Firsthand Experiences
Meet Phillip Crandell
U.S. Navy
Master of Education, Master of Business Administration
Military Student
Aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Anzio, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, First Class Petty Officer Phillip Crandell, a Cryptologic Technician, was doing more than assisting in the launch of Tomahawk cruise missiles and teaching his skills to fellow sailors. While that is remarkable enough, it is even more impressive that he also earned a Bachelor's degree through AIU Online. And Phillip did not stop there. He went on to earn a Master of Education with a concentration in Instructional Technology and is currently working on an MBA with a concentration in Operations Management while still on active duty in the Navy. According to Phillip, AIU Online helped make that possible for him and can make higher education possible for you too, whether you serve in the military or work in the civilian world.
Phillip considers adversity a challenge and meets that challenge head-on. "Before I enlisted in the Navy, I was told I could not go to college for financial reasons. After I enlisted and advanced to the point where the ranking system allowed me to qualify for additional programs, I was inspired to continue my education because I was able to do it my way, although I do give the Navy a lot of credit for that as well." Now, accumulating as much knowledge as possible before his discharge is yet another challenge that Phillip is meeting head-on. "I was initially motivated by the potential for higher earnings that a degree can lead to, but now I just love to learn and online learning at AIU Online is a phenomenal experience."
When Phillip decided to continue his education, he looked into both traditional and online universities. He immediately ruled out enrolling in a brick and mortar university. "Having access to the internet on ships at sea enables continuity with online learning that I would not have at a traditional university." Phillip then took the advice of his wife, Amy, who was in the process of enrolling through AIU Online and contacted her Admissions Advisor. "I was impressed with how helpful our advisor was in leading us through the application process every step of the way and we started our Bachelor's degree programs together." Besides being able to continue his education while stationed at sea, Phillip discovered there are other advantages with online learning at AIU Online. "The Virtual Campus is easy to navigate, help is always available, it is flexible, convenient and I would recommend AIU Online to anyone, especially if you are in the military. In fact, I even got my roommate to enroll through AIU Online!"
Phillip is currently an instructor at the Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida. He feels the knowledge and skills he is learning at AIU Online may have helped him with his current duties as an instructor of electronic warfare and signal analysis. "My education has helped me earn more respect from my students, my co-workers and my superior officers. In essence, I manage people in my current position. I find that what I am learning is immediately applicable to the classes I teach. I observed immediate results from my students after utilizing some of the concepts I learned at AIU Online. I was able to bring that data back into my classes and apply it to my assignments. The instructional methods I learned in my Master of Education program filled in a lot of blanks and helped me improve my teaching techniques, which can give me an edge over my peers."
Phillip has two years left in the Navy and will have earned his Bachelor's degree and two Master's degrees by the time he enters the civilian work environment. He plans on exploring the fields of corporate consulting and educational software development. Phillip feels his courses at AIU Online have not only helped him in his current position, but also can help him prepare for his future. "Through my research I have found that earning an MBA can be a good way to get my foot in the door in the corporate world. The management skills I am learning at AIU Online can help me prepare for my transition from the military to a civilian career. I also want to see more of what the educational field has to offer. It is challenging and exciting. I know I am not going to be in the military forever, so I think the time for me to prepare for my future is now, while I am young and can take advantage of the financial aid available through the Navy."
Phillip has some advice for both current and potential AIU Online students. "No matter what you do in life, you are responsible for your own success. Although your instructors and classmates are always there to help, the burden is on you and the results are based on your own choices and actions. Time management, self-discipline and personal initiative go a long way. It is up to you to ask the right questions if you want answers." At AIU Online, those answers are at your fingertips.
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