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Benefits Of Going To College While On Active Duty

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Researchers from Student Veterans of America Service Organization say that from 2002 through 2013 only 51.7% of veterans who attended college after the military finished with a degree. This percentage is lower than non-veterans. Why is this statistic important? If a service member waits until they get out of the military to start college they lose the safety net of the military college office and a steady paycheck. This could be a major factor why the graduation rate is so low. According to the Pat Tillman Foundation, Got Your Six, and Operation College Promise the average veteran who attempts to go back to school after getting out of the military carries with them 28 transfer credits, which automatically makes them sophomores. This makes it very surprising that the graduation rate is still so low. What makes going to college while on active duty easier? While on active duty the military member has many resources to help them complete a degree. With that being said there are difficulties associated with active duty service members going to college can also be overwhelming, unlike the civilian sector usually factors such as tuition or …show more content…

It looks like it is more rational to at the very least start college while on active duty. Getting started in the civilian sector seems like it would be difficult and continuing until completion looks like it would be a coin flip for veterans. If a service member can continue college while dealing with deployments, temporary assigned duties, and permanent change of station orders he/she will have a much easier time finishing college out in the civilian sector. It is my opinion however that it would be easier to start and finish a degree while continuing to be on active duty than to do it in the civilian world. The “safety net” associated with being on active duty and a student is the main reason why I believe

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