The following recommendations were taken from a military panel discussion regarding MBA degrees held recently at the Washington D.C. Convention Center. The panel - consisting of an Army West Point graduate, a Navy SEAL and two Coast Guard officers (one former, one active duty) - was conducted for several prospective MBA students who also have backgrounds in the military.

This information will allow you to utilize the opinions and knowledge of other military leaders, who have their MBA degrees, to make more informed decisions on your future education choices and employment opportunities.

Recommendation #1 - Understand why a Master's of Business Administration (MBA) degree has value and how it fits with your future career plans.

Obtaining an MBA was identified at this event as the best complementary skill set (i.e., master's degree) to have for military leaders whether they transition out of the service or stay in the military. Military leaders viewed the MBA degree, as stated by one participant, "as an incredible launch pad for those entering the private sector or continuing a life of public service."


Combining military experience with an MBA degree results in beneficial outcomes, which range from higher wage compensation to better job assignments. According to the last set of employment data studied in the private sector, military MBAs were receiving 35% more annual compensation than traditional MBA graduates. The consensus among active-duty officer MBAs continuing in the service is that an MBA degree gives them an edge when commanders decide on promotions and assign work for more desirable projects.

More Resources

• Visit our MBA resources page, which provides more facts and figures for you to consider.
• Military leaders are valued and recruited by these top MBA schools.

Recommendation #2 - "You should spend time away from the military when making your decision to pursue an MBA education and understand how an MBA fits into your long-term career objectives."

From Will Cobb (former officer in the Coast Guard; MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flager's Business School; currently employed at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.)

"Let me clarify my remarks by stating my point is for military applicants to do their homework and try to learn as much as they can about the world they are about to enter. Specifically, they should take some time to learn a thing or two about investment banking, marketing, consulting, sustainable business development, etc. Military applicants, especially those that attended military academies, tend to have had very little exposure to life outside the military which makes it difficult to understand their intended audience. And, it makes it difficult to understand, much less convey to an admissions' office, how the MBA fits into their long-term career objectives."

Recommendation #3 - When choosing an MBA school, look for reputable universities both you and employers recognize with an eye toward schools that fit your interests best.

From Patrick Gray (West Point graduate; former Army officer; MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University; currently employed at Korn/Ferry an international management recruitment firm out of Los Angeles, CA.)

The research division of Military MBA has conducted several studies on employee promotion and recruitment with HR executives at Fortune 500 firms. Over 65% of all corporate hiring managers indicate they prefer to hire and promote employees who have received their degrees from traditional universities, which are recognized by name and have outstanding reputations for educating MBA students. For-profit schools, such as the University of Phoenix, were grouped in the 35% minority category and were neither considered as recognized nor reputable as traditional schools such as Duke, USC, Penn State University or MIT.

Recommendation #4 - Never underestimate the value of your military background. To gain admission into top MBA programs, leverage and build upon your background and experiences in the military.

From Patrick Gray (West Point graduate; former Army officer; MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University; currently employed at Korn/Ferry an international management recruitment firm out of Los Angeles, CA.)

Jeff Gibson (Naval Academy graduate; former officer and SEAL in the Navy; MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis; formerly employed at General Electric and 3M; currently employed as VP of Int'l Training & Operations by Blackwater USA in North Carolina.)

Will Cobb (former officer in the Coast Guard; MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flager's Business School; currently employed at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.)

From Jeff Gibson, Patrick Gray and Will Cobb:
"Never underestimate the value of your military background outside the service. Always be able to demonstrate how your core leadership attributes and skills apply to an MBA degree and future career. The keys are to effectively explain and relate (i.e., translate) your attributes, skills and experiences to get into the best MBA school possible. Core attributes MBA schools look for include: leadership, teamwork and technical expertise. Skills, honed in the military, which allow top performance in other environments as well include: a mission-completion mentality, attention to detail, accountability, perseverance and taking care of your people. Because your background is unique, you'll have more opportunities, which allow you to get more out of an MBA degree. Your military background sets you apart and will only continue to come into play and benefit you."

Recommendation #5 - Consider going full-time into an MBA program.

Jeff Gibson (Naval Academy graduate; former officer and SEAL in the Navy; MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis; formerly employed at General Electric and 3M; currently employed as VP of Int'l Training & Operations by Blackwater USA in North Carolina.)

"Despite having a low GPA and average GMAT score, I still got into my school of choice. Once I had made the decision to separate from the Navy, I decided to go full-time into an MBA program. In order to do so I had to take out a student loan. Going full-time helped me speed up my transition to education outside the military and immerse myself in class work, school activities and building new relationships. I made the right decision."

More Resources

• Financial Analysis. This financial cost analysis helps provide some context for a student loan. The calculations look at out-of-pocket and opportunity costs along with average payback periods on student loans.

Recommendation #6 - To get the most value out of an MBA program step up as a leader when opportunities present themselves and build on your base of experiences and skills in as many new environments as possible.

Will Cobb (former officer in the Coast Guard; MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flager's Business School; currently employed at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.)

"The military experience was critical in enabling me to step up as a leader within my business program. Having spent the nine years prior to my MBA motivating and inspiring men and women in uniform, my time at Chapel Hill allowed me to build on those experiences in a new environment. During an MBA program, when a former military officer speaks judiciously, is humble, and inspires; fellow students will look to that former officer to lead when the opportunity presents itself. For me those opportunities translated into being President of my MBA class, taking on important roles in student government and first-chance opportunities at foreign exchange and internship programs."

To ask questions and utilize more knowledge of other military leaders, who have their MBA degrees, sign up and access our alumni network.