Life is tough Published Jan. 22, 2007 By Lt. Col. David Alcorn 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo -- "Plants are shaped by cultivation and men by education. We are born weak, we need strength; we are born totally unprovided, we need aid; we are born stupid, we need judgment. Everything we do not have at our birth and which we need when we are grown is given us by education." -- Jean Jacques Rousseau, Emile, On Philosophy of Education No truer words were ever said. From the day we are born we are learning: learning to eat, walk and talk. Our life experiences are our informal education that help shape us throughout our life. Our formal education is our opportunity to take the lead and formally mold our lives to our own goals and expectations. The military gives us numerous opportunities to better our organizations and ourselves through both professional military education and academic degree programs. Better yet, both these programs are complementary to each other. Both our enlisted and officer PME help mold us into a proficient and professional fighting force. In the Air Force, from airman leadership school to Air War College, our service provides continuing education for everyone in leadership, professional development and management as well as a myriad of areas. The goal is to have a total force of well-rounded professional airmen regardless of specialty. Each course is tailored to the rank and level of responsibility that person is expected to assume and builds upon the prior PME courses. Many of these PME courses also are eligible for college credit. This, combined with the G.I. Bill and tuition assistance, gives military members a golden opportunity at a fairly low cost to achieve college degrees ranging from an associate's degree up to a doctorate. Even better, in today's world, an entire degree can be completed online. My wife is currently on her last class for a master's in taxation from an online university and has never been to the campus. Whether you are going to stay in 30 years or just complete your initial enlistment, now is the time to take advantage of these programs. Each level of education not only makes you more promotable in the military, but significantly increases your marketability and, better yet, your salary in the civilian sector whenever you decide to move on. There are also numerous short courses and specialty courses for all of our specialties that will not only make us better craftsmen and leaders but, again, can be transferred for college credit. Once you have finished that first degree, don't let up. My experience was that a master's degree was much easier than a bachelor's degree and took much less time. Once you have disciplined yourself to study and finish one degree, it will only take a little more effort and time to complete the next. Don't miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime to better yourself because your efforts also better our nation. As the founder of Pell grants, Claiborne de Borda, Senator from Rhode Island said, "The strength of the United States is not the gold at Fort Knox or the weapons of mass destruction that we have but the sum total of the education and the character of our people."