Posted on Nov 18, 2013

The True Importance of an Education While in the Military

MSG (Join to see)

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I will start this out based on my outlook of it and the same outlook I give Soldier's. I am currently working to a B.A. in Business Leadership, and I also have a technical degree in Automotive Maintenance. But the true importance of an education is not the paper or the promotion points, it is the practical image of a person who is devoted to self development. I understand that a lot of people look to the Military as a career, however I have seen it many times where SM's get out and have a hard time finding a job that suit's thier experiance. I hate that this happens but in this industrial and economic times or hardship, to show the dedication to better your craft and show the self starter attitude it is hard to be denied of ability both mental and physical when combined with a Military background. Please give me your thoughts so we can both help one another to motivate SM's both young and seasoned.

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Selfless Service

Posted 11 y ago

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1SG Steven Stankovich

Posted >1 y ago

Education is important. It is not only important for advancement through the ranks, but also is a combat multiplier when you take the uniform off and hit the job search. Education shows a desire to better ones self. It shows a desire to continue to improve ones knowledge base and ones marketability. I agree with you SFC Cornelius, the little piece of paper is less important than the self development aspect of education. College classes may not make me "smarter" in a traditional sense, but they helped me hone skills such as time management, critical thinking and research and analysis. These are very desirable skills not only in the military, but I understand they are also important in the civilian world as well.

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SFC James Baber

Posted 11 y ago

I think continuing your education shows even more discipline and dedication to not only your craft but to emphasize your willingness to better yourself, that is something that will show your potential to your leaders and to outside employers as well once you leave the service. Education is never going to hurt you, but it will make you stand above the rest while serving and will make you better marketable once you leave or retire from service.

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MSG (Join to see)

>1 y

All great points, I think the biggest thing I like to stress about education is what you mentioned, it shows discipline, moreso important a discipline to your craft that you would call a profession.

Being more marketable after you leave service is paramount! I think a lot of SM's forget that the Military and Civilian operational enviornment is completly opposite. This is the importance of getting an education it shows the future employer that you can adapt to a new tempo.

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PO3 (Join to see)

10 y

There IS such a thing as being over-educated without the experience behind it... This is a problem I run into A LOT in higher ed. I have a Masters in Student Affairs (graduated in 2011). It took me FOREVER to catch a break (I had to move to a new state) before I got into my career field (or even something related). The main reason (that I was given) behind this? I had more education than the person who would be my supervisor and they were worried that I would either not stick around in an entry-level position or I'd be some kind of maverick who went off on my own because I "knew more than they did"... It seems like BS, to me anyway, but it appear to be a valid way of thinking in the civilian world.

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CPT (Join to see)

10 y

With an education you become marketable in the civilian world, but better yet, you become an asset to your command and a beacon for your Troops. Too many times the Troops choose to make a career of the military without thinking of also getting a school education, then they find out the hard if/when they get a medical discharge.
Wish that 1SG and CSM would civilian education a bigger part of their NCODP plans for their senior NCOs.

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MSG (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

I think being 'educated' is important. The higher we move up on the enlisted side, we could be working along some Field Grades with multiple Master's Degrees. It is important to be able to "talk the same language" so to speak. But education is NOT everything and I do agree with you.

You can be 24 years old with a B.A. in Business Leadership but are you really ready to be a leader or manager of a business? Or would a 24 year old Sergeant that has a few years leading Soldiers and managing a team or squad would be better suited? I'd take the NCO with experience rather a college graduate with ZERO experience.

SFC Cornelius, in our maintenance realm, we cannot learn to be mechanic's through a classroom. We have to be out there troubleshooting and using the trial/error methods to fix or figure out the fault. Using a TM as a guide will assist in building experience, but that experience and knowledge comes from actually doing it.

Ok, I've rambled enough. Just my thoughts.

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MSG (Join to see)

>1 y

I fully understand your point, and it brings up the long time debate of "education" over "experience". I worked at a Ford Dealer during my time as a Weekend Soldier, and I have to say that in our realm (Maintenance) no topic is more talked about than this one.

I personally am Certified as both a Ford Master Drive Tech, and an ASE Master Tech. I have to tell you that the civilian diagnosis is completly different from the Military diagnostic process. But as a professional technician you need education for both customer satisfaction and experiance (provided it is a hands-on education), one is not greater than the other. Customers want to see certifications hanging on the wall, and want to see you fix it right. Again education and experience compliment one another. This outlook is my opinion.

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The True Importance of an Education While in the Military

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