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Score a Post-Military Career Bull's-eye with an Online DegreeBy Mary HobsonLearning & Life Columnist
Today's military - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard - requires similar business and organizational skills to those in any large corporation. Many military personnel find that they require the skills and knowledge that a higher education can bring them, and these qualifications can also prove to be the entrance they need to a successful and lucrative post-military career.
Enrolling in an online degree could be the answer for military personnel who move around a lot as part of their normal working life. With the advent of the Internet and online distance-learning formats, gaining a qualification is a real possibility, even for those in full-time employment. Anyone with access to a PC with Internet capability and the drive, determination, and discipline to manage their time efficiently can choose to pursue a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree at an online school. Many online schools have specialist sections for the military, including incentives such as reduced fees, and help with financing a study program. Some schools, such as University of Phoenix Online and AIU Online, have counseling schemes to help you make the most of benefits available from government and military programs, and the university itself. A degree helps to secure that vital first job after the military, especially as formal qualifications are often a prerequisite for entry into managerial positions. As a graduate career and salary prospects are particularly bright. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics earning potential increases with the level of qualification, with average salaries as follows:
Over the period of a post-military career this could amount to a $350,000 advantage, a sum of money that easily rewards the effort of studying. Ex-military personnel also achieve promotion significantly faster than their civilian counterparts, according to research funded by the Rand organisation (David Loughram, 2000). A higher qualification and military service is therefore a formidable and winning combination. Even while still in the military education can improve promotion prospects. In the middle tier of enlisted army ranks (including E-5 through E-6) up to 12.5% of the maximum total points can depend on civilian education. This includes college degrees and 'educational improvement' - education completed while on active duty. The advantage is not all one way. Although it is true that a degree will greatly enhance opportunities for a smooth transition from the military into a career in civilian life, knowledge gained during a military career can be used in the learning process. A bachelor degree in Business will take advantage of existing experience and yet add knowledge of areas necessary to improve career prospects. An MBA is formal recognition of competencies honed during a military life such as leadership, team building, communications and analytical thinking, all skills that lend themselves well to careers in the business, technical and financial sectors likely to be booming in the next ten years. There are a number of different programs designed to give help and support to military personnel and veterans, including provision under VEAP (Veterans Educational Assistance Program) and the MGIB (Montgomery GI Bill). These provisions will help pay tuition bills, and give some additional support for ancillary costs. Previous study and relevant experience may be taken into consideration as education credits, which count towards your new qualification. In many cases, DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) can perform the evaluation of service school records and military training experiences and equate them to academic courses. Based on these evaluations ACE (American Council on Education) may recommend that colleges and universities award education credits. An online degree is a unique opportunity to improve career prospects now and after completing military service. Bite the bullet and enroll today! Following are some useful links to online schools:
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About the Author Mary Hobson is the Head of IT School at a Polytechnic in New Zealand. She also works as a freelance writer. More Online Learning Articles |
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