Ashford Military

Student Testimonials

Justin Watson
Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management

Ashford University recognizes the achievements of Sergeant Justin Watson of the US Marines, both for his service to our country as well as his success as an Ashford online student. Watson demonstrates that with determination and persistence, even in the most challenging circumstances, a quality education is possible.

When he first joined the Marines after high school, Watson found the idea of attending a university full-time almost impossible. First he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Then in 2004 he was transferred to North Carolina, and then deployed to Iraq. On top of his job of training marksmanship to his fellow Marines on the shooting range, he also had to confront his wife's ongoing medical issues, which eventually called him back home to care for her and their young daughter. But despite all this, Watson never gave up his dream of earning his degree. Today, Ashford University has made his dream a reality. "Finally, after nearly six years of wanting to go to college, I am getting the opportunity, and I am taking full advantage of that.

"I chose Ashford University because two of my fellow Marines were going there and had good online experiences." Watson had talked to others who "shared horror stories about schools with online programs, but he decided to check out Ashford for himself. His Military Enrollment Advisor, Gary Madsen, made the choice easy. "I was nervous about going to school online, but Gary was instrumental in helping me with the transition."

Currently stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, Watson is enrolled full-time in the online Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management degree program through Ashford. "I was amazed to find that all of my military training added up so much towards my degree," he reports. "I transferred 50 credits from my previous schooling." And now he is well on his way toward graduation, and then on to his Master's degree.

"I would say that Ashford University has changed my life." He now shares his experience and tells other marines in his command unit to enroll themselves into Ashford, too. "You are making yourself more intelligent and a more marketable candidate for future jobs," Watson says. But he offers these words of caution: "I have found that you should never take someone else's word on something important like school." The best way to decide whether to enroll at Ashford is to "go out and experience it on your own - that is what learning is all about."