Members of the military have been
increasingly taking advantage of the online college degree
programs in order to move up the ranks and advance their
careers in both the military and as civilians. While in the
military, an associate's or bachelor's degree compliments
their military training and adds valuable skills to their
traditional training, while a college education looks great
on their resume when they retire after they put in their
mandatory years of service. With an online college degree
for millitary personnel, many men and women retiring from
the military in their forties, online college degrees give
them an education that compliments their military
experience perfectly to give them a leg up in the
workforce.
Online
college degree programs certainly fit the military
lifestyle. Why the popularity of an online college degree
for millitary personnel instead of a more traditional
bricks and mortar school? The most obvious is the
convenience of an online education. Military personnel are
frequently relocated, but as long as they have access to a
computer and an Internet connection they can pursue an
education through an online university. In fact, many are
taking classes today even while they are deployed in war
zones or serving their country overseas.
Since
relocation doesn't affect classes, military students aren't
in danger of falling behind on credits and don't have to
worry about credits transferring. The self-paced nature of
many online courses is also ideal. With more leeway during
each semester, there is a bit of cushion built in for time
needed for transfers or time off for military exercises or
other commitments. Required school work can be done around
the schedule of each person and an online college degree
for millitary personnel.
The
costs are reasonable for military personnel in online
education. There are various GI Bills that cover all or
part of the educational costs for members of the military
who wish to pursue an advanced degree based on length of
service, amount of active duty, branch of service and
veteran's status. The funds allocated by these programs can
be used for traditional colleges and universities or a
variety of online programs. Since online programs tend to
cost less than bricks and mortar universities as a whole,
the resulting savings is even greater.
Online
colleges are increasingly offering scholarships and grants
to individuals who serve in the armed forces or the
National Guard and reserve, veterans and their family
members as well. These schools, online college degree for
millitary personnel, are aware of the dedication and
high success rate of these students and are eager to enroll
them as students; courting them with financial assistance
is just one way they look to increase the number of
military members they enroll each year.
Many
cyber schools offering online college degrees are now
members of the Service Members Opportunity College System
(SOC), an organization which has 1800 member colleges and
universities. These schools encourage the pursuit of
college degrees by military personnel by removing stumbling
blocks caused by more traditional methods of pursuing a
degree. Some ways that SOC schools do this include:
minimizing loss or credit for transfers and minimizing
duplicate work, online college degree for millitary
personnel, limiting or removing residency requirements for
military personnel, recognizing national testing programs
and or giving credit for out-of-classroom learning and
finally giving credit for military
experience.
There
are now dozens of online colleges in the United States that
participate in the SOC program, giving military personnel
the chance to obtain an associate's or bachelor's degree
while they are serving in the military. With so many
advantages to pursuing an education online over a more
traditional approach, online college degree for millitary
personnel, it's easy to see why more members of the armed
forces are taking advantage of online college degree
programs every year.