Posted on Jul 19, 2020
PFC PATRIOT Fire Control Enhanced Operator/Maintainer
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I’m just wondering if it’s possible to become a CSM (E-9) in the army without a degree.
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CPT Advisor
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Edited >1 y ago
I have known several SGM/CSMs without a degree, if you are asking just for general knowledge. If you are asking because you want to make E9 someday, you should probably get a degree. Times have changed; some senior officials have been calling for it to become a requirement. Even though it isn't mandatory now and may never be, anything that makes you stand out positively against your peers can only help you.
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Arthur Lamm
Arthur Lamm
2 y
I agree with this and I think that this is not the most important of what will be necessary, but education will be necessary in any case.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
2 y
Arthur Lamm - ....
"EDUCATION"?...YES.!

But College Is No GUARANTEE Of It.
I'm A Self Educated JUNIOR High School DROP OUT.
THAT Being Said, I've Had College Grads Working For Me.
When I Was The Director of Purchasing At F.M.C. In Indiana.
I Had To FIRE One For Being Incompetent And Retrained The Others;
So They Could Actually DO The Job They Were HIRED For...
Give Me A Guy With Just Average Intelligence, But A LOT Of Curiosity.
And I'll Show YOU One Of Your BEST Employees.... He'll Be A SUCCESS.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
>1 y
Frank Anderson - .... Excuse My sarcasm, But HERE It COMES.
College Degrees Don't Amount To SH*T.. Degrees Are No Guarantee Of Intelligence OR Education....I'm Sure You've Heard The Term "Educated Idiot"?
Well, That's Where They Come From, And We Can't Send Them Back, Either...
I'm Sure We've ALL Worked For One Or Two....
So Nope, On Requiring A Degree To Become An Officer OR A Leader
And Another NOPE, Just For Chuckles: Just Give Me An Applicant With Average Intelligence And A Lot Of Curiosity, And That's MY Next Employee.... "YOU'RE HIRED"!!
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
>1 y
FRANK...Grab On, Here We Go....I'm A Jr. High School DROP OUT...
With A Formal Public Education Of 8th GRADE... When I Was Living In Panama At 14-16, And Lived With One Of My Brothers; I Attended "El Instituto Pan-Americano",
Beginning In Their 9th GRADE......They Excelled In Business Education..
Mainly Business Ownership & Management... I Absolutely LOVED IT...
But FAILED 2 Years In a ROW ... I Learned More In That School, In 2 Years By FAILING Than My Former Public American Education All Put Together...
With An 8th Grade Education, I Somewhat Lied My Azz Off To Get Into The USAF; Where I Continued My Education: Mostly Through U.S.A.F.I. & A Couple Of Outside College Programs......My Resumes Were A True Works Of Art, But At Least My Name Address & Phone Number WERE Correct...
I Became The Purchasing Department Director For F.MC..,Of It's Indiana Purchasing Dept.
Fire Truck Division, In 3 Years, By-Passing Assistant Director; Transferred In From Michigan, .....Then I Was In Business For 27 Years; Sold Them & Retired At 56.
I BELIEVE. But Don't Actually KNOW, I Have At Least An Equivalent Education Of Having A Masters In Business Administration....But Probably Even Better.....
I've Had Some Of Them Working For Me... But I Wasn't Too Impressed..
Fired On For Being Incompetent (Refused To Follow Directions And Repeated The Same Mistakes). I Re-trained The Others To Do Their Jobs Better, And Quite Frankly, The Did; Once I Got Things Running The Way They Should, We Had All Had Fun & Enjoyed Our Jobs Together.
Give Me Anyone of Average Intelligence And A Lot Of Curiosity,
I'll Present To You A Person Whom Almost CAN'T Fail......But You'd Be Amazed At How Few Of Them Are Around. ..Our Schools Teach "Working Together To Accomplish A Goal".
And That Could Be Why So FEW Are LEADERS......
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
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Absolutely not. In fact, I know several CSMs who were working on their Associate degree while a CSM. However, it will make you much more competitive towards being selected for SGM and CSM, ahead of your peers.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
MAJ Byron Oyler
2 y
These online degree factories are watering down what a bachelors degree amounts to and I am not seeing the growth in people that you used to. A great SRNCO and officer will compliment each other in ways never taught in school and I feel a SRNCO obtaining a degree from an online degree mill will if anything weaken that bond and pieces to the puxxle. Now preparing the CSM for the post retirement job is another complete discussion and nothing beats experience and formal education for those higher level civilian executive positions.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
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There is no requirement. However, there has been a huge push in the last 20 years to start on education earlier and earlier. An associates is fairly easily attainable prior to E8. After that a Bachelors/Masters is really on the individuals motivation and available time. In any case it would make one more competative to have some sort of degree prior to being eligeable for even E8. Once selected for E9, there are multiple ways to increase education while attending the Academy.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
>1 y
Sorry For Referring To You As "Sargent"...
I'm An Old Timer 1961 - 1965 ~ And Since THAT Time,
Things & Titles Have Changed Quite A Lot..
In Fact, In 1965 I Was An A2C, ~ Now I'd Be An A1C...... Go Figure..
SO You Can Tell, It WAS Accidental;
And Has Nothing To Do With The Respect I May Have For You As A
"Command Sergeant Major",... I'm Not Even Sure If That Rank Was Around In 1965...
Come To Think Of It; I'm Surprised I'm Still Around In 2023..
Nothings Changed But The Title, And One HELL Of a Lot MORE Money....
In 1965 Was Knocking Down A Whopping $173.00 PER MONTH In 1965 ...LOL
~~ Once Again, I Apologize For My Making That Error. ~~
But The Fact Remains; "Having A College Degree" Doesn't Mean "They're Educated"
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
CSM Darieus ZaGara
>1 y
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney Thank you and we agree on the degree.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
>1 y
CSM Darieus ZaGara - .....
Seriously, There Are A Lot Of Additional Stripes Which Weren't Around In 65 Also.
It Use To Be, "From Shoulder To Elbow", Now They Go All The Way Down To Their-az.
LOL.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
CSM Darieus ZaGara
>1 y
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney Oh I get it. The SPC ranks were all still present when I enlisted. CSM was a work in progress from the mid 60’s to the mid 70’s. I think the rank was issued in 67 and it took another decade to shape the duties.

Anyway, enjoy your weekend.
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