Course Catalog / BMU 103 / Lesson 1 of 5

BMU 103

Lesson 1: Define the Target

About 7 minutes, plus 30 minutes for your action step

Why this course: BMU 103 is for service members, veterans, military spouses, and anyone who wants a degree or credential without more debt than they need. In five lessons you will build a one page plan you can take to an advisor.

"I should go back to school" is where a lot of expensive mistakes start. The most expensive degree is the one that does not lead anywhere you want to go. Before you look at any school, you will name the job and the credential it really needs.

Start where you are: Do you already have a school or a major in mind? Write it down. By the end of this lesson, check whether it still fits the job you want.

Work backward from the job

1. Name the role. Not "something in business," but "HR specialist" or "project coordinator."
2. Look at real job postings. Find five current postings for that role in places you would want to live. Write down the education and certifications they list.
3. Find the minimum. Some roles need a bachelor's degree. Others need an associate degree, a certificate, or a license. Do not pay for more school than the goal requires, unless you have a clear reason.

Many postings split the list in two. Required is the must have. Preferred is a plus, not a deal breaker. If a posting says a degree "or equivalent experience," your work or military experience may count in its place, so ask the employer.

Check the facts for free

The Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows typical education, pay, and job outlook for hundreds of careers. My Next Move for Veterans (mynextmove.org/vets) links military jobs to civilian job titles.

Not sure what you want yet?

Try two or three career tools, not just one, such as the free O*NET Interest Profiler. Patterns that show up across several tools are stronger signals than any single result. Then check those fields against real postings. If a field shows up in dozens of listings where you plan to live, that is a target zone.

Why this matters for benefits

Think of it this way: picking a degree without knowing your strengths is like a blind move to a new duty station. New zip code, same confusion. A clear target protects your time, your money, and any education benefits you have earned.

Worked example: from vague to target

An illustrative composite. The person and details are made up.

1. Vague goal: "I want to do something with computers."
2. Named role: IT support specialist.
3. Five postings near the next likely duty station: three ask for a certification plus experience, two ask for an associate degree.
4. Minimum credential: an entry level IT certification first. Backup: an associate degree in IT, if the target later shifts toward management.

Common mistakes

• Picking the school before the job. Fix: Name the role first.
• Using one posting as proof. Fix: Look at five, in places you might live.
• Paying for a bachelor's when a certificate is enough. Fix: Aim for the minimum unless you have a clear reason.

Check your understanding

Pick an answer, then open "See the answer." Try as many times as you like.

1. What should you choose first?

1. A. The school
2. B. The career target
3. C. The cheapest classes

See the answer to question 1

The best answer is B: The career target

• A: Not quite. School comes later. To improve: reread Work backward from the job, then explain to yourself why the correct answer works.
• B: Correct. Start with the job, then the education.
• C: Not quite. Cheap classes that lead nowhere still cost you. To improve: reread Work backward from the job, then explain to yourself why the correct answer works.

2. Four of five postings for your target role ask for a certificate, and one asks for a bachelor's. What is the minimum credential?

1. A. The bachelor's, to be safe
2. B. The certificate, with the bachelor's as a possible later step
3. C. Neither, skip school

See the answer to question 2

The best answer is B: The certificate, with the bachelor's as a possible later step

• A: Not quite. That may cost more than the goal needs. To improve: reread Work backward from the job, then explain to yourself why the correct answer works.
• B: Correct. Aim for the minimum the goal needs.
• C: Not quite. The postings ask for something. To improve: reread Work backward from the job, then explain to yourself why the correct answer works.

3. Your friend says, "Just enroll in general studies and figure it out later." What is the risk this lesson warns about?

1. A. No risk at all
2. B. Spending time and benefits on a degree that does not lead where you want to go
3. C. It is too easy

See the answer to question 3

The best answer is B: Spending time and benefits on a degree that does not lead where you want to go

• A: Not quite. Credits that do not fit your goal can waste benefits. To improve: reread Why this matters for benefits, then explain to yourself why the correct answer works.
• B: Correct. That is the most expensive mistake in the lesson.
• C: Not quite. Ease is not the issue. To improve: reread Why this matters for benefits, then explain to yourself why the correct answer works.

4. You took one career inventory and it says "logistics." What should you do next?

1. A. Enroll in logistics now
2. B. Take two or three inventories, then check real postings
3. C. Ignore it

See the answer to question 4

The best answer is B: Take two or three inventories, then check real postings

• A: Not quite. One result is a weak signal. To improve: reread Not sure what you want yet?, then explain to yourself why the correct answer works.
• B: Correct. Patterns across tools are stronger.
• C: Not quite. It is a useful start. To improve: reread Not sure what you want yet?, then explain to yourself why the correct answer works.

Next up: Lesson 2 helps you count the credit you may already have.

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