Education after the academy

S

SRJ

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Nov 17, 2017
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Hi all,

Does anybody know which branch, in general, tends to have the best opportunities for continuing education after the academy? Doesn't necessarily have to be right after the academy, but even several years into serving.

This is just one very small factor I am weighing in in making my decision between USNA, MA, and AFA... A year ago I would have told you without reservation that USNA was my topic choice, but the
more I explore and learn about each branch the more I become unsure as to where to go.

Thank you for your help.
 
There are many, many threads in each SA forum about post-grad education. All have excellent opportunities, and there are many options.

Use the Search function and browse, since this topic comes up regularly.

Officers, to promote to the higher paygrades of O-5 and O-6, are expected to have a Master’s degree.

There are full-time student
“duty under instruction” orders to places like the Naval Postgraduate School, Army War College, Navy War College, AFIT, National Defense University and others. There are options for civilian schools. For Navy officers, that opportunity comes during the first or second shore tour in between operational tours.

There is also the option to do distance learning with the Naval War College and others, or attend after-hours local NWC classes in Navy homeports such as San Diego.

There is Tuition Assistance, which pays for after-hours programs and distance learning while assigned to regular duty.

In general, degrees obtained on the military dime must relate to military skills sets. There is usually either a concurrent or consecutive additional service obligation time involved.

If you pay for it yourself, in an after-hours program, there is no service obligation.

USNA also has a small number of mids who are able to get their master’s by finishing their undergrad early, and while still a mid, attending classes at GWU, Johns Hopkins, etc., graduating with their class and finishing their advanced degree by Dec of their class year. There are also programs for 1-2 year degrees at Oxford, Cambridge, Naval Postgrad School, others, and mids have successfully competed for Rhodes, Fulbright and other programs. Mids get plenty of briefs about this. Warning: these programs all depend on the needs of the Navy and Marine Corps, so availability out of USNA can change. These officers also join the Fleet or Corps 1-2 years behind their peers, in terms of warfare qualification.

The other SAs will have similar programs at various stages.

If you serve the required number of years to receive the full post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, you can use that after separating anywhere you can get in, including top-ranked universities which offer additional scholarships to veterans.

At this point, I recommemd choosing your commissioning source based on Service and military specialties that interest you. You will learn all about all of this as you go.

Each Service has plenty of opportunity. You’re expected to be a warrior first, able to perform in an operational setting. Additional education comes along later.
 
Capt MJ said:
There are many, many threads in each SA forum about post-grad education. All have excellent opportunities, and there are many options.

Use the Search function and browse, since this topic comes up regularly.

Officers, to promote to the higher paygrades of O-5 and O-6, are expected to have a Master’s degree.

There are full-time student
“duty under instruction” orders to places like the Naval Postgraduate School, Army War College, Navy War College, AFIT, National Defense University and others. There are options for civilian schools. For Navy officers, that opportunity comes during the first or second shore tour in between operational tours.

There is also the option to do distance learning with the Naval War College and others, or attend after-hours local NWC classes in Navy homeports such as San Diego.

There is Tuition Assistance, which pays for after-hours programs and distance learning while assigned to regular duty.

In general, degrees obtained on the military dime must relate to military skills sets. There is usually either a concurrent or consecutive additional service obligation time involved.

If you pay for it yourself, in an after-hours program, there is no service obligation.

USNA also has a small number of mids who are able to get their master’s by finishing their undergrad early, and while still a mid, attending classes at GWU, Johns Hopkins, etc., graduating with their class and finishing their advanced degree by Dec of their class year. There are also programs for 1-2 year degrees at Oxford, Cambridge, Naval Postgrad School, others, and mids have successfully competed for Rhodes, Fulbright and other programs. Mids get plenty of briefs about this. Warning: these programs all depend on the needs of the Navy and Marine Corps, so availability out of USNA can change. These officers also join the Fleet or Corps 1-2 years behind their peers, in terms of warfare qualification.

The other SAs will have similar programs at various stages.

If you serve the required number of years to receive the full post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, you can use that after separating anywhere you can get in, including top-ranked universities which offer additional scholarships to veterans.

At this point, I recommemd choosing your commissioning source based on Service and military specialties that interest you. You will learn all about all of this as you go.

Each Service has plenty of opportunity. You’re expected to be a warrior first, able to perform in an operational setting. Additional education comes along later.
Click to expand...

All of what Capt MJ said is true. Just from talking to different officers, the Navy is very big on on post-grad education. A lot of O3s in the Navy either have or are working on their Masters through various programs. The Marine Corps will give you opportunities for post-grad but only when it becomes necessary (O4-O5). For example, the program Capt MJ refers to about starting your masters while at the Academy is called VGEP, and was recently closed to aspiring Marine selects. Why? The Marine Corps is starving for bodies and the additional time away from the FMF in addition to time spent in TBS and MOS school throws off your promotions and operational time.

As Capt MJ said, choose your commissioning source based on service and the rest will come with time.
 
SonOfOldRetSWO is a USNA grad and currently an "Olmsted Scholar" working on his Masters at a civilian grad school in Europe. He is a submariner/nuclear engineer but his current degree program is non-technical. It involves attending grad school in a foreign country that is taught in their language and the program includes a year or so of language instruction prior to moving to the overseas location. The program also includes funded travel throughout the region to build cultural/regional awareness and understanding.
 
Further education is a good thing to think about now. That said, there is SO much that comes between now and then (whenever that is), that I wouldn't make it a focus on your current decision-making process.

As CAPT MJ notes, a Masters is required for senior officers. When and how you get that degree depends on SO many things, including what subject(s) interest you, where you are in your career path, whether you want to incur an additional service obligation, etc. Also, you may end up leaving the service before the time you would normally start pursuing higher education and decide to do it on your own either while you are working or as a full-time student.

Rest assured, there are opportunities in every branch of the USN/USMC, but there is also no one-size-fits-all for any.
 
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