by Col. Phil McNair
Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, American Public University System

If you are in the military and interested in earning a college degree, chances are good that you are short on two things that might be holding you back: cash and time.  Let’s talk about the time issue.

Few active duty folks are fortunate enough to be sent to school full-time on Uncle Sam’s dime.  Realistically, your military duty obligations or job requirements, coupled in many cases with family responsibilities, may leave you little free time for college.  And no matter how you look at it, earning a degree is going to be time-consuming.