Books, fees and postage for materials sent to the distance learning school are the student's responsibility, and there is no reimbursement for these expenses. However, the school does pay postage on materials it sends to the student. Distance learning provides a student with the flexibility to take classes that meet prerequisites or help to accelerate his or her degree completion. When TDY or duty requirements would otherwise interfere with regular class attendance, it can provide a soldier with an alternative means to continue his or her degree program to completion. Some students use distance learning as a means for gaining personal enrichment and satisfaction, or to prepare for a second career.
Some soldiers even find that they prefer to learn through independent study.
To be successful, a distance learning student should be a self-starter, who is emotionally and academically mature, disciplined, patient and able to work independently. One should also know his or her strengths and limitations and have clearly defined goals. Good reading and writing skills are essential to academic success and a student contemplating distance learning should first seek to improve these skills, if they are not at the needed level. An academic support system both at home and at work, plus a list of people to contact when having difficulty with course content are also indispensable.