You Too Can Earn a Degree While Serving in the Military
Serving in the armed forces is a full-time, year-round commitment. But, with planning and determination, it’s possible to earn a college degree while on active duty. Here are a few tips:
· Be Flexible: While it’s possible to be a soldier and earn a degree, the traditional approach isn’t the best fit. When looking at potential colleges, consider those that offer online and night courses, along with other non-traditional learning options.
· Have Clear Goals: Military personnel understand the importance of mission objectives, and that’s a skill that will come in handy here as well. Along with the long-term goal of earning a degree, it’s vital to have short-term and even daily targets that will keep the mission on track.
· Stay Organized: Confusion and chaos are the enemies of efficiency. Staying organized is the only way to succeed when performing the duties of either a soldier or a student, let alone when trying to do both.
· Work Around School Schedules: Most supervisors will be understanding – even helpful – when they find out you’re taking classes. Find out if you can change shifts to make it easier to attend classes or get homework done. At the least, it might be possible to come in a couple hours earlier or later on a regular basis.
· Prioritize Your Education: Military career and family are usually the most important things to personnel, but for those who are serious about college, then the school should be the next big priority. Hobbies and social activities can always be resumed in earnest once the degree has been earned.
· Let Friends and Family Support You: Earning a degree while in the military isn’t a solo operation; friends and family provide much-needed support and encouragement along the way. No need to make your educational goals harder to achieve than necessary.
These strategies will help any soldier who wants to earn a college degree while on active duty. It won’t be easy, but worthwhile accomplishments rarely are.
