switching to Army or Air Force Reserves. When I joined I had my Master’s degree, and have since obtained the doctoral degree. I wasn’t sure if direct commissioning was an option since my degrees are in law, medical, or IT.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 3 at 2018 2:18 AM

2018-01-03T02:18:34-05:00

I'll comment on the long game. That means depending on what your pursue, your higher level degree may not work as a pedigree item, especially in varied staff corps. So if you want it to hang around longer as worth while on the promotion boards, you'd take a path where it still counts. Make sure you take a look through the various officer "Community Plans" to see all the checkboxes and advanced degree requirements are kosher. Then you have a choice that can be between what you really want to do but the degree doesn't fit and something semi OK with what you have. Do you take the blue pill or the red pill?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jan 3 at 2018 4:02 AM

2018-01-03T04:02:15-05:00

I'm just curious as to your motivations and/or ambitions if you might perhaps elaborate in more detail, I did find your question of interest, many thanks....

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jan 3 at 2018 12:43 PM

2018-01-03T12:43:44-05:00

In my opinion there's value in most education, but getting an advanced degree just to have one may not be the best use of your time and money. An advanced degree probably is most valuable when it increases your capabilities to do your present civilian or military job or opens opportunities to a new career field you want to pursue. Your question is a little confusing. If your are thinking about an advanced degree in education then I would say my experience shows having a Masters or Doctors degree in education opens opportunities in school administration. Also, a Masters is sometimes required or highly desired to teach High School. Many school superintendents in or area have a Doctors degree.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jan 3 at 2018 5:19 PM

2018-01-03T17:19:54-05:00

I follow...obviously, it'd help if you could possibly elaborate more on what MOS types you've had thus far, what MOS you want, and what prompts your interest in doing either a PhdD. In educ, or possibly an Ed.D. Obviously, both would ne good, however, it'd also help to know if you've done undergrad or grad thus far, if so in what majors, have you worked outside active or Reserves in whatever you've gone for undergrad or grad in thus far, as well. Try also to elaborate on your ultimate aims, what type of work you'd want as civilian, so far as possible. If you did a doctoral program, you'd obviously have to do qualifying exams, as well as a dissertation, those are normally needed for nonclinical doctoral programs. I follow your reasoning, and what you explained did help, however, knowing more would obviously make answering you easier, that's all I'm trying to say. Would you want to teach at all? If so, at what level, high school, undergrad, grad level? Did you want the doctorate for a specific type of work? Must it be in educ, could you possibly go for other majors? How many credits undergrad and grad do you have, and wit what GPAs? Also, your reading interests, both light material as well as serious, could ne useful to know as well. I only ask those things as I've chatted fairly often in here about educational topics asked about, so I've gotten accustomed to asking such things. I realize doing a detailed biographical would be time consuming.however, as I may have already suggested, e more you explain, and the Kore concrete, specific detail you give, the more you can ne helped, honest. I'd be most eager to hear Kore whenever convenient, no rush, whenever you have time, hope was useful, many thanks.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jan 4 at 2018 8:03 AM

2018-01-04T08:03:13-05:00

https://www.goarmy.com/army-cyber/cyber-direct-commissioning-program.html

I wasn't sure if this applies for Natl Guard or Reserve, I'd seen you'd wanted to try to USAR, I gather, though you'd said you were undergrad for math. Depending in how much comp sci you've done, you might, I'd thought, ask about this, just a thought...

Cyber Direct Commissioning Program

System admin, web developer, programmer. Put your civilian experience to work and become an officer in the Army through the Cyber Direct Commissioning Program.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jan 4 at 2018 8:10 AM

2018-01-04T08:10:30-05:00

And also, I've read that to make principal in public schools an Ed.D. or educ Ph.D. is often reqd, I've also known of faculty in colleges having the same for tenure. I'd just wondered, would you want to try for any hard science major, possibly? Since you'd been undergrad for math, possibly doing a doctorate in math, comp sci, or IT, possibly? I only mention that as it'd satisfy your school/teaching requirement, as well as being all the more useful to Army, esp. given that direct commission cyber program I'd just mentioned, you know? I realize it might obviously be more involved mandmwould depend on your level of interest in such topics, however, it just struck me as being a worthwhile possible alternative, you know?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jan 4 at 2018 8:14 AM

2018-01-04T08:14:08-05:00

Oh, never mind, I'd seen you'd said you have masters and doctorate. I'd missed that till now, that being said, if Reserves might let you direct commission as cyber, that could be a decent way for you to go direct commission, I should think. Also, mig you think about going technical warrant, perhaps, as an alternate? I'd seen Army was apparently short of late on technical warrants, just another thought, I don't know about doing that Natl Guard or Reserves, just an idea, if course

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jan 4 at 2018 8:25 AM

2018-01-04T08:25:59-05:00

Also, there's the Reserve and Guard Tech full time vpcivik service spots wearing the uniform and drilling, I realize you might not want those, given that you teach. Finally, might you also think about other services, possibly USMC, perhaps? Navy or USCG you'd have ti go OCS for those, or possiblyan OIS program (indoc) if you went direct commission. There's also USPHS if you've got any inclination to be in the clinical side at all, in med admin, just a tyhiyght, though u know they scrapped their Reserve program a few yrs ago, just figured I'd mention that. I'm unsure how USAFR might use you, you'd need to ask if you'd have ti go USAF OTS or into an OIS program with them, I know Natl Guard has their own OCS programs, though I don't know about OIS programs for them, I do quite honestly think that direct commission Army cyber program could well be your best hope, you know? Obviously, that'd depend on if you'd want such work, or they'd take what you've got, of course, though you could ask, certainly.