Graduating early

Beamer

Beamer

AFROTC
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Aug 29, 2020
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How do people graduate a semester early at the academy? Doesn't the academy require you to be there all 4 years?
 
BWMa said:
How do people graduate a semester early at the academy? Doesn't the academy require you to be there all 4 years?
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I believe so.

At USNA, a handful of midshipmen are able to finish their undergraduate coursework by December of their senior year, then may request to start a one-year Master’s. They are still midshipmen living at USNA, still have military duties, PE requirements, live at USNA, but commute off-Yard to class. They graduate with their BS and their class at the normal time, and remain in the area as a “duty under instruction” AD officer, getting their Master’s in Dec. They then go to their first duty station. Midshipmen who are able to validate many classes, perform at the top of the academic ranks, take heavy semester loads/voluntary summer school and are stellar in military aptitude and conduct, are the usual participants. They attend Johns Hopkins, UMD, Georgetown, etc. They don’t graduate early.

Otherwise, I don’t think midshipmen and cadets graduate early. Some graduate later in the same calendar year, for various reasons. Illness, family problem, conduct issue, etc. They are still a member of Class of 202X calendar year.

I’d be surprised if USAFA does, but I am always learning something new from our regular AF posters.
 
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Capt MJ said:
I believe so.

At USNA, a handful of midshipmen are able to finish their undergraduate coursework by December of their senior year, then may request to start a one-year Master’s. They are still midshipmen living at USNA, still have military duties, PE requirements, live at USNA, but commute off-Yard to class. They graduate with their BS and their class at the normal time, and remain in the area as a “duty under instruction” AD officer, getting their Master’s in Dec. They then go to their first duty station. Midshipmen who are able to validate many classes, perform at the top of the academic ranks, take heavy semester loads/voluntary summer school and are stellar in military aptitude and conduct, are the usual participants. They attend Johns Hopkins, UMD, Georgetown, etc. They don’t graduate early.

Otherwise, I don’t think midshipmen and cadets graduate early. Some graduate later in the same calendar year, for various reasons. Illness, family problem, conduct issue, etc. They are still a member of Class of 202X calendar year.

I’d be surprised if USAFA does, but I am always learning something new from our regular AF posters.
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That is interesting. To my knowledge, a similar program does not exist at USAFA. Perhaps because there aren't as many universities nearby.
 
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BWMa said:
Yep that is what I am talking about.
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The curriculum handbook mentions late grad as a possible outcome when a cadet meets an Academic Review Committee. I'm guessing it happens when a senior performs poorly during their final semester, but their leadership still considers them fit to be a commissioned officer.
 
AFrpaso said:
The curriculum handbook mentions late grad as a possible outcome when a cadet meets an Academic Review Committee. I'm guessing it happens when a senior performs poorly during their final semester, but their leadership still considers them fit to be a commissioned officer.
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I think it more commonly happens when someone steps away from the academy for sports or because of other extenuating circumstances. For example, the USAFA D1 Football teams has around 30 rollbacks I think because of COVID who will be graduating next winter instead of this spring.
 
Some of the late graduates are also ones who have been affected by an injury or illness that puts them behind their peers, but the AF still wants to keep as officers.

Stealth_81
 
AFrpaso said:
That is interesting. To my knowledge, a similar program does not exist at USAFA. Perhaps because there aren't as many universities nearby.
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That makes sense - DC/Baltimore metro area with highly regarded programs at multiple universities. It’s a different deal from the ones who proceed to a 1-2 year Master’s program of medical school immediately after graduation, similar to other SAs.
 
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