Eric Dembinski
I appreciated Norwich University's military culture, and they easily transferred much of my military experience into course credits to complement my degree.
Q: “Tell us about yourself.”
A: “I am a 37-year-old husband and father of four. I enjoy doing outdoor sports with my family, such as hiking, rock climbing, and kayaking. I am very involved at my church, and I love serving the Lord. I am a Master Sergeant serving on Active Duty in the U.S. Army. I have been in the Army for 20 years and the Special Forces for 12 years. I am currently serving as a Company Operations Sergeant and am now preparing for my retirement.”
Q: “What was your motivation for pursuing your degree?”
A: “I wanted to take the opportunity while serving to complete my bachelor’s degree before I retire. I will be the first in my family to graduate from a higher education, and I wanted to set an example for my children. I chose the strategic studies and defense analysis degree to enrich my understanding of global strategic matters to complement my current operations focus. My plans are to continue with my retirement from the U.S. military and begin the search for my next career.”
Q: “Why did you choose Norwich?”
A: “I learned about Norwich from several other colleagues who were already enrolled. I appreciated Norwich University's military culture, and they easily transferred much of my military experience into course credits to complement my degree.”
Q: “Did you have any uncertainties with choosing an online program?”
A: “One of the reasons for choosing my online program was the uncertainty of managing the difficulty of the classes with a busy lifestyle, so I chose a degree that already complemented my current operational focus for simplicity. However, after taking the online classes at Norwich, I feel confident that I would have been able to take on a more diverse degree focus to broaden my specialization. The flexibility of an online degree supported my ongoing career much more than a traditional campus degree.”
Q: “Prior to beginning your courses, what were some of your expectations for an online degree program?”
A: “I had taken online classes previously at a community college and experienced an array of course styles from regimented weekly assignment completion to more flexible submission requirements. Norwich had a healthy balance of flexibility in schedule, the ability to work ahead on assignments, and incremental progression through the course material.”
Q: “What is one piece of advice you would give to future students enrolling in one of Norwich's online programs?”
A: “Take full advantage of the Student Support Advisors to discuss the various degree plans that would suit you and your schedule. Allot yourself the time to be successful in your courses. And go at your own pace; don't be afraid to take breaks between courses.”
Q: “What has been your biggest personal or professional success since starting your degree?”
A: “I think my biggest personal success since starting my coursework was maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout my degree. The instructors provided knowledgeable feedback throughout the courses to steer me in the right direction and make me a better student.”
Q: “Please tell us about a time when you could put your knowledge gained in the classroom to work immediately at your job.”
A: “The Field Studies and Capstone allowed me to focus on a specific region of interest, which I targeted my unit's areas of interest. This afforded me a more in-depth study on the culture and history of those regions, allowing me to make more informed decisions during operations.”
Q: “What aspects of your Norwich experience will you carry most strongly with you?”
A: “I will carry the experience of taking on a personal challenge and goal amid a busy life and full-time career and managing my time to be successful in both. Pursuing my degree at Norwich has been a worthwhile journey and accomplishment. I only wish that I had done this earlier in my career.”
