From Enlistment to Education: Planning Academic Success for Service Members
When my son first told me about his enlistment in the military, I felt a mix of pride and anxiety. So many questions popped into my mind—Would he be safe? Would he find fulfillment? What would happen to his academic goals now that he has decided to become a service member?
As a parent of a service member, you might share similar feelings of uncertainty. You may wonder how your son or daughter can pursue their education while fulfilling their military duties. The good news is that the military offers several educational benefits designed to help service members achieve their academic goals without putting their careers on hold. In this article, we will share a few tips for helping your service member navigate their educational journey while serving.
Three Steps to Achieving Academic Success for Service Members
Understanding Military Education Benefits
Military service offers several educational benefits to help service members looking to further their education achieve their goals. The Federal Tuition Assistance (TA) Program is the most important of these benefits for new service members. This benefit covers tuition costs for active-duty service members, allowing them to pursue education while serving.
Encouraging my son to sign up for TA was one of the best decisions I ever made during his time in the army, and I recommend this to the parents of every new service member I know.
Choosing the Right Education Path
Once on active duty, military life can be unpredictable. With deployments always looming, regular duty station changes, and intensive training schedules, active service members are always on their toes. As such, it's important for service members looking to further their education to choose a flexible educational program. Encouraging your service member to connect with their Education Service Officer (ESO) on base to fully explore their options can help them make the best choice.
Online and hybrid degree programs are a great choice. They provide the flexibility needed to balance military responsibilities with academic goals so they make a great place to start for active service members. Schools like Arizona State University and the University of Maryland Global Campus offer a wide range of online degree options tailored to service members, so you may want to check those out as well.
Additionally, there are degree programs designed specifically for military careers, such as those offered by the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), which align with Air Force specialties. These specialized options are a popular choice amongst members of the military, so those too may be worth considering.
Leveraging Military Education Support Services
Support services are crucial for military service members, especially those pursuing higher education. Several programs have been specifically designed to assist them in achieving their academic goals while balancing their military duties. Programs like Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families provide free, 24/7 tutoring support in various subjects, helping service members stay on top of their coursework. The Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) network is another support service that ensures that military students can transfer credits easily between institutions, making it easier for active service members to complete their degrees despite their frequent relocations. Encourage your service member to take advantage of these support services so they can get the best out of their education in the military.
Conclusion
My son was able to earn his bachelor's degree while on active duty, thanks to many of the strategies and resources shared in this article. With the right support, planning, and use of military education benefits, your service member can do the same—pursuing their academic goals while proudly serving their country.
Useful Resources
Tuition Assistance (TA) Program - Offers financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs, supporting service members in their professional and personal self-development goals.
Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES): Provides credit-by-exam opportunities, allowing service members to fast-track their degrees by testing out of certain courses.
Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC): Ensures that military students can transfer credits between institutions, making it easier to complete their degrees despite frequent relocations.
