Should I join the Air Force before becoming an elementary teacher?
Joining the military can help fund your degree, but it is unclear whether enlisting speeds up or delays getting teaching credentials compared to going straight to college. The uncertainty, lack of military knowledge, and fear of failing during service make choosing a career path overwhelming.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since September 2026.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Going straight to college to earn a degree and credentials without joining the militaryDid this help you?
- 2Joining the National Guard or Reserves instead of active dutyDid this help you?
- 3Enlisting in the military first to use the GI Bill and college funds after finishing serviceDid this help you?
- 4Researching highly specific military fellowships and career tracks.Did this help you?
- 5Asking for recommendations on which branch or role to choose.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I need direction and someone literally down my neck telling me what to do, because again, I am completely lost!!”source ↗
“I’m just worried I might not make it, what if I’m too weak or if this is just another failed route in life.”source ↗
“I have generally no knowledge of the military and only did research the past few days”source ↗
“I'm considering joining the Air Force mainly because I know it can set you up for a well structured career and future.”source ↗
“My only concern is that I want to be an elementary school teacher”source ↗
“The thing is, I'm not sure if it's quicker for me to skip the Air Force and become a teacher or join the Air Force and see whether they have a program that could help me earn my credentials.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Should I join the military or build a civilian career?
- 2Is it worth paying more for an out-of-state college?
- 5Is it still worth enrolling in STEP or travel registration?
- 5Is becoming a teacher worth it with how kids are now?
- 4Is it rude to skip a distant wedding when travel and money are tight?
- 3Are professional society memberships worth paying for out of pocket?