Posted on Aug 24, 2015
What do you think of the Pentagon's plan to send more officers to civilian graduate schools?
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The Pentagon wants to send more officers to earn graduate degrees at top-notch civilian universities, a key piece of soon-to-be released personnel reforms that could fundamentally alter the career tracks of senior military leaders.
Defense officials familiar with the plan said the aim is to both improve and diversify the officer corps' education and also provide future military leaders with more experience studying or working in the civilian sector and developing nontraditional skills.
The shift toward civilian schools is driven in part by concerns that the military's own educational institutions like those under the National Defense University in Washington and the service-run war colleges no longer are capable of delivering the comprehensive training that tomorrow's force will need to succeed.
"We're moving to a time when a battalion or brigade commander assigned to Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa might have a master's degree in public policy," said one defense official familiar with the plan.
"There is a recognition that the world is changing. The security environment is changing. And breadth of knowledge is becoming increasingly as important as depth of knowledge," the official said.
The education proposals will be a key component of Defense Secretary Ash Carter's effort to overhaul the military personnel system. The Pentagon is wrapping up its "Force of the Future" review and plans to publicly unveil a slate of recommended changes in September.
The proposals will influence decisions about next year's Pentagon budget and may seek Capitol Hill's approval to change some federal laws governing military personnel management. Dozens of proposals are in a final draft phase, and acting Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Brad Carson plans to deliver them to Carter by the end of August.
Read more at ...
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/education/2015/08/20/graduate-school-proposals/32063579/
Defense officials familiar with the plan said the aim is to both improve and diversify the officer corps' education and also provide future military leaders with more experience studying or working in the civilian sector and developing nontraditional skills.
The shift toward civilian schools is driven in part by concerns that the military's own educational institutions like those under the National Defense University in Washington and the service-run war colleges no longer are capable of delivering the comprehensive training that tomorrow's force will need to succeed.
"We're moving to a time when a battalion or brigade commander assigned to Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa might have a master's degree in public policy," said one defense official familiar with the plan.
"There is a recognition that the world is changing. The security environment is changing. And breadth of knowledge is becoming increasingly as important as depth of knowledge," the official said.
The education proposals will be a key component of Defense Secretary Ash Carter's effort to overhaul the military personnel system. The Pentagon is wrapping up its "Force of the Future" review and plans to publicly unveil a slate of recommended changes in September.
The proposals will influence decisions about next year's Pentagon budget and may seek Capitol Hill's approval to change some federal laws governing military personnel management. Dozens of proposals are in a final draft phase, and acting Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Brad Carson plans to deliver them to Carter by the end of August.
Read more at ...
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/education/2015/08/20/graduate-school-proposals/32063579/
DoD
Education
Graduate School
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 23
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Sounds like a good plan. Is it open to enlisted? You can do everything you can in order to bolster your officer ranks but it would help 100 fold with offering it to the enlisted side as well. The trickle down effect would be tremendous
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CSM William DeWolf
When I went to basic I already had a master's degree but that was in 1969. I was questioned as to my interest in OCS but declined. After 35 years and retiring as a CSM, I still don't regret it and enjoyed what I did. Everyone needs to make their own decision.
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SSG (Join to see)
Thank you GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad and I only hope to serve as long as you did CSM William DeWolf
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I'll admit it's frustrating to have already completed a masters degree paying for it out of pocket and using my time after work, or even taking leave to complete courses. That said I should be happy that others potentially won't be expected to do the same to be competitive.
Every change meets resistance, and as long as the degrees are inapplicable subjects, I think it can work out well for the services.
Every change meets resistance, and as long as the degrees are inapplicable subjects, I think it can work out well for the services.
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Unsure on that one. Do we really need to spend money on grad school if the budgets are being slashed?
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1stSgt (Join to see)
SSgt (Join to see) - Not sure I agree with that one, I will stick to the money issue.
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