MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Marine Corps Community Services held an education fair for station residents at building 411 here Jan. 5.
The education fair was open to all station residents, and it taught the importance of having a good college education.
“The program is open to everyone,” said Mary Cory, education services officer. “Our usual priority is Marines, but we have many sailors, and even a few soldiers, along with spouses and other station residents.”
With education so readily available, the leaders of military services have made it a necessity to continue a steady career in the armed forces.
“Education is important,” said Cory. “The commandant has said it is the fourth of his five top priorities.”
College degrees can be used to put one military member over another by increasing chances for promotion and other career opportunities.
“If you don’t have a degree you can’t compete with other Marines on meritorious boards or other forms of promotion,” said Lance Cpl. Robert N. Sagucio, radar technician.
Competition is big in the Marine Corps and in other military branches. One way of competing is by earning a degree, and the earlier the better.
“When someone first joins the military, their past college experience can influence what job they get, what rank they come in at, and most importantly, the opportunity to come in as an officer,” said Sagucio.
The Marine Corps is changing everyday, and education seems to be playing an important role.
“The Marine Corps is changing, and up until recently, it wasn’t uncommon to be a leader without a degree, but now it seems like an essential part of being a true leader,” said Sagucio.
This new focus on college experience exists in the civilian world just as much as the military. Earning a degree doesn’t only help while in the military, but once a military member gets out, it creates more job opportunities and can allow them to be a manager or boss instead of working up from the bottom of a company, said Thomas Keating, University of Phoenix enrollment advisor.
The job market has dropped, and finding jobs without proper experience isn’t easy.
“With a military background, service members already have a leg up on the general civilian population, but lately a degree will cause an employer to overlook that military experience,” said Thomas.
When looking for any type of job, experience is a key factor employers look at.
“Service members may be instilled with common courtesies and the ability to lead others but if our competition has a degree in accomplishing a job field correctly and proficiently then it is more than likely military members will be overlooked,” said Sagucio.
Education fairs are not held often, but the education center is always open for any station residents to learn about more benefits of going to college.