U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shawn Bernal is taking global learning to the extreme.
Since enrolling in Boise State University’s online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management program, he has lived in England, South Korea, Mountain Home, Idaho and now Fairbanks, Alaska.
“Earning the degree online has been very manageable,” he said. “There have been challenges, but it’s mostly because I have moved around so much.
“England is a seven-hour time difference from Boise. Korea is 16 hours ahead. That was the biggest struggle. I’m still not sure how I passed some of those classes at the time.”
Bernal, an aircraft maintainer and an administrator who has been stationed in Alaska for one year, earned an associate degree at Community College of the Air Force before enrolling in an online bachelor’s degree in business administration at another university.
“They took a long time to transfer all credits,” he said. “It was four months after I had done what I was supposed to do on my end. I couldn’t wait anymore, so I went to AU-ABC (Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative) and saw Boise State. I was stationed in Mountain Home, so it seemed like a sign because they had the same degree program I was looking to transfer into.
“The military is paying for my education. I was planning on going back to school for a while, but things kept happening, like trying to get to a certain rank. Once I attained the rank, I didn’t have to study for promotion anymore. I thought I would study for something more productive.”
Having an Arctic blast
Bernal is originally from Los Angeles. After high school, he applied to nine universities but was not accepted to any of them.
“I was very prideful that I did not want to go to junior college,” he said. “It was either go into the military or go to junior college, so I decided on the Air Force. I have been in for 14 years now.”
Since enrolling at Boise State in 2022, Bernal has been applying what he is learning in class toward his role in the military.
“I have been able to use the information that I am learning in the program immediately,” he said. “I have mostly used that information with brand-new airmen who are fresh out of boot camp and tech school. It has mostly been the financial information.
“I had to pitch an idea for a class. My thought process was financial freedom for the new airmen. I put that into use, which was a big surprise I didn’t realize until later on. It’s been very useful for my job.”
So far, Bernal’s favorite courses in the online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management curriculum are Law for Managers and Finance for Managers, a pair of required courses.
“Those were both great,” he said. “The law one was better for me because I had heard some of the phrases before, but it was a lot more in-depth. I liked learning about law.”
Bernal still has six years remaining in the Air Force, but he believes that having a degree will help open up opportunities for him in his career down the road.
“I have yet to decide what I want to do for a career after the military,” he said. “This degree will help me out once I decide which direction to take.
“I do know that I’ll either live in Idaho or Alaska. It’s 29 below here right now. Even though the temperatures are frigid, looking up at night at the bright sky and northern lights makes it worth it.”
Blue skies ahead
Bernal looks forward to completing his long journey toward graduation with a bachelor’s degree next year. He hopes to make it back to Boise to walk in the commencement ceremony.
“It depends on what’s going on with work, but I plan to be there,” he said. “My family and friends are definitely excited that I am finishing up my bachelor’s degree. My mom is very happy with it.”
The leadership element of the online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management is especially appealing to Bernal because it complements his military training and experience.
Students in the program gain business skills and competencies, including interpersonal competencies that are integrated with business strategy and problem-solving.
“It’s a little bit easier for me because a lot of the concepts I learned in the military apply to business, so I am not reinventing the wheel,” he said.
Bernal, who enjoys fishing, reading and traveling in his free time, believes becoming a Bronco was meant to be, whether at home or abroad.
“The program gives you great flexibility,” he said. “It’s important to be open and listen to the instructors. I have definitely gotten good value out of the degree.”
Learn more about the business administration program
Earning an online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Boise State University can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online degree is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.
Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.