Education

Hi all,
I am not actually an American expat yet, however that is what I'm hoping for in the future. My situation is a bit different than a lot of people's but I was hoping I might get some helpful advice nonetheless. Here's my situation:
In December I am beginning my training in the US Air Force. I am enlisted for six years and will be trained to be a translator (not sure what language as of yet). After I complete my tech school training (this is at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Cali) for that, I really only have two classes to take or CLEP out of in order to obtain my Associates. I'll probably be able to take some more classes after that too, while I'm still in. I of course don't know right now how long I'll want to stay in but for the purpose of this question I have, I'm assuming I'll just stay in for six. Here's what I am wondering:
Because I would like to obtain British citizenship later on and for education/career reasons I would like to study in England to get my B.A. (separate of course from my Associates since it wouldn't transfer), would it not make sense if I got both an associates and then a BA from the UK (especially if I decided later on to complete my US degree)? Sorry I know this is a long post, but does anyone have any thoughts on the matter?

Studying in the UK doesn't lead to citizenship. 

They don't have associates degrees in the UK, and you'd have to start from scratch anyway if you wanted to do a bachelors, so there's no drawback really to an associates degree done in the course of your time in the air force, though it wouldn't directly benefit you if you studied in the UK.   If you did your bachelors in the US, you could do a masters in the UK.  However, no degree leads to either British citizenship or a work visa.  Is there any particular reason you want British citizenship?

so there's no drawback really to an associates degree done in the course of your time in the air force, though it wouldn't directly benefit you if you studied in the UK. 

Also, a US Associates Degree might help you to get accepted into a UK university for a BA course, as often you need more than just a regular US high school diploma to meet the UK university entrance requirements (i.e. you normally also need either AP classes, college prep or freshman/sophomore college classes, or an associates degree).

Thank you guys for your help! I did know that I would have to start from scratch for a bachelor's in the UK (I mentioned in my post that I would get my Bachelor's separate from the Associates I'd have already gotten in the US). The reason I'm tying in university and citizenship, is that to of course to obtain my citizenship (because I have no parents who are British or any of that other kind of background), in order to live there for the required 5 years legally I would need to study and/or (well really, and, not or) work on a visa. I was also wondering if I had any sort of degree from the US plus a degree in the UK would that actually help in terms of getting a job in the UK?

[Is there any particular reason you want British citizenship?]
Yes, I would like to settle in the UK permanently among other lesser reasons.

Thank you for taking the time to read and reply!!

In order for a UK company to offer you a job and sponsor you for a work visa, they must demonstrate that no one else can fulfill the role from the UK and EU.  So, typically, unless you have already accumulated lots of experience and/or have a rare skill and/or have a higher degree, it's rare to meet the requirements for a work visa.  If you have a skill on the shortage list, that can also help, but I wouldn't base an immigration strategy around it.

ETA:  Also, time spent in the UK as a student would NOT count towards ILR, so you would need the required amount of time (5 years) on a work visa, not a combination of both.  And you would need ILR to apply for citizenship. (x-posted with historyenne)

It takes more than living/working here for five years to be eligible for citizenship.  First, you need ILR (indefinite leave to remain) and in order to get that, you need to have a visa that leads to settlement.  So if you live here five years on a student visa, you won't be eligible for ILR or citizenship, because student visas aren't for settlement. 

Also, a degree from a UK uni doesn't necessarily help you get a work visa.  Most Tier 2 visas are granted to people who are in specialised jobs with years of experience.  For entry level jobs they are basically unheard of. 

If your goal is to live permanently in the UK, your best bet is to establish yourself in a career in the US then try either to transfer to the UK or to qualify for a specialised job here.  It is not an easy process.