By Qunnette McCoy, HigherEd Military
Active-duty service members who are also students have to balance their professional military responsibilities and devote time to their academic studies. The key to balancing both roles can take meticulous planning. But there are many active-duty service members who are pursuing academic degrees and a number of tools that can aid service members in accomplishing all their desired tasks while not sacrificing performance quality in either commitment.
Active-duty students must keep up and make the most of each minute using organizational and technological tools. While tools can be an added benefit, a total commitment mindset is the crux of success in balancing military obligations and academic journeys. Since I, myself, am an active-duty service member soon to begin the dissertation phase of a doctoral program, here are some tools I have found useful to balance military commitments and academic success:
Tools for Keeping up with Military Education
To maintain a competitive edge for promotion, service members must attend military education courses consistently to show their willingness to develop professionally. These courses can last from weeks to months, forcing the student to inhabit transient lodging or hotels, which can present obstacles. As with college-level classes, military courses require varying degrees of effort. Being enrolled in a resident military course while engaged in a civilian education program can be difficult. Applications such as Structured and Todoist can help keep all tasks organized, ensuring that one does not miss important timelines and events.
Time spent commuting can be filled by listening to assigned readings or proofing a document using Speechify. The ability to hear one’s content aloud often makes editing much more straightforward, as errors are more noticeable when heard.
Grammarly and ProWritingAid are programs that aid students with sentence clarity, subject-verb agreement and proper word usage. Students can also use the dictate function in Microsoft Word to take notes, capture thoughts and even write papers while on the move. Students must also utilize the mobile application of their school’s LMS (i.e., Canvas or Blackboard). This permits students to review course requirements and submit assignments, such as discussion postings, while not being tethered to a computer.
Tools for Keeping up with Physical Fitness
Service members must adhere to strict physical fitness and appearance standards. Therefore, dedicating time to maintain physical readiness and eating nutritious meals is important for optimal performance. Both must be part of a routine, and there are unlimited mobile applications to assist with organizing these activities. Nike Training Club and MyFitnessPal are two of the most popular for tracking fitness goals, and Mealime is highly recommended for healthy meal prepping. Meal preparation services such as HelloFresh and Blue Apron can save students time by delivering groceries directly to their homes instead of dedicating time to traveling and shopping.
Tools for Keeping up with Academic Studies
As previously mentioned, domestic conveniences and technological advancements free up time for military students to concentrate on their studies. Even with additional time to focus on coursework, some students require assistance to master the subject matter. Virtual tutoring has steadily risen in popularity in recent years, with sites such as Tutor.com and Chegg Tutors drawing increased online traffic each year. Increased flexibility is provided by virtual tutoring, as the tutor and person being tutored can commit to earlier and later sessions as travel is not required.
Lastly, students must be wholly devoted to their success. Military culture can push individuals often beyond their physical and mental limits. While most possess a mindset consistent with achievement, operating in an academic environment can sometimes feel foreign to service members.
Scores of service members choose to attend institutions with online programs, as they are more accommodating to the demands of military obligations such as temporary duty and field training. It is recommended that students ensure, before enrolling in a program, that the institution has an active military affairs department. These professionals may one day advocate on their behalf.
Military students in the various components all have unique challenges that distinctly affect their specific populations. Reservists and National Guardsmen must juggle the demands of their civilian professions with the demands of part-time service while pursuing their academic goals. Active-duty service members face change-of-station moves, extended periods of training and temporary duty assignments, all while encountering the difficulties of meeting academic deadlines and requirements.
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