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It’s your future

Education is a topic that is important to all Marines, a continuation from recruit training or officer candidate school. It continues throughout our careers, as consummate professionals who love to push ourselves to be better.

But there is one aspect of education many have not explored: college.

I was in this category for many years. When I was on recruiting duty interviewing a potential applicant, I would introduce intangible traits to them, painting a picture of gaining self-reliance, self-discipline and confidence.

I would tell them how they could contribute to the Montgomery G.I. Bill and have money for college when they transitioned back to the civilian world. I also explained tuition assistance, and that the government would pay for college each year a Marine is on active duty.

Even though I was saying it, I was not doing it. I assumed the intangible traits and on-the-job experience would afford me the perfect job and springboard me over those who did not serve in the Corps or the military.

One day, I submitted my resume to a large corporation thinking my vast experience and hands-on training would be enough to land a job if I decided to leave the Corps. The first thing I was asked was if I had a college degree. I replied no, but said I had years of experience working the job for which they were looking to hire.

I was told my experience was great, but I needed to have a college degree to be considered. I was shocked. I had assumed I could walk right into a job because the title “Marine” was prominently listed on my resume. I found out that having experience is a good thing, but having experience AND a degree is best.

Obtaining a college education is tricky. You almost need a college education to understand the different types of college opportunities that are available. There are ones located on-base, off-base, and those completely online. They are accredited through different agencies and costs vary.

The first thing to remember about achieving a degree is to look for a school that is regionally accredited. There is a difference between regionally accredited and nationally accredited. I assumed that a university or college that is nationally accredited is better than a regionally accredited one. That isn’t the case.

The biggest difference between these two types of accreditation is that a regionally accredited university’s credits are more likely to be accepted at another regionally accredited university. Regionally accredited universities are those found in each state and are normally the ones offered on-base. The accreditation should be the starting point when selecting a college or university to attend. The base education center is a great place to start, as they have the accreditation information for many schools that are tuition-assistance approved.

I found out the hard way about national accreditation. I completed my associate’s degree and was planning to apply for an enlisted-to-officer commissioning program. When I contacted the universities listed to complete my bachelor’s degree, I found out my credits did not transfer and I would have to start from the beginning. Although my degree was still valid, it was not recognized by regionally accredited universities.

The second thing to determine is the type of degree you want to achieve. If you are unsure, look at a general studies or liberal arts degree. I decided to work toward an associate’s degree because I did not have a clue what I wanted to get my undergraduate degree in, and I wasn’t sure if I would like it. Why not let Uncle Sam pay for your education while on active duty so when you transition out of the military, you can use your G.I. Bill for additional schooling?

What type of college should you attend? It’s a tough question, but there are many options to fit your schedule. I chose to attend an online university. I am able to complete my work on my own time at my own pace. But some people I talk to say they need to be in front of an instructor to learn. If that is the case for you, there are classes held at night and on the weekends on- and off-base to fit your schedule.

Another excuse I hear for not starting is that deployments and operational tempo get in the way. I hate to break it to you, but there are regionally accredited online universities that cater to service members. They understand that we deploy and they work with us. The online university I attended allowed me to finish two courses on a ship while heading to Iraq. With the information age, there is no excuse not to work on your degree.

The importance of a solid, well-rounded education can be the difference between success and failure. While having intangible traits will make you competitive, having these traits and a bachelor’s degree should ensure success.

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The writer, a master sergeant, is the maintenance management chief at The Basic School.