The Army always loves to tout that you can get educational benefits after Soldiers leave the services. I would like to see our Army expand their approach because young people interested in the Army do not realize that they also get educational benefits while they are still in. I had no idea that there were this many different opportunities besides just shooting M-16s and riding around in HUMVEEs. It took me a few years to figure out that there are additinal educational opportunities that people have access to. All you need to do is seek it out.

I'd rather not speak hypothetically so I'll tell you what the Army has done for me. I received a ROTC scholarship from James Madison University in VA where they paid for my tuition and gave me a stipend of $150 a month. While this did not cover my room and board, it significantly cut down on student loans. A few of my colleagues in school got a four year ride where they even paid for their room and board as well.

After receiving my undergraduate degree, the Army sent me off to learn at the Signal school house at Fort Gordon, GA. While I got the basics of communication protocols, I learned far more at my first few jobs. I took Microsoft courses in systems administration and Information Assurance courtesy of the Army.

I returned back to Fort Gordon to receive even more military education. At that point in time I decided that I wanted to pursue a Masters degree so I put in for the tuition assistance and received it. While it only covered 50% of my expenses, I received a $1500 scholarship from the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA). That covered the cost of my books as well as the rest of the tuition. I studied hard and worked lots of late hours which culminated in a graduate degree.

After that, the Army sent me away to Acquisition Course at Huntsville, AL, where I learned the business side of the Army. This has given me a leg up on the acquisition process that the federal government uses to procure new systems. I'm currently at the Intermediate Level Education course for the Army, while these courses won't count as college credit, its sharpening my academic skills for later educational opportunities. I'm going to apply for an MBA next year through Advanced Civil Schooling.

I've been in the Army for over 11 years and have many educational opportunities that make my skill set very lucrative in the civilian job market. The Army has helped me pay for over 80% of my education; many times while they also paid me a salary. I do not like to brag about this stuff, but I want to get the word out to people interested in the Army that there's many different opportunities for folks who are in the services.