Whats the highest rank I can get in the U.S Military with a bachelors degree?

Question

I read if you're an officer the highest you can get is O-3 and anything higher you would need atleast a Masters Degree, is this true?

And If I join with a bachelors degree (U.S Marines) how would I apply as an Officer, would it be mentioned to me after Basic or how does it go about?

I intend on getting a degree before joining the Military.

Answer 1

Actually, the rank in the services, depends on your performance and reports you get, your career appointments, the courses you get selected for, you do, and your performance in the courses! Yes, Masters, can help you, later in some specific lines of service!

Answer 2

Good idea getting the degree before you go into the military. Even if you do not use the degree to become an officer, the degre will give you more options.

I do know that people that have professional degrees such as Doctorates and PhD or physician can get in as an (O-3), and that if they have a specialty in medicine, they can get in as an O-5. There was a time, I believe during the 70's, when a veterinarian could get in as a O-4 because there were not any enlisting in the Military. There are also a few engineering specialties also that you can get in as an O-4, but there is still a certain amount of training that all in the military have to go through.

Answer 3

I was a weekend warrior back in the mid 70's, went in when I was 27. A bit late for most.

If I were to pick a branch of the service, in this order I'd pick these.

1 coast guard
2 air force
3 navy
4 army
5 marines

All of that is based on intelligence, the hardest to get into is the coasties, followed in order. Not to put marines down, but unless it's officers rank, they'll take just about anyone who can get through their tough boot camp. Airforce basic training is about twice as hard as boy scout camp. The only reason I went into the Airforce and not the Coasties is because I was land locked at the time in Nevada.

In the Airforce, the highest rank you can achieve without a college degree is Chief Master Sargent.

Not sure what it is with an AA degree, probably up to Captain. With a bachelors, the sky's the limit. Maybe the same with the marines.

Not sure if that helps.

Good luck ... hope you don't have to go and fight in any wars.

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added this on Tuesday, at 9:46 pm, China time.

To those of you that take exception to the military, even though I am a died in the wool liberal, and a peace loving ex hippie, I wouldn't trade my military service in for anything. It taught me a lot, gave me opportunities I would have never had, changed my life in a positive way, etc. My misgivings now in encouraging anyone to go into the service has nothing to do with the military, but rather with the leadership that sits in Washington. I also think our leadership is abusing the trust of the military and especially the vets. They are the ones who served so you can have your cake and eat it too.

I was only a weekend warrior. They deserve more respect then I.

Peace

Answer 4

As a former enlisted guy, I'm not sure if I'm qualified to answer this or not, but I'll give it a shot. If you have a BS/BA you'll enter the military as O-1. The initial training an officer with a degree is different than it is for enlisted people. Most services have OTS (Officer Training School). The military will pay for you to advance your degree and might send you to specialized training that you can't get elsewhere that's important to your career, like War College. If you intend on getting your degree before joining, maybe you should look into ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) That would give you a background in military education beforehand. All persons are encouraged to continue their education in the military; you can never be TOO educated.

Answer 5

You can make it all the way to the Joint Chiefs of Staff with a bachelors degree. You don't need a Masters Degree to make 0-4. Although this is rare and not the norm, the Executive Officer (second in command) on my first ship was an O-4 with just a high school diploma. Of course he was prior enlisted and became an officer though a different program. Anyway you can make it well past 0-3 with a bachelors degree.

Answer 6

1. A masters degree is not essential to move up in rank past O-3, but it is very helpful. The Army, for example, will give you many chances to earn that masters degree, and I recommend that you take advantage of at least one of them. In the Army, when you go to CGSC when you're a new major, you'll have the opportunity to do a concurrent Masters (several options to choose from), and if you don't already have a masters when you report for CGSC, you will be HIGHLY encouraged by your advisers to make that happen. Not mandatory, though, but helpful.

2. Don't go to basic training with the hopes of putting in an application for OCS later...especially at your age. Go ahead and talk to a recruiter about being an officer beforehand and get all your facts straight before you go into the military.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Look into the platoon leaders class. It is an Officer candidate school for the USMC that you attend after your sophomore and junior years in college. You even get to decide between ground, air and law school. Its an excellent offer that many people don't know about. You will immediately be commisioned as a 2nd leiutenant at your college graduation, and you go straight to your training program (as opposed to beginning OCS after you graduate). If your bachelor degree is strong, ie. engineering or science, you prolly don't need anything else, but if you do they will pay for it later on down the road. I almost did PLC, but my eyesight prevented me from going where i wanted. One of my best friends is leaving for his 2nd session in July and loves it. they will also pay for your schooling after you complete the first summer. It is not easy, and the application process is just as long as any officer program would be, but its a great deal. google it on the web, or check around your schools rotc program (which is different but might be able to refer you). Most big towns also have officer recruitment options. Remember to always talk to an officer recruiter, not an enlisted recruiter they are completely different. They are all used car salesmen, so verify everything they tell you and be knowledgable about your options. Best of luck.

Answer 8

You need a college degree to be an Officer in the first place... but how far you go as an officer has NOTHING to do with what type of degree you got, or what you got it in.

How far you go once you become an officer has to do with how you perform as an Officer.

Answer 9

A Bachelor's degree gets you E-4; EMT-Basic gets you nothing!

Answer 10

the only way you can come in at a Higher paygrade than O1 is by having a professional degree..Masters or Doctorate..in the Admin or Medical fields.. Doctors and Lawyers for instance, can come in at O2 or O3, depending on education and experience. everybody else..comes in at O1 regardless.

you would seek out an Officer accessions recruiter, not an enlisted recruiter.