MS paid for by the Army

nofodad

nofodad

10-Year Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2011
Messages
554
Greetings! DS has an opportunity. He checked a box on a form some time ago (not %100 accurate but stick with me) where the Army pays for an MS degree while he's on active duty and the exchange is that you teach at West Point for three years. We see this as a terrific opportunity, but it does extend the length of time he'll be on Active duty to 11 total. Anyone have any experience with this? TIA.
 
Not for West Point, but for USAFA, this is a very common thing. It's called the "faculty pipeline" and for us involves getting an MS degree in the field that USAFA needs - so for STEM departments this usually means at AFIT.

It is one of the many options for getting graduate school paid for. If the deal is simply to teach for 3 years, that's pretty good as that would just be one of his assignments. I'm not quite sure what you mean by it extending his time on active duty, unless you mean he was planning to get out and then go to graduate school. Teaching at a service academy is like any other assignment.

Also as an aside - teaching is the best way to learn something, so if the opportunity is to get an MS and then teach in the field your DS wants to eventually work or do research in, it's an amazing opportunity. I'm currently teaching (not at USAFA, but at AFIT) and have many friends teaching at USAFA. I'd imagine it's a similarly awesome assignment at West Point.
 
nofodad said:
Greetings! DS has an opportunity. He checked a box on a form some time ago (not %100 accurate but stick with me) where the Army pays for an MS degree while he's on active duty and the exchange is that you teach at West Point for three years. We see this as a terrific opportunity, but it does extend the length of time he'll be on Active duty to 11 total. Anyone have any experience with this? TIA.
Click to expand...
Slightly related -- I was selection for "Permanent Military Professor" at USNA. My full-time job is finishing my PhD and then I'll teach at USNA in uniform for 7-9 years before retiring. My position is, well, permanent. I'll never do another thing in the Navy. In the case of your DS this sounds like a great deal but should he desire to continue to retirement he would find himself doing other Army things afterward.

FWIW, teaching opportunities at the SAs are always coveted so congrats to DS.
 
USAFA10s said:
Not for West Point, but for USAFA, this is a very common thing. It's called the "faculty pipeline" and for us involves getting an MS degree in the field that USAFA needs - so for STEM departments this usually means at AFIT.

It is one of the many options for getting graduate school paid for. If the deal is simply to teach for 3 years, that's pretty good as that would just be one of his assignments. I'm not quite sure what you mean by it extending his time on active duty, unless you mean he was planning to get out and then go to graduate school. Teaching at a service academy is like any other assignment.

Also as an aside - teaching is the best way to learn something, so if the opportunity is to get an MS and then teach in the field your DS wants to eventually work or do research in, it's an amazing opportunity. I'm currently teaching (not at USAFA, but at AFIT) and have many friends teaching at USAFA. I'd imagine it's a similarly awesome assignment at West Point.
Click to expand...
yes, he hadn't planned on staying in the Army past 2025. This would change that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top