Grad school post academy.

dad1960

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AreThe academies encouraging grad schools more now than say 5-10 years ago?

grad schools like medical, dental or law
 
AreThe academies encouraging grad schools more now than say 5-10 years ago?

grad schools like medical, dental or law
There are dozens of threads on post-grad education programs and career paths. Worth searching and browsing.

All officers are pretty much expected to have a Master’s by the time they go up for O-5 (commander or lieutenant colonel) promotion boards, so all officers are encouraged to take advantage of one of the many ways to get one. The SAs focus on producing line officers for their Services. Going to grad school immediately after commissioning only happens for a small handful, as the majority head to their operational assignments and training pipelines, learning their warfare craft in the field, which is the critical path.

Medical, dental and JAG Corps Officers - the majority of those attend civilian undergrad and civilian grad school for all services, then are directly commissioned - no SA, no ROTC, but an officer indoc program.
 
AreThe academies encouraging grad schools more now than say 5-10 years ago

As Capt MJ has pointed out above, there are lots of threads on the subject. Also, like most things USNA, the best place to start that search is on their own web-site. Here's a head start for you:
 
As Capt MJ has pointed out above, there are lots of threads on the subject. Also, like most things USNA, the best place to start that search is on their own web-site. Here's a head start for you:
From a link within the page linked above.

Olmsted Scholarships permit U.S. military officers to pursue graduate study for two years at a foreign university in a foreign language. Each year one or two officer graduates from each of the three major service academies (the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and West Point) are selected to become Olmsted Scholars after having completed 3 to 10 years of commissioned service.
My son just finished this. First he was sent to language school which in this case was at the State Dept and then spent two years living in a European City and going to school. He had plenty of time off and toured throughout Europe while also enjoying becoming a new parent. I had four USNA classmates who completed this program and two of them became flag officers (a three star and a a four star).
 
To respond to the OP question...medical, dental and law are not particularly encouraged. There are programs available (although I don't know if it reaches dental), but those programs are limited and very competitive to get. Other post graduate education that enhances performance as a Line Officer is strongly encouraged, or as CAPT MJ indicates..almost expected or mandatory in the higher ranks.
 
Dental and law are not available out of USNA directly. There are several programs for each once they hit the fleet. The direct medical billets have remained low and in the same range for decades. I do think other post grad work has increased with more getting to go directly to grad school out of USNA. To be honest, and just my opinion, I am not a fan of this. It delays someone from actually getting to their career designation and I just don’t see grad school providing much to a brand new officer as opposed to slightly later in their career.
 
I had a dentist who was a direct commission through some scholarship program (HSSP?). He picked up the first year and the Navy picked up the rest.
 
I personally know of three Dental Officers who are still active in the reserves, all are direct commissioned upon completion of dental school (all three carry a Reserve Commission). I know two JAG Attorneys, one Academy Grad who served 4 years AD, then was afforded the FLEP, the other graduated Law School as a civilian, and obtained direct commission (both are still in the active reserves). 75% or better of Dental and JAG Officers are Direct Commission, meaning they did not graduate ROTC or an Academy. Medical Officers are a little different, they can attend the USUHS (at Bethesda) either right out of the academy or medical school after about 4-5 years of AD if they get accepted at med school and score high enough on their Graduate Exam (similar to dental and law school).

Bottom line is as multiple posters more knowledgeable than I have said, don't attend any academy with the perception and belief that you will go to grad school upon graduation. There are usually only a very few that do not go into the field for at least three or four years. If your goal and desire is grad school, go ROTC, elect "Reserve Commission" and go to grad school on your own..:) Once you get your MD, DDS, DMD, JD or LLB you can basically get all the AD you want, if you want.
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As others have said, USNA exists to produce line officers. If you attend USNA, you should plan 100% to be an unrestricted line officer -- ships, subs, aviation, USMC ground, SEAL, EOD, etc.

If you want to do something else (law, dental, nursing, doctor), you plan to do it after your 5+ years. MANY have -- even med school. There are lots of USNA grads who are attorneys, some who are dentists, some who are priests, many who have MBAs, and on and on. The common theme is that it was AFTER the line officer years.
 
I do think other post grad work has increased with more getting to go directly to grad school out of USNA. To be honest, and just my opinion, I am not a fan of this. It delays someone from actually getting to their career designation and I just don’t see grad school providing much to a brand new officer as opposed to slightly later in their career.

I agree. Putting new officers to work immediately is the best policy.
 
Regarding medical school. From first hand experience in 1984 I was specifically told by my admissins officer and BGO "we are looking for officers who happen to be doctors not doctors who happened to be officers". There is a pathway but limited and certainly not encouraged from the admissions perspective.
 
USNA used to "discourage" folks from pursuing the medical school option. I would say now it is more neutral. It's fine to want to be a doctor right out of USNA. HOWEVER (and it's a HUGE however), anyone considering that should understand the chances of that happening are EXTREMELY limited. Last year, there were only 8 or 10 who were allowed to select Medical Corps.

Thus, if your primary desire is to be an MD right after "college," you should probably choose an alternative route. If you attend USNA hoping to be an MD, you should be 100% prepared for it not to happen and be 100% happy being a line officer for at least 5 years.
 
I had a dentist who was a direct commission through some scholarship program (HSSP?). He picked up the first year and the Navy picked up the rest.

It’s the HPSP. When I was LCPO of Med-05 when that was a thing at BUMED we owned the code, section, that handled medical department officer’s specialty pays and scholarships. I’m not in the loop anymore but the above link explains things well.
 
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