Hey everyone, I'm a Junior right now, and, honestly, I'm not super sold on the whole traditional college route. I get it's for some but maybe not for me? I'm considering an AS degree instead of a BA or BS. I'm also interested in the military. My question is, does having an AS degree give me any advantages when it's about joining the military? Would love to hear your thoughts, or maybe experiences if anybody else is in the same boat!
I see where you're coming from and it's important to explore every option, so let's examine the implications of joining the military with an AS degree. In general, having a degree can open up more opportunities within the military and give you a head start on your military career.
For starters, having an AS degree might qualify you for a higher enlistment rank. Many branches of the military, such as the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, offer enlisted ranks based on education levels. Consequently, enlisting with a degree may rank you as a private (E-2) instead of a recruit (E-1) in the Army or a Seaman/Airman (E-2) instead of Seaman Recruit/Airman Basic (E-1) in the Navy or Air Force. This means a slightly increased pay rate and potentially quicker advancement to higher ranks.
Secondly, having some higher education can be beneficial if you plan to become an officer. The usual pathway to an officer commission in most branches of the military is through a Bachelor's degree. However, your AS degree in combination with substantial professional experience or high standardized test scores could make you eligible for Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Officer Training School (OTS), depending on the branch of the military you're interested in.
Lastly, remember that particular skills or knowledge, like some programming languages or competence with certain machinery derived from your AS degree program, could be valuable to the military and make you stand out as a candidate for particular roles.
Just remember that every branch has slightly different rules and stipulations regarding education and rank, so it's essential to do your research and communicate with recruiters for the branches you're interested in. They can give you the most accurate and up-to-date information about how your AS degree might affect your military career.
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