Firsthand Experiences

Meet Deborah Thompson
U.S. Air Force

Military Student

Able to retire from the Air Force in April 2005, Technical Sergeant Deborah Thompson isn’t too concerned about what her newly acquired Associate’s degree and soon-to-be earned Bachelor’s degree from AIU Online will do for her military career. “But they’re sure going to make me marketable in the civilian sector,” she says. “Even though I have 20 years’ experience in the military, I don’t think that’s enough to make me competitive once I’m out.”

“I had been putting off going back to school for years until I realized I was only a year away from being able to retire,” she explains. “I didn’t want to leave the military without a degree.”

Sergeant Thompson’s uncle had retired from the Army a few years prior, and his advice mirrored her own thoughts: “Get some type of degree before you retire.”

Now that she’s gotten one degree herself and is working toward her second, Thompson offers this advice: “Start early in your career. Take advantage of all the opportunities the military affords you to further your education. Certainly don’t wait until the end of your career, like I did, and try to cram it in. If you start earlier, you can use your degrees to help you advance in the military and not just in the civilian sector after you retire from the military. But if waiting is your only option, it’s still better than leaving the military with no degree at all.”

Thompson’s stepdaughter and a good friend from church were both enrolled at AIU Online when Thompson made the decision to start looking at her options. “I knew I didn’t want to deal with traveling to and from a classroom, much less sit in one. From the start I knew it would have to be an online program.”

Because she had been in the military for 19 years Thompson knew she wouldn’t have any problems with AIU Online’s accelerated programs. “My lifestyle is pretty disciplined. I knew that if I enrolled I would be able to adjust and keep up. And that has been the case. I love the idea of completing the classes at such a fast pace.”

Thompson started with the goal of getting her Associate’s degree, but a trip to her education counselor at Robins AFB got her thinking about a Bachelor’s degree as well. “Obviously it’s up to you, but really consider getting your Bachelor’s, too,” the counselor said.

“The military is such a big advocate for education,” Thompson explains. “Once you hit a certain rank you must have some sort of degree to advance. I’ve seen supervisors and commanders encouraging NCOs to continue their education and (if needed) allowing time to take classes.”

After finishing her Associate’s in a mere six months—part of which she spent on the beaches of Hawaii (“Another reason I like online courses: they give me the convenience of taking classes from the comforts of my home…or from Hawaii. I just pack up my laptop and go.”)—Thompson is getting ready to start in on her Bachelor’s degree. “My counselor was right. I’ve decided to stay in the military for a few more years just so I can get my Bachelor’s.”

Although Sergeant Thompson says getting her degrees are worth the time and money she has invested, it hasn’t been easy. Thompson received assistance through AIU Online Financial Aid, was able to obtain several grants, and only had to take out a small student loan. University grants or scholarships are based on established criteria as published in the University's catalog and are awarded after verification that the conditions of eligibility have been met.

“Completion of my Associate’s degree gave me a new sense of accomplishment in my life. I can only imagine how I will feel once I complete my Bachelor’s. For me, AIU Online was the answer to years of making excuses and putting off school. I just wish I did it earlier.” Thompson said.

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