I am thinking about joining the Air Force for 4 years active duty but I also want to get a college degree. I have heard people say that you can go to school while in the military and just as many people have told me that it isn't possible. What do y'all think?
2007-03-27 09:44:05 · 17 answers · asked by dj_adding 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
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2007-03-27 10:00:39 · update #1
I got my associates through the CCAF (community college of the Air Force) after about six months of classes and CLEP's. Currently working on my Bachelors through Embry Riddle. I have been in for almost 8 years now and will be done with my bachelors in about 2. Add it all up for me and it will equal about 5 years for a bachelors. Your job and your sqadron really make a difference in how much time you will get to pursue college. I have been lucky with my current assignment and how much I enjoy doing classes online. I have been deployed/TDY and still was able to take classes, many times.
For your question, yes it can be done. With your tech school and formal training counting towards your associates degree, it will save you alot of classes towards your bachelors. If I did not plan on staying in I think I could have done it in my first 4. I have seen others do it. I personally know of two E-3's who did it during their first term and then became officers.
In any case, you can do it but you have to buckle down and take around 3 classes at a time as a general rule. Definately take all the CLEPS that apply towards your degree as well.
Don't let people tell ya it can't be done-
Good luck
2007-03-27 10:08:30 · answer #1 · answered by Jimmy Petrucco 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Well when you get out of tech school and get to your first base you will have to get your 5 level and pass that CDC test. That comes first. You will not be able to be a full time student while in the AF. You will be able to do 1 or 2 classes a semester. If you are like me and came in with college credits then you are good. I am only 14 away from my Associate's Degree through the Community College of the Air Force. If you are looking to serve 4 years and to get college done then it likely won't happen. You can't use your GI Bill until you have been in 3 years. So you won't be able to use it right away. Maybe if you do two 4 year contracts then possibly.
2007-03-27 09:54:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not very realistic.
1.The Air force will not pay for you to take university class's until you finish your 5 level CDC course. That will be about 6 months after you finish tech school.
2. taking enough class's to graduate in 3 years is almost impossible going to college full time, without a job, imagine doing it working 8 to 12 hours a day.
3. Not all Air Force Bases have local universities near them.
4. While universities do have extension offices on Air Force Bases, class selection is limited and they offer almost no upper level class's.
5. Some universities extension offices do offer accelerated programs offering BS degrees, where you go to class 6 hours on sat and sunday. But usually those degrees are in areas like industrial relations.
6. from personal experience, I found it hard to take more than two class's (6 semester hours) at a time. Where a normal student would take 15 semester hours at a time.
7. it is possible to take more class's at the same time, but you would be spending ALL your time either working or going to class and studying.
8, and shift work can either hurt or help you taking class's. Working day shift makes it hard to take class's, since most universties offer the majority of their class's in the day time.
9. so overall, if you can finish two years of college in a 4 year tour, you would be doing well. While some people have been able to take more class's, you can not count on your being able to.
10. And it all depends on what you want to get a degree in, engineering and hard science degrees are alot harder to get on active duty than business and political science degrees.
Ex USAF SSGT
2007-03-27 10:13:18 · answer #3 · answered by jeeper_peeper321 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I was in for 6 and I did not get a degree, but now that I look back at it, you definitely can, you just have to prioritize and stay committed to your goals. It is harder though because of mission commitments, but it's definitely not impossible - don't ever let anyone tell you that. Those people lost track of their goals and aren't owning up to their decisions. I have a few friends that didn't let work and partying consume them and actually got their bachelors within about 5 yrs, and that was while on active duty in the NAVY going on the ship for 6 months at a time and everything. Air Force almost always has access to quicker internet so don't let those people tell you different.
2007-03-27 09:49:47 · answer #4 · answered by HappilyEverAfter 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
YES! YES! YES!
Yes, you can get a degree while you are on active duty in the military. This has become a lot easier with online classes.
I noticed that a lot of people have discussed commitment. You will need commitment whether you decide to go into the military and do school or just do school. College is a lot different than high school, and you have to drive yourself to get your classes done.
One great thing about the military is tuition assitance and the G.I. Bill. You can use TA while you are in to get your Bachelors, and then use the G.I. Bill once you get out to get a Masters. So it is almost like a two for one deal.
So, I say go for it. Oh yeah, did you also know that a lot of your military training will count toward your degree as well which means fewer classes?!
You can do it. Plus you get to add military experience to your resume.
Good luck!
2007-03-27 10:09:22 · answer #5 · answered by jrstina624 3 · 6⤊ 1⤋
It depends on what job you enlist for in the Air Force and how much "You" time you have to give to the Degree. I joined the Army for 4 years as a 19k(Tanker), a Combat Job, 2 deployments to Iraq and countless hours in the field and training left me with no time to dedicate to College, so I did 4 years Active Duty and left empty handed(No Degree). There is a way, it all depends on Job, Unit, Time and Deployment or not.
2007-03-27 09:54:37 · answer #6 · answered by Enterrador 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be done. I served in the air force for 4.5 years and I received my college degree. I served overseas and in one war (Persian gulf war). You can take classes at almost every base and you can CLEP (College Level Exam Program) a lot of classes as well. You can also receive college credit for the military technical school you attend. You need to have a plan and stick to it. I'm not saying it's easy but it can be done.
2007-03-27 09:58:24 · answer #7 · answered by mbroka 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is possible I have several friends that did and I was on a ship twice for 7 months and was still able to take classes. The Navy has college teachers travel with the ship when out to sea. So whoever told you it cant be done is full of Sh!t
2007-03-27 09:58:03 · answer #8 · answered by Sronce 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With all the on-line colleges and universities today, it is not impossible to do both. Much of your school activity can be done in your off hours, even in the barracks for ye of little rank.
It would certainly be a lot easier if you have a library or an area of seclusion to study, we all know how disruptive barracks can be !
2007-03-27 09:54:41 · answer #9 · answered by briang731/ bvincent 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is very possible, as long as it does not intervene with your military duties.
Both me and my boyfriend used the Tuition Assistance, where the military pays for 100% tuitions for online courses and some local college courses. I got my BA in Bussiness Administration and my Certified Personal Accountant degree, while my boyfriend got his Mathematics and language degree. .
2007-03-27 09:53:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋