Can One Take College Courses While in Military?

Hey, can anyone tell me if it's possible to take college courses while serving in the military? I was thinking about furthering my education but am not sure about the possibilities or limitations. Any thoughts?

Absolutely! Many active duty military personnel pursue further education while serving. The U.S. Military is quite supportive of its members continuing their education, and they offer a variety of programs to accommodate this.

For instance, there's the Tuition Assistance program, which can cover up to 100% of tuition expenses for college courses taken during off-duty hours. This is a popular program, especially among active-duty servicemembers. Note though, the policy on how much is covered can vary between branches, so it's worth checking specifics with your service branch education office.

Additionally, there's the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which can cover the full cost of in-state, public college tuition, and even some private and international institutions. It can also be used after service, which offers flexibility if you're considering attending college after your term.

Also, the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) is an associate degree-granting institution that serves the United States Air Force's enlisted personnel. The CCAF partners with hundreds of affiliated Air Force schools, 82 Education Service Offices located worldwide, and more than 1,500 civilian academic institutions to serve approximately 300,000 active, guard, and reserve enlisted personnel.

Moreover, many military bases have education offices and may even host classes from local colleges and universities right on the base. And with the rise of online education, taking college courses while serving is more possible than ever before.

Remember to also consider whether you'll practically be able to devote the necessary time to your studies alongside your military service, which may also include unpredictable deployments. You'd want to ideally discuss with your superiors or an education officer before enlisting if you're currently serving.

And when looking for colleges, check if they are "military-friendly," meaning they acknowledge the unique needs of service members and offer resources like a veterans' services office, flexibility for deployments, etc.

In essence, keep in mind that balancing military service with education is demanding and requires commitment, but it's definitely doable and can enhance both your military and civilian career prospects!