Senior Members - College experience?

[jimmydeanno]

Around here EMT-Bs make minimum wage ...

I don't know if I'd even get out of bed...or just go get a job at Wal*Mart - even they pay more.  Around these parts, cashiers at Home Depot start at 12-14 dollars/hour...

[isuhawkeye]

Thats a big problem with the EMS industry.
EMT's make less money than your average McDonalds employee


I got my degree, and within a week got hired as a manager, and two years later I am working for the state public health office.  It was worth the work for me to bet my BA

[Stonewall]

Having been through the EMT-B course, state and National Registry, I don't think it's all that hard to become an EMT-B.  Not saying minimum wage should be the reward, but I certainly wouldn't expect $15 an hour. 

There are 14 day NREMT courses out there, along with other 14 day courses in other industries (security, car sales, hotel services, etc); but most people don't become an EMT as a back-up career, but rather because it's what they want to do.  Unfortunately, it's the price you pay and wage they pay to allow you to do what you want.

[SAR-EMT1]

Eh, in my case it WAS a backup career. The AF via ROTC was my primary, but they dumped my waiver (and my scholarship) when we went into Iraq.

[O-Rex]

I don't know if the response population is representative of the general membership, but it is interesting that a majority are college grads or higher.

Conceivably, the next time someone dredges up another "Should a Degree be a requirement for CAP Officers?" thread,  we can answer "most of us already are.."

There have been a number of threads about some of the educational opportunities available to CAP members, particularly ECI/PME, FEMA and other courses that translate to actual college credits.  I kick myself for not joining CAP 15-18 years ago, when I was an undergrad piecing together and scrounging credits from wherever I could: would have saved me time, sweat and ALOT of money.

If anyone is in that situation right now, **take advantage of those opportunities**   Nontraditional education, including correspondence and web-based learning is more accepted and available now than it was when I was finishing college. Also, don't be afraid to ask: I've seen a number of resourceful and well-informed bloggers here, and they are happy to help.

I know this sounds like some paid endorsement, but it's true: an educated membership is a win, both personally, and for the organization as a whole.

[mikeylikey]

Eh, in my case it WAS a backup career. The AF via ROTC was my primary, but they dumped my waiver (and my scholarship) when we went into Iraq.

Thats odd.  Usually waivers do not get rescinded once granted by DODMERB or Command Authority.  I don't know how Iraq could get your waiver terminated??

Did you look into other ROTC programs at the time your waiver got dumped? 

[Wizard]

Are there any schools that offer a Certificate, Associates or Bachelors in Military Science or Military History?

I don't know anyone who has gotten a degree from here, but the American Military University has numerous certificates and degree programs delaing with military science/history.
http://www.amu.apus.edu/Academics/Degree-Programs/index.htm

I am completing my Master of Strategic Intelligence (before they converted the program to an M.A. in Intelligence Studies) through AMU currently.  Great instructors who are very knowledgable about National Security and Military issues.

[Wizard]

There has been some talk about our Officers having a college degree.  While I for one do not agree with the idea, I thought it would be interesting to see how much of the membership on this board is college educated.  I have attended college and took a few classes, but that was it.  Found it too trivial to worry about homework after being deployed to the gulf during the first war.

I wanted to participate in the discussion as well:

B.A.- History, minor in Theology
Graduate work at Georgetown University toward M.A.L.S. in Islam and Muslim-Christian Relations. (21 out of 30 credits)
M.A.- Theological Studies, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary
Diploma, Air Command and Staff College (to be conferred October 2008)
Master of Strategic Intelligence, concentration in Middle East Studies, American Military University (to be conferred April 2009)


I personally do not think it is necessary to have a degree to be a contributing officer of CAP.  I've known several officers that completed just high school that are invaluable contributors at the squadron level.   Its really the ability to be a servant leader that is necessary.  That said...any skill set that can be brought to bear at the squadron, wing or national level through degrees are also useful.

[SAR-EMT1]

Eh, in my case it WAS a backup career. The AF via ROTC was my primary, but they dumped my waiver (and my scholarship) when we went into Iraq.

Thats odd.  Usually waivers do not get rescinded once granted by DODMERB or Command Authority.  I don't know how Iraq could get your waiver terminated??

Did you look into other ROTC programs at the time your waiver got dumped? 

They dumped me and gave the funding to the army. HAppened to a few hundred AF and Navy cadets nationwide.
Looked into some alternatives but they werent interested in giving a new waiver to an asthmatic cadet. I would go in tomorrow if given the chance though.

[mikeylikey]

^ I have never heard of that happening before.  Did you already sign your scholarship package?  How long ago was this?

[SAR-EMT1]

'04, I wasnt on a full ride though. It was 50%
The key phrase when they let me go was that i was "no longer commissionable"
Because they made the decision, I didnt have to pay back the funds.
(Like I would have if I had quit)

[afgeo4]

The USAF was and still is waaaay overmanned in Lieutenants, both O-1 and O-2. They were handing out pink slips to many new Lt's and reducing the number of ROTC commissions to account for a large loss in manpower funding (which went to the Army and Marine Corps after the start of OIF). Many officers and cadets were offered commissions in the Army. Those who chose not to go that route were either granted an honorable discharge (currently serving Lt's) or were not required to pay their college tuition back upon not commissioning (ROTC).

The program was primarily a volunteer one when it came to ROTC. However... I could see that they'd make a case against a cadet with asthma... waiver or not. In today's AEF-minded Air Force, anyone with asthma is simply not deployable.

[SAR-EMT1]

I wouldnt have 'deployed' though. I was already set for Missiles at either Malstrom or Minot. The only time I'd deploy would be to go to Vandenburg for a test launch. Believe me I'd give my firstborn to get a commission in any branch.

[flyerthom]

I wouldnt have 'deployed' though. I was already set for Missiles at either Malstrom or Minot. The only time I'd deploy would be to go to Vandenburg for a test launch. Believe me I'd give my firstborn to get a commission in any branch.

Three letters = commission; BSN.

[sandman]

I wouldnt have 'deployed' though. I was already set for Missiles at either Malstrom or Minot. The only time I'd deploy would be to go to Vandenburg for a test launch. Believe me I'd give my firstborn to get a commission in any branch.

Three letters = commission; BSN.

Or ADN (two year nursing degree) in US Army Reserve! 

/r
LT

[RiverAux]

I don't know if the response population is representative of the general membership, but it is interesting that a majority are college grads or higher.

Conceivably, the next time someone dredges up another "Should a Degree be a requirement for CAP Officers?" thread,  we can answer "most of us already are.."

CAPWATCH does have info on education levels of senior members, but it isn't always filled out. 

[SAR-EMT1]

I said I wanted to be an officer not a nurse.... 
Ok, Ok, maybe a nurse is Technically an Officer
(I don't get that because the PA's I know are CWO's)

Maybe i should have rephrased.  ...   

I want to be a LINE Officer

[PA Guy]

I said I wanted to be an officer not a nurse.... 
Ok, Ok, maybe a nurse is Technically an Officer
(I don't get that because the PA's I know are CWO's)

Maybe i should have rephrased.  ...   

I want to be a LINE Officer

All of the military services have been commissioning their PAs for about the last 15 yrs. Army NG and USAR PA's had 10 yrs. to convert to the Medical Specialist Corps or get out.  That deadline passed about 5 yrs ago.  I think the Navy Reserve might have 1 or 2 WO PAs left.  The USCG doesn't have any WO PA's left and the AF and USPHS never had WO PA's.

Graduates of the Interservice Physician Assistant Program graduate from the Univ. of Neb with a masters.

I would be careful telling a nurse that they are only  techincally an officer.  I saw an E-6 tell an O-6 Army Nurse Corps officer that she wasn't a "real" officer once and what followed wasn't pretty.

[flyerthom]

I wouldnt have 'deployed' though. I was already set for Missiles at either Malstrom or Minot. The only time I'd deploy would be to go to Vandenburg for a test launch. Believe me I'd give my firstborn to get a commission in any branch.

Three letters = commission; BSN.

Or ADN (two year nursing degree) in US Army Reserve! 

/r
LT

What's amusing now is that when I finished my ADN I had a BA in history and none of the military units were interested even after CEN and Prehospital RN certifications. Now with Iraq I've been getting recruiting letters. However - if activated and deployed the pay cut would cost me my home.

[DeputyDog]

I don't know if the response population is representative of the general membership, but it is interesting that a majority are college grads or higher.

Conceivably, the next time someone dredges up another "Should a Degree be a requirement for CAP Officers?" thread,  we can answer "most of us already are.."

CAPWATCH does have info on education levels of senior members, but it isn't always filled out. 

Mine says that I have only completed the 10th grade.