[Master's Degree Madness]

If that's true, is it impossible to find a "relevant or useful" master's degree without the Air Force sending you or is it only not fraud, waste and abuse if I pay for both your basic pay and tuition at the same time?

If the Air Force was serious about education then it would send officers to obtain real master's degrees. There are already programs like this for medical officers, force support, CE, etc. You are not required to pay tuition during SOS but the Air Force pays to maintain the facilities and staff.

I would humbly submit that you get out what you put in to it, wether it's online or not.

I agree. However, based on the quality of education you get from an online school, I could just buy the books and work hard to learn the material.

You must "work hard" at your job. No one believes that getting an AAD will make up for sub-par performance when you show up for work and there is no erroneous belief that you can only "work hard" if you get an AAD.

I disagree. I have seen sub-par performers make Colonel based on nothing more than looking good on paper and timing. I have also seen extraordinary pilots and leaders being passed over because they had not finished their AAD and wouldn't be "competitive."

Working hard and choosing to do less work are not the same thing. No one is saying anyone specific is not working hard...I am saying that choosing to not get an AAD while it is an option is choosing to do less work.

There are only so many hours in the day. You can either spend them writing OPRs, learning more about flying, spending time with the family, sleeping, etc. Choose which one you want to suffer while you work on an online AAD.

I'm sure when you separate and get your degree it won't be nearly as taxing on your family as getting one now. (To help you understand me: that was sarcastic.)

If you have enough money saved / invested then no it wouldn't be taxing on the family. I never said I was separating - it's my backup plan for being RIF'ed due to lack of master's degree.

I am not arguing that people should not try to further themselves as officers and leaders. I am arguing that a degree in "Space Law" won't help you lead a wing. I am arguing that reading books on previous wars and learning your job is more important than paying a diploma mill for a degree. Perhaps if we rid ourselves of these little check boxes then maybe we will have to look a little bit harder at career performance. The master's degree requirement has already held back enough hard chargers and pushed too many weak performers to the top. It's an irrelevant metric and should be completely eliminated from the miltiary.

"If getting advanced academic education makes you a better performer in your job, i.e. STEM and professional career fields, pursue the education and let the improved performance show in your performance reports ..." - Gen. Welsh

[Master's Degree Madness]

But, I'd offer a better solution than simply nothing or everything--get your BAC+, regardless of how you feel about getting the full AAD box checked. Why? Because you still don't want to be bottom of the barrel, and having a BAC+ is a very easy and simple way to boost your SURF. Hell, you can go to Brandman University Online, sign up for their OLMP Master's, get an automatic 12 or 13 credits for commissioning, pay for ONE class, and you'll have more than 15 credits. BAM. Bac+ for minimal effort.

Amazing!

[Master's Degree Madness]

What you wrote:

What I read:

Personally, I love to go to Rome or Barcelona - if only the Air Force would send me. I refuse to waste my family's time, my time and taxpayer money doing something that I full well know will further my career and support my family for no other reason than to further my career and continue supporting my family. I feel like doing less work is more important than making sure the career I have is secure, again, the one I use to support my family. The funny part is, although I could take the opportunity to work really hard and do something worthwhile, I'm just going to pass on it now and waste my kid's education benefits that I chose not to give them (they'd have just wasted the opportunity anyways.)

Even though this isn't what I said... I'll bite.

I'd love to go to Rome or Barcelona too - we have no issues there.

You assume I don't work hard already? It has nothing to do with the amount of work and everything to do with what I am working towards. I know I'd take an online college about as seriously as my cyber awareness challenge CBT. Although, now that I think about it, I did go back through and collect all the trophies so maybe I'd like online college.

You don't need the GI bill to send your kids to college.

I agree that trident university makes you a better person and officer... on paper.

There is no butt hurt here. I know the possible consequences of my decision - that's where having a backup plan comes into play.

[Master's Degree Madness]

When General Welsh made "Blues Mondays" optional it seemed to happen almost instantaneously - optional master's degrees? Not so much.

The bureaucrats will not accept this new status quo lying on their back. The people who already completed their master's degree feel they "deserve" to be rewarded for drinking the Kool-Aid. All of our current Air Force managers have their master's degrees complete so why should the next generation be exempt from such a ludicrous requirement?

Personally, I'd love to get a master's degree in something relevant or useful - if only the Air Force would send me. I refuse to waste my family's time, my time, and the tax payer's money (TA) on a degree that serves no purpose other than checking a box. I know it will hurt my career and may even get me RIF'ed but so be it. I feel that sticking to my guns about what is right is more important than looking out for my own career. The ironic part of this whole mess is that if I get RIF'ed I'll likely go to school full time and complete a master's degree.

My advice - if you're not going to play their game, have a backup plan ready.

[Master's Degree Madness]

Maybe I misread the statement from Welsh (forwarded to me via email a few days ago titled "What We Value") but I thought it said a masters degree will not be included in the promotions board until O-6?

Our execs are still requesting master's degree progress for our CC's strats.

It's definitely a cultural change that won't happen overnight - certainly not when people aren't willing to change. I stopped working on my masters a year ago after finishing a few classes. I couldn't continue to waste time on something that has zero value other than filling a square for a bunch careerist on a promotion board to look at. I accepted the fact that it may hurt my "career" in terms of promotions and schools, but I also accepted the fact I'll be able to look back on my life knowing I spent that time otherwise wasted on enjoying life itself. So, I'm definitely riding this one out based on the mindset Gen. Welsh has of not wasting your time on a masters degree if it's simply to fill some ridiculous square for a promotion board. He's still encouraging folks to pursue higher education, but the results should be reflected in your job performance since ultimately that's what the masters degree should be for. I think most people in the operational community get it (well, even that is becoming questionable), but convincing the rest of the Air Force that we actually have a mission that we need to focus on is the challenge.

Most people in operations "get it" but the promotion board is a competition and they'll do what it takes to make sure they're picked instead of the guy that would rather spend time with family.

[Master's Degree Madness]

I'm not sure what For-Profit Online University is going to do now that officers aren't required to get a master's until colonel.

[Master's Degree Madness]

First post....

Navs - we appreciate your contribution

ACs - everyone still respects your authoritah

Isn't this thread supposed to be about masters degrees?