Posted on Sep 2, 2015
Navy LT considered resigning commission to attend Dartmouth?
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http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2015/08/31/top-junior-officers-picked-new-grad-school-program/71314798/
I read this article today while launching birds to the USS Ronald Reagan, and the beginning sounded like satire from The Duffel Blog/Onion. How can someone get a $400,000 scholarship to the Naval Academy, become a Pilot, then consider resigning at the five year mark to pursue Grad School? After which, the Navy agrees to continue to pay them and send them to Dartmouth full time?
I work 90 hours a week to finish my Masters Degree as an Enlisted Sailor, and this article was completely infuriating. Does it require over a half million dollars in government sponsored education at two of the top universities in the world to become a successful pilot? I kicked this question up to some control grade pilots today and got some hilarious responses. What say you Rally Point?
I read this article today while launching birds to the USS Ronald Reagan, and the beginning sounded like satire from The Duffel Blog/Onion. How can someone get a $400,000 scholarship to the Naval Academy, become a Pilot, then consider resigning at the five year mark to pursue Grad School? After which, the Navy agrees to continue to pay them and send them to Dartmouth full time?
I work 90 hours a week to finish my Masters Degree as an Enlisted Sailor, and this article was completely infuriating. Does it require over a half million dollars in government sponsored education at two of the top universities in the world to become a successful pilot? I kicked this question up to some control grade pilots today and got some hilarious responses. What say you Rally Point?
Education
Graduate School
Scholarship
Navy
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 26
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In addition to the graduate programs already mentioned, there are more and more scholarships and fellowships that are added to the list every year. I know of a CPT who now has two graduate degrees on the taxpayer's dollar and a LTC who just completed their PhD 1.5 years ago again, on the taxpayer's dime (but didn't get picked up for COL for the second time and is now out the door....that's kind of a waste).
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I think I understand the program, but the math on the specific instance doesn't work out. The commitment out of the Naval Academy is only 5 years if no other training was conducted. Depending on the year graduated, the commitment for a USNA grad who went to flight school is either 7 or 8 years AFTER completing flight school. Which would mean closer to 10 years after graduating.
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PO1 (Join to see)
I read the article incorrectly. There was no flight school for this officer out of the academy, he is a SWO. Math seems to jive, but for a half million in tuition, ten years or more does not seem out of the question. The Loan Repayment Plan for enlisted (no I was not eligible, so I am still paying those off) guarantees only 75k for previous loans and they ask for the same three year commitment.
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PO1 (Join to see) I think what struck me most is that you were reading this article whilst launching birds. Lol!
*Runs*.
*Runs*.
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As a graduate of "Canoe U", and a former student naval flight officer, I would say this is certainly an exception...not the rule. As I recall, simply graduating and accepting the commission got you five years, or a bill for a quarter mil if you didn't complete that term. I believe accepting (or maybe completing) flight training tagged on another two years of service. My peers who attended a graduate school on the Navy's bill assumed more service commitment...or at least that was the gouge. I had a classmate who got bumped from nuke power as an O-2 who got a nice bill from the U.S. Government upon separation. My opinion? If you get an educational benefit from the Service, it should be tied to added value to that service, and a required period of time to prove it.
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MAJ Javier Rivera
Not sure how it works on the other service but in the Army (very succinct) we get a nice commitment of either 3 days per every one of government sponsored education, or 3 years after completion. Whichever gives them the best return on investment.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
The Air Force commitment is 10 years for pilots...from the time you complete training, so really, it's about 12 years total.
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PO1 (Join to see), I understand your frustration. The article does mention that these officers must agree to an additional 3-year commitment in order to attend graduate school. That's consistent with tuition assistance programs in other services. I received tuition assistance back in 2000 to attend the University of South Florida (** Go Bulls!) and had to give back three years after my schooling was complete. Like you, I went to school at night while still serving full time.
I believe the services need to ask for more that three years in return for officers (or enlisted) receiving an advanced degree. We must look at this from a cost/benefit perspective.
I believe the services need to ask for more that three years in return for officers (or enlisted) receiving an advanced degree. We must look at this from a cost/benefit perspective.
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Damn I guess Dartmouth is "All That" If the Navy is picking up the tab for this. Like all things Gov't and Military if you know the proper channels and can submit the correct paperwork anything is possible. The Navy actually does this quite frequently pays for advance school and training although we are more accustomed to them attending the War College if is a special and unique training or school and the military can be convinced of a requirement they will send you outside the normal systems.
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