I have always wondered, why is there a graduate degree program only for officers and not for Senior NCO's?

2016-08-02T07:14:50-04:00

Response by SSG Derrick L. Lewis MBA, C-HRM made Aug 2 at 2016 7:16 AM

2016-08-02T07:16:58-04:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member ,
http://www.snhu.edu/about-us/news-and-events/2014/07/snhu-partners-with-usasma-for-education-masters-degree

SNHU Partners with USASMA for Education Masters Degree

United States Army Sergeants Major will have the opportunity to expand their leadership skills with an accelerated Master of Education from Southern New Hampshire University. This in-residency program at Fort Bliss, TX, is the result of a partnership with the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) and includes a concentration in Education Leadership. The customized M.Ed. program in curriculum and instruction continues SNHU’s long...

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2016 7:22 AM

2016-08-02T07:22:23-04:00

The leadership in each branch is working on it. I know officers go through the war college which has specifically accredited the courses in a way that it is equivalent to those graduate courses you would take outside of service, thus granting it as a degree. Personally, I have seen the JAG Corp senior enlisted leadership working on doing the same for enlisted. I don't think it'll happen immediately but it's a work in progress that will require the support of the troops and their continuing requests for such things. If you don't ask for it, no one works on it. Let your senior leaders know that not only you but others are interested in this and lay the groundwork for the initiative to be started. It all starts with a group of soldiers making the inquiry.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 2 at 2016 10:20 AM

2016-08-02T10:20:40-04:00

NCO's come by common sense naturally. Officers have to be taught how to fake it

Response by CPT Nik Webb made Aug 2 at 2016 10:51 AM

2016-08-02T10:51:52-04:00

There is the Defense Comptrollership Program. It's mainly directed at the Finance Corps, but is technically open to all services and career programs. It's a 14-month program at Syracuse University and participants earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) degree. This is a PCS and I believe you'll incur a 3.5 year obligation if accepted, which is not bad for what you're getting out of it. Additional information can be found below:

http://asafm.army.mil/offices/po/poinfo/dcp.aspx

Defense Comptrollership Program

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2016 11:11 AM

2016-08-02T11:11:37-04:00

This is a good question. Officers are required by law to have a Bachelors degree in order to receive their commission. NCOs are not. As an incentive to officers and as broadening opportunities, Graduate degree opportunities are offered to officers for a variety of programs. These programs are designed to enhance the officers ability to execute their mission and make them better leaders. As stated in other posts, higher level degrees are not a required for many NCO job requirements, so there is no money for formal education.

The SMA did recently announce a Graduate degree program for Sergeants majors. (https://www.army.mil/article/143364/Fellowship_program_offers_sergeants_major_a_master_s_degree_in_education/)

The United States Army | Page not found

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2016 12:05 PM

2016-08-02T12:05:24-04:00

There is a small enlisted to medical school program, if that interests anybody. You graduate med school as a captain.

Response by SPC Brad Pratt made Aug 2 at 2016 4:01 PM

2016-08-02T16:01:42-04:00

I'm probably just showing my age. Does the military still offer the "Green to Gold" program?
Military pays enlisted to attend schools like nursing & high need fields to become officers.

Response by CSM Carl Cunningham made Aug 2 at 2016 5:07 PM

2016-08-02T17:07:21-04:00

Army MI has graduate degree programs for some MOS's.

Response by PVT William Bresch made Aug 3 at 2016 12:18 AM

2016-08-03T00:18:29-04:00

Well SFC Patrick, as we say in either world,

Rank and File and Management has its PRIVILEGES, but if you believe that, I have a house on the moon, I can sell you dirt cheap, wanna buy it ??? lol

in other words,

Either speak up and tell then they are wrong or become the same ol sheep, year after year. Probably why, I am so hated. Stale Rules are cancerous to leadership and need to change. any fool can follow rules verbatim. the intelligent ones, change for the Future.

My favorite quote, I saw it on the Internet quotes,

YOU WERE BORN AN ORIGINAL, DON'T DIE A COPY !!!

Truer words, were never spoken.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 6:12 PM

2016-08-03T18:12:03-04:00

Simple answer ? Officers need the graduate degree to make major. NCOs don't need a degree to make their way up the NCO chain.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2016 7:39 PM

2016-08-04T19:39:25-04:00

The Air Force opened up the Air Force Institute of Technology Master's programs to enlisted a few years ago.

Response by CSM Colin Patterson made Aug 9 at 2016 7:10 AM

2016-08-09T07:10:32-04:00

There is a graduate degree program for NCO's. officers education is mandated by public law . NCO education is based on the budget and available funding, so when there is money slots for schools are available when the money dries up schooling dries up. https://www.army.mil/article/143364/Fellowship_program_offers_sergeants_major_a_master_s_degree_in_education

Fellowship program offers sergeants major a master's degree in education

Twenty sergeants major will soon have an opportunity to teach the next generation of sergeants major through a fellowship program at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, or USASMA, at Fort Bliss, Texas, worth $27,000 per student.

Response by PO1 Mile Oconnell made Aug 9 at 2016 9:33 AM

2016-08-09T09:33:51-04:00

up until mid 80s were there any requirements to make senior enlisted.

Response by MSgt Stephen Brent Willson, Global MBA made Aug 9 at 2016 9:48 AM

2016-08-09T09:48:20-04:00

As you can see below, there are programs both DoD and service specific for enlisted graduate degrees, but you need to know where to find them. Best first step is the ed center. As for officers, to get past O4, they need a graduate degree, that is why there are so many more for them.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 10:01 AM

2016-08-09T10:01:17-04:00

There are various graduate degree programs, it just depends on what your career field is.
There are two that are open to SOF personnel. One is at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterrey, CA. The other is the Joint Special Operations Master of Arts program offered by the National Defense University. JSOMA is currently at Ft Bragg, NC.
I graduated JSOMA in 2013 with a Master of Arts in Strategic Security Studies. I laugh at the responses that I have read on this blog to your question when they say, "The reality of the situation is that it not a requirement to perform the job".
Those NCOs like that would much rather make coffee, hassle their soldiers over minutiae, and stand around awaiting orders from on-high. I have the experience and the knowledge now to explain to everyone from PV2 to GEN not only the "how" but the "why" behind our operations/ missions. If we, as an Army, are to execute Mission Command (Auftragstaktik) as it defined, then why on God's green earth would you not push education down to the lowest level possible.
For those NCOs and Soldiers who hold themselves to a higher standard than the current watered down Army creed, this Stanza should ring true:
"Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one-hundred-percent and then some". CSM Neal R. Gentry

Response by SSG Mark Franzen made Aug 9 at 2016 10:15 AM

2016-08-09T10:15:17-04:00

Go to Go to Army Ed.com and read on that.

Response by SSG Walter Corretjer made Aug 9 at 2016 10:19 AM

2016-08-09T10:19:26-04:00

If you whant a graduate degree,go for it.You don't have to be waiting for the system to pay for your education,in order for you to pursue your reales.
GO FOR IT !!!

Response by GySgt Keith Brownmiller made Aug 9 at 2016 10:22 AM

2016-08-09T10:22:48-04:00

I raised that question back in the early 1980s of a HQMC team. Their answer was it wasn't needed for SNCOs to do their job. When I proved them wrong, it became obvious that officers felt intimidated by SNCOs with education equal to or beyond theirs.

I know as I retired with a BGS in Computer Science, a MA in Education from CalPoly and a MS in Management Information Systems from Claremont Graduate School. None of them were on-line programs. I sat in a classroom after work hours.

Response by SSG Drew Cook made Aug 9 at 2016 10:28 AM

2016-08-09T10:28:13-04:00

Did TA go away or something? That's how we did it when I was in.

Response by MSG Michael McEleney made Aug 9 at 2016 11:38 AM

2016-08-09T11:38:58-04:00

Because O's once they reach Captain are bailing out at the termination of their mandatory obligation. If you offer them a graduate degree, it extends the obligation by 3-4 years. Of course I've also been told by a Captain I once worked for that " The only reason enlisted don't get college degrees is that they're too lazy to get one" . My small lack of respect for her was gone when she finished that sentence.

Response by MSG Pedro Valentin made Aug 9 at 2016 12:05 PM

2016-08-09T12:05:21-04:00

I can only think of two reasons for a graduate degree for officers and none for SNCOs. Military hystory; Officers where educated and we're thought due to their education they were able to make proper decisions and lead companies, and higher echelons more efficiently than the none educated enlsisted. The other reason is because all enlisted are given the opportunity to take college courses and obtain any degree they chose up to a PhD with minimal cost to the enlisted. Now, for Senior NCOs to have a graduate program the following should be determined: how to get this implemented, how will it impact mission, what will be the required process, and what will be the commitment after graduation. To me It should be parralled to the officers graduate program requirements. Another determining factor that must be addressed is the Political arena which determines military funding. Now, I would say that NCOs have a resource officers do not which is TA. The sad part is due to mission, level of responsibility and unit assignments some NCOs will not have the opportunity to obtain Masters Degree before retiring, or by reaching the SNCOS Ranks while using TA. These are just a few of my thoughts.

Response by CPO David Sharp made Aug 9 at 2016 12:26 PM

2016-08-09T12:26:33-04:00

The Navy does have a Senior Enlisted Academy. It has merit but Senior NCOs usually have a handle on leadership and ADMIN stuff by OJT and time in Grade/Rank. Somethings are learned by life experiences and can not be attained in a classroom.

Response by PO1 Robert Johnson made Aug 9 at 2016 2:03 PM

2016-08-09T14:03:45-04:00

In all seriousness, my thoughts are that by the time the NCOs get to the point that they are senior, they are getting close to their bailout and that advanced degrees are not profitable to the military. I do know some who went to advanced degrees on their own and were just as happy not to accept a commission.

Response by SMSgt Roy Dowdy made Aug 9 at 2016 2:30 PM

2016-08-09T14:30:11-04:00

Both the Army and Air Force within the past two years have established guidelines to allow for SNCO's to enter post graduate programs. The Army has begun sponsoring SNCO's into the Pennsylvania Graduate Program...https://www.army.mil/article/154518/USASMA_s_Fellowship_Program_logs_on/?from=RSS and the Air Force Institute of Technology now sponsors AF SNCO's admittance into degree seeking programs involving STEM degrees.

USASMA's Fellowship Program logs on

The U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy Fellowship Program logged on with the Pennsylvania State University's (Penn State) World Campus August 20 when the first 20 sergeants major selected for the program received their orientation briefings from their...

Response by SMSgt Sheila Berg made Aug 9 at 2016 3:30 PM

2016-08-09T15:30:06-04:00

It's a hold over from WWII where most enlisted may have only had a high school diploma. Many service members may have a college or graduate degree myself included. Senior NCO's are required to have leadership skills and be able to partner with Senior Leadership graduate degrees should be available. As a volunteer force a new paradigm needs to be developed to attract and keep Senior NCO's.

Response by PO2 Mike Vignapiano made Aug 10 at 2016 12:21 AM

2016-08-10T00:21:33-04:00

I would guess that it's because Officers are REQUIRED to have a degree and NCO's aren't.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2016 9:19 AM

2016-08-11T09:19:42-04:00

MY RESPONSE IS SIMPLY HUMOROUS. THE GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED FOR OFFICERS ONLY BECAUSE THE POLITICAL LEADERS WHO ADOPTED THIS POLICY FOR SOLDIERS ASPIRING TO BE AN OFFICER IN ANY BRANCH OF MILITARY SERVICES HAVE TO HAVE IT BE A PART OF THEIR RESUME, BECAUSE OUR POLITICAL LEADERS KNEW THAT IF THEY DIDNT PUT THIS IMPORTANT PIECE IN THE REGULATION, THESE GROUP OF SOLDIERS WOULD NOT GO OUT AND GET A DEGREE ON THEIR OWN. AND THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM. I MEAN WE CANT HAVE EVERY GROUP OF SOLDIERS IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION WHO HAS TO ANSWER TO CONGRESS SAYING THEY DIDNT COMPREHEND WHAT WAS WRITTEN OR VERBAL ORDERS THEY WERE TOLD TO CARRY OUT. I MEAN SOME BODY HAS TO TAKE THE BLAME FOR WHAT GOES WRONG. I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT, ANYBODY WHO HAS THE I.Q. TO READ AND COMPREHEND THEN GO OUT AND IMPLEMENT WHAT THEY READ CAN GO OUT AND GET A DEGREE WHEATHER THEY ARE AN OFFICER OR AN ENLISTEE. I LIKE THE FACT THAT THIS ISNT A PART OF THE ENLISTEE GRADUATION PROGRAM BECAUSE WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, REGARDLESS OF WHO DROPPED THE BALL, THE OFFICER IS HELD WITH FULL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MISHAP. I MEAN THIS HAS TO BE A LOT OF PRESSURE ON A YOUNG GRADUATE STARTING HIS OR HER CAREER OFF KNOWING THAT HE OR SHE CANT USE THE EXCUSE OF SAYING I DIDNT UNDERSTAND WHAT I READ OR WHAT I WAS TOLD, I MEAN COME ON, YOU HAVE A DEGREE, THIS WILL ALWAYS BE HELD OVER THEIR HEADS. ANYWAY THATS WHAT I THINK IS THE REASON FOR A DEGREE BEING APART OF THE OFFICERS GRADUATION PROGRAM ONLY.

Response by TSgt James Carson made Aug 11 at 2016 4:03 PM

2016-08-11T16:03:14-04:00

There should not be any question about this. Senior NCO's worth anything don't wait for a education program to open up for us. We are smart enough and go for what we want. Officers need help sometimes. Didn't you ever wonder why officers are assigned a senior NCO. It's to help the young officer become a Knowledegable and purposeful leader. NCO's worth their stripes shoul Know this.

Response by SFC Byron Perry made Aug 15 at 2016 8:39 PM

2016-08-15T20:39:36-04:00

Because officers are the ones who decides what programs are offered to whom.