October 30, 2017, by Emma Sturgis – A career in the military can be a great way of getting ahead in life, but there is no doubt that not all service members are cut out to spend their entire lives in the service. This is especially true for those who’ve recently completed a tour of duty, in which case, many military personnel will be looking forward to completing their commitment and getting on with their life back in the civilian world.
No matter how long you were in the military or what branch you were in, education can hold the key to being successful in your future civilian career. Nonetheless, after the constant hardships you endured on your tour of duty, you might be looking for a future career that’s a bit more relaxed. With this in mind, we’ll now present you with three low-stress degrees that just might be the perfect choice once your military commitment finally ends.
1. Information Technology
The field of IT is one that is rapidly expanding and continuously changing, and as such, there is always a need for experienced, qualified IT experts. Through a degree in information technology, you can gain access to a huge range of different jobs in areas such as networking, cyber security, software and app design and programming. Degree programs in IT and networking tend to rely heavily on math and quantitative methods and usually feature courses on a wide range of subjects, including networks, operating systems, database management, and the internet and cyber security. Although a career in IT can be both challenging and rewarding for anyone, military personnel with experience in intelligence and signals or anyone with experience in networks and security are perfectly positioned to succeed.
2. History
Although it might not be something most former military personnel consider, a degree in history can also be incredibly rewarding—not to mention extremely interesting. As someone who has first-hand experience with military, tactics and war in general, you are already in a position to better understand many of the complex historical issues you’ll encounter throughout your studies, and you can use this experience to become an expert in whatever historical field or subject you choose. If you already possess a bachelor’s degree, obtaining an online history masters degree can open up a huge number of new potential career avenues—from being a teacher or professor to working in a wide range of different private companies, government institutions and non-governmental organizations.
3. Business
A degree in business can also be a great way of furthering your career prospects in an area that is at once both incredibly different and quite similar to the military. There are a wide range of different areas and subjects you can focus on, and no matter whether you choose to get a degree in finance, business management, marketing, and economics or accounting, you should find that it opens up a huge number of new career opportunities. Your time in the military will have given you excellent experience and taught you many of the skills necessary to survive in the fast-paced, complex world of business. Teamwork, decision making and thinking on your feet are all skills employers’ value, and this is where your military experience can set you apart from your fellow business-school peers and give you a head-start to a successful career.
In truth, this list is really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to possible degrees to study when your time in the military comes to an end. That being said, each of these three educations are destined to be less stressful than your recent tour of duty, which should offer a nice change of pace and ensure a calmer environment as you make the transition back to civilian life.
About the Author: Emma is a freelance writer based in Boston, MA. She writes most often on health and education. Say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2.