OCTOBER 25, 2021 – The U.S. Naval Community College offers seven naval-relevant associate degree programs for active duty enlisted Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen during Pilot II. The first associate degree program you can apply for at the USNCC is the Military Studies degree. Here are the top ten reasons you should earn a Military Studies associate degree through the USNCC:
- It’s Free
Education can be an expensive endeavor. Even if you use Tuition Assistance, you may still be responsible for mandatory course fees and any required books — and school books aren’t cheap! If you are an active duty enlisted Sailor, Marine, or Coast Guardsman, the USNCC covers your tuition, course fees, and textbooks, which means you don’t have to worry about those hidden costs of higher education. - Flexible Courses
Some colleges offer an online education, which is great for you when you are balancing your high operational tempo with furthering your education. But then you find out that your online course has mandatory meeting times! The USNCC offers online and asynchronous classes, which means you can log in and get the course work for the week done on your time. The USNCC is also exploring options in competency-based education opportunities giving you even more flexibility. - Naval-Relevant Education
Whether you are in the Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, your service is rooted in naval power and maritime effectiveness. When you pursue your Military Studies associate degree through the USNCC, you are able to work with faculty and students that understand your career and how it impacts you as a leader and an individual. Taking the USNCC courses with other naval service members means your course material and discussions are directly applicable to your job today! - Stackable Certificates
You are a full-time active duty service member; you don’t have time to take on a full course load every term or semester. The USNCC helps you achieve educational goals by meeting milestone accomplishments, where you will earn a certificate of completion in Naval Studies on the way to your associate degree in Military Studies. These can be used to provide documented evidence of educational accomplishments for your annual evaluations and make you more competitive both in the naval services and when you transition after. - Direct Pathway to Bachelor’s Degree
Under the consortium agreement the USNCC has with its partner colleges, your associate degree will have pre-determined and established pathways to related four-year degree programs. With the Military Studies associate degree, these include opportunities to earn a Bachelor’s degree in areas such as Political Science, Military History, Security Studies, International Affairs, or Leadership. The USNCC associate degree is fully transferable, which means you have the opportunity to earn your Bachelor’s with little to no loss in credits. - Military-Friendly Partner College
The USNCC has partnered with Arizona State University for the Military Studies degree, which means you will get an education from experienced faculty who have worked with military students for years in an online environment. You will receive a high quality education through the USNCC program. - Develop Critical Thinking Skills
The Military Studies associate degree is about the critical thinking required to use available resources to accomplish a mission while understanding the risks involved. This skill is what successful commands and leaders must master when facing the unexpected. When you can do this at a junior enlisted level, you are more likely to quickly recognize and leverage opportunities, making you a more agile, innovative, and adaptable warfighter. - Breadth and Depth on Naval Understanding
While the Naval Studies certificate covers the core skills you should know as an enlisted naval leader, the Military Studies associate degree goes deeper and more broadly into the topics the Naval Studies certificate covers. The Military Studies associate degree examines naval service and war from a case study approach similar to how many business schools teach business. The USNCC uses history as case studies and provides the context to understand current and future challenges using security studies and international affairs while highlighting leadership lessons throughout the course. - Improved Leadership Effectiveness
The Military Studies associate degree program through the USNCC will help you learn more about military theory, strategy, tactics, and explore the future of defense, and become a more effective enlisted leader. - Investment in You
Your career will come to an end one day. Whether you serve for one enlistment or 30 years, one of the things you will take with you after your military service is your education. The skills and knowledge you learn from your USNCC Military Studies associate degree will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Earning your associate degree in Military Studies through the USNCC makes you a more capable enlisted leader from the first course. This free program benefits you, your command, and the Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen around you. Fill out your application for the USNCC Military Studies degree program today!
The United States Naval Community College is the community college for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. To get more information about the USNCC, go to www.usncc.edu. Click on the student interest form link to learn how to be a part of the USNCC Pilot II program.
Story by Chief Petty Officer Alexander Gamble
U.S. Naval Community College