The Fear and Motivation Factors

1. Confusion
2. Money
3. Time
4. Fear
5. Motivation

These 5 factors can block you from achieving your potential, but you can remove these barriers when you learn the terms, tricks, and tips that have helped thousands of other servicemembers and veteran's get their education.

It's time to address the last of these factors, and get you on the way to achieving your goals, and reaching your full potential.

Handling the Fear and Using the Motivation Factor!

Fear

What are you afraid of?

The fear of tuition costs, transfers, operational conflicts, duty schedules, being underway, or deployed, are all legitimate concerns. However, your Military Service Branch and the VA have created DANTES, the GI Bill, and the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) programs to help you deal with these challenges.

So what's left? Is it a fear of failure or commitment? Or are you afraid you don't have what it takes? Look at it this way: in your military career you have experienced pain & suffering, put in long hard hours, made huge sacrifices, endured separation from your family, and maybe even had to live on MREs. Face it, you have what it takes. Besides, with the possible exception of rocket science, the type of college courses you'll likely be taking are not that difficult.

Remember: a college degree is less of a measure of intelligence and more of a measure of commitment, and tenacity.

Motivation

Instead of letting fear stop you, let fear motivate you! The following are examples of what you should really be afraid of.

• Lower Wages
• Unemployment
• Missed Promotion/Advancement Opportunities
• Missed Benefits

Lower Wages and Unemployment

If you are currently on active duty, you enjoy relatively good wages and job security, but someday you will have to leave the military. If you haven't completed your education by the time you get out, you could be looking at lower wages or unemployment. As a rule, the higher your level of education and training, the more salary and wages you are likely to earn. Your level of education can also directly affect your ability to get or keep a job.

Missed Promotion/Advancement Opportunities

Missed Benefits

At $4,500 a year Tuition Assistance is at a historic high, but like many government-funded programs the future of this benefit is not guaranteed, and may not last much longer. Your other educational benefits also have limitations. For example when you separate from the military you lose your eligibility for most DANTES, SOC, and Tuition Assistance programs, and if you are veteran you only have ten years from the end of your last day of active duty to use all of your GI Bill benefits. After that your benefits are gone, and based on today's payment rates that could mean a loss of over $55,000.

Simply put, you need to "use it, or lose it".

So if you have finally decided that you are ready to increase your earning potential, get that promotion, and use the benefits you have earned before it is too late, then you have decided to turn fear into motivation.

Finding the right school and program for you should be your next step in pursuing your education goals. By filling out one simple form, the Military.com School Finder can save you time and effort by getting the right schools to send information directly to you.

This series has given you the information and tools needed to help you deal with and overcome the barriers caused by Confusion, Money, Time, Fear and Motivation. Now it's up to you to stop procrastinating and start achieving your full potential.