| The military offers an outstanding opportunity to get | | | | probably want a career outside of the military. |
| your education. Most servicemen think they need to | | | | Because of this college is something I definitely |
| wait until they get discharged to take advantage of | | | | wouldn't gaff off like so many people do. You're |
| the benefits the military offers them. When I was | | | | already forced to practice discipline just by being in |
| serving from 1988 to 1992 in the Marine Corps, our | | | | the military. Why not take it to the next level and |
| GI Bill was only about $11,500. These days it's not | | | | improve your life by taking some classes after work |
| uncommon to get the military to pay $30,000 for | | | | each day. If your job keeps you on base all the time |
| your education. As you know, $11,500 doesn't quite | | | | then you have a really big advantage here by doing |
| pay for all your education. But there's something I did | | | | this. |
| that was very smart that allowed me to get very | | | | The first thing you want to do is pick the college you |
| close to finishing my bachelors degree, which I will | | | | want to get your degree in, preferably one of the |
| share with you now. | | | | colleges on base. Then speak with a student advisor |
| While I was serving at Camp Pendleton, I took a trip | | | | and get your classes scheduled out. You should start |
| up to the Base Education Office. I found out that | | | | taking the basic classes first, like English, Humanities, |
| they have a program called Tuition Assistance which | | | | Social Sciences etc.. If you get your 2 year |
| pays 75% of the fees for your classes and gives | | | | associates degree to start in General Education you |
| you up to about $4,000 per year, at least that's how | | | | can't go wrong, since you'll then have all your basic |
| much of it they paid while I was in. Since they cover | | | | requirements out of the way and will be ready to |
| 75% of the bill you should be able to cover the other | | | | start your core courses, or the courses pertaining to |
| 25% with your base pay. This will allow you to take | | | | what you want to major in. |
| classes while you are in the Military. On Camp | | | | When I joined the military some 23 years ago they |
| Pendleton for example, at least when I was there, | | | | didn't have 1/2 the opportunities that they have now. |
| they had Park College and Central Texas College. I | | | | I'm sure Base Education has even more opportunities |
| also took classes at National University. | | | | and Academic Advisors may even be able to get you |
| In fact, I'm pursuing a degree in psychology right | | | | additional scholarships and grants that will make |
| now at National University and only have 5 classes | | | | attending school even easier on your pocketbook. |
| left. While I was in the service, I started there back | | | | Sure the cost of an education is expensive but it's a |
| in 1989 and talked to a great academic advisor who | | | | lot cheaper than going through life without one. So |
| scheduled me for all my classes down there. With | | | | many doors open once you get that Sheepskin in |
| Tuition Assistance I was able to take 5 classes per | | | | your hand, it's almost a guarantee that you'll never be |
| year, and didn't even miss the money I spent to | | | | completely broke. So check out Base Education and |
| take the classes. Plus it was a great experience going | | | | see what they have to offer and get started. And if |
| to school after my daily duties. Obviously you can | | | | you haven't joined the Military yet and are planning |
| only do this while in Garrison and not on deployment, | | | | on joining, make sure you take advantage of the GI |
| but most schools that have lots of military personnel | | | | bill. |
| will fully refund your tuition fees for that month if | | | | They only took $100 out of my paycheck each |
| you get deployed, so it doesn't hurt to schedule and | | | | month for a year for that program, and multiplied it |
| try to make a class that month. | | | | by 10 I think. But it funded my last 2 years of school. |
| If you are serving 4 years and only take 5 classes | | | | While I was serving I had all my classes for my |
| each month, you'll have 20 classes completed when | | | | associates degree finished but 5 and completed |
| you get out in 4 years. And if you make a career | | | | those quickly after I got discharged. The GI Bill is |
| out of the service that's even better. Once you get | | | | funding all my core courses. But keep in mind that |
| your 2 year degree you have a chance of becoming | | | | you only have 10 years to use your GI Bill, but who |
| a Warrant Officer. And once you complete your 4 | | | | would want to wait that long to finish college |
| year degree you could get a full commission. Most of | | | | anyway? Think of each course as a small step up the |
| the on base colleges have classes that only run 1-2 | | | | ladder to long-term success. Take each course in |
| months because they know military personnel often | | | | stride and have fun in class. If you are smart you will |
| get deployed. For instance the classes at National | | | | get your degree in a skill that's in high demand in the |
| University run just one month per class. | | | | civilian world and make the military work for you in a |
| Whether you plan on doing 4 years or 20 years in | | | | big way. |
| the service, eventually you are going to get out and | | | | |