With more than 20 years of combined experience in the Air Force and Marine Corps, Caine Nielsen is preparing for life after the military in Boise State University’s online Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Management program.
“I got my airframe and power plant license,” he said. “I’ve been to a lot of military schools. I started with aviation safety and decided I didn’t like that.
“I switched to doing general education credits until I figured it out. I finally decided I wanted to do something with business. I don’t want to do anything with the military or the government after I retire.”
Nielsen works in explosive ordnance disposal, similar to the role depicted in “The Hurt Locker,” and is stationed in San Antonio. He is on track to graduate from the online BBA in Management in August 2026.
“I started researching a bunch of colleges, ones that are in the AU-ABC [Air University Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative] program when I found Boise State,” he said. “I narrowed it down to four schools.
“While researching Boise State, I saw the entrepreneurship part of the business management degree. I also read what other students think about Boise State in the different reviews and how it compares to other schools, which sold me.”
Although he has vast experience in other online programs, Nielsen enjoys Boise State’s approach to online education the most.
“I like this format because it’s a little more structured,” he said. “You can’t just start class every month. It helps build your schedule better. The classes are better quality, in my opinion.
“I like that they have feedback forms for every class. I also fill those out as honestly as I can. We go back and use some of the programs I used when I first started at Boise State, and I can see the changes recommended before. They listen to what you say.”
Change of course
Nielsen is originally from Pennsylvania, but he spent most of his time in South Carolina, where he met his wife, Jessica.
After serving nine years in the Marines, he switched to the Air Force. He enrolled at Boise State in March 2023.
“The deal was my wife could get her degree first, then I get to get my degree,” he said. “She got her degree from the University of Arkansas.”
So far, engineering and marketing are Nielsen’s two favorite courses in the online BBA in Management curriculum.
“Engineering was an elective, but it was very interesting and fun,” he said. “I enjoyed the marketing class because it forces you to use technologies that you might not have been exposed to. It forces you to use it and figure it out, which is really rewarding. I’m not super old, but I am 40.”
Although the knowledge Nielsen is gaining in the program is not directly applicable to his role with the Air Force, he says it has still been useful.
“My wife has a first assisting surgical technologist business,” he said. “She can bill insurances. I’ve been able to apply what I’ve learned to her business, which is great.
“I wouldn’t expect a whole lot of what I do in the military to apply to a business degree other than a lot of the Excel work. However, I ended up having to do an investigation and was able to apply what I learned in the Employment Law class to understand what the lawyers were telling me.”
Nielsen believes a business degree from Boise State will open up opportunities for him as he works to build an entrepreneurial foundation.
“I tried to be as selective as I could with the school and the degree so I could get the most out of it,” he said. “I do intend on using it after I retire — even if I have to start out applying for management jobs.”
Hello, Idaho
Nielsen plans to make the most of the opportunity to celebrate earning his bachelor’s degree.
“Although I should finish in the summer, I am going to walk in the December commencement,” he said. “The plan is to attend the ceremony, then roll right into a snowboarding and ski trip.”
So, what kind of business is Nielsen planning to launch after his military career wraps up in late 2027 or early 2028? Good question.
“I’ve been tossing around a couple of ideas, but there isn’t anything I am really passionate about yet,” he said. “I’ve been using this time to try to figure it out. I’ve also considered franchising, but I don’t know if I want to do that, either.”
Nielsen believes that pacing is especially important for online students balancing work and school.
“Try not to take on too much — especially if you’re working full-time,” he said. “You might be able to pass the class, but what are you taking away from it? What are you getting out of it? A lot of people pick degrees and just want to get it done to have a degree.”
Although his bachelor’s degree is paid for by the military, Nielsen recognizes the value of the online BBA in Management to his career.
“Most guys in my career field get an emergency management degree or a homeland security degree,” he said. “I didn’t want to do that, because it’s not something I want to do the rest of my life.”
“When you pay for a degree, you want to make the most of it and make the degree work for you. I’ve always wanted to get a degree. I didn’t want to pick just anything and do it. I made the right choice.”
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.