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Old 03-29-2013 | 09:54 AM
  #29  
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From: Retired
Default Good for you!

Originally Posted by FLY6584
You are absolutely right. I knew the choice I was making would likely prevent me from making Major, but I still decided to make that choice knowing that 20 years on AD would not be an option for me and being the best damn pilot, husband, and father I could be was more important. If I do not make Major it is no one else's fault, but myself and I am ok with that. I just hope that if I am passed over I am not offered continuation and have the chance to walk away with a separation pay so that I have something to show for 10 years of service. Certainly I don't feel entitled to that, but it would be nice to get a head start on a civilian retirement plan considering if I had spent 10 years at a civilian company I probably would have been contributing to a 401k.

I was just pointing out the fact that it's sad that brand new Lt's coming out of Altus or their FTU/RTU show up to the squadron and are told that if they want to make Major to get started on that Masters immediately therefore the new guys are spending more time worrying about checking the box instead of locking themselves in the vault and becoming the best damn co-pilot or wingman they can be. That is what is broken with the system.
I totally agree the system is broken re advanced degrees. I felt exactly the same way you do about having to get a masters degree. I'm one of the few that made it to O-5 without one. I'll be the first to admit I was lucky. I did have a bachelors + in my promotion folder since I was working on a masters and had completed enough credits for the bachelors + level. Once I made O-5 I saw no need to finish it. Fortunately for me at the time the DP recommendation trumped the lack of completed advanced degree. I still think the advanced degree requirement is a complete waste of time and money though.
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