Why are there no higher education programs for NCO'S? For example officers have the war college.

There are several limited options for SOF NCOs to pursue higher education in the Army. For example, National Defense University runs a Master of Strategic Security Studies program here at Ft. Bragg, in which you earn a Master's Degree in about 10 months. I applied for that this year and was selected by the Unniversity but denied by my branch. I think it was my time in service that got me turned down. Oh well. There is also an opportunity for NCOs to attend the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterrey, CA. There are only 5 slots open for NCOs and Warrant Officers though, and one could get the impression that those are "pity" slots that are made available so that NPS can say they are giving opportunities to everyone. There are probably several more programs open to NCOs, usually senior NCOs like the two above, but I don't know what they are. I think maybe the professional education system in the Army is a little outdated. It hearkens back to a time in which officers were the only ones around the Army with a college degree, and therefore the only ones with the ability to earn advanced degrees. Times have changed. I have had many enlisted Soldiers in my detachments that have Baccalaureate degrees and even Master's degrees. There is a candidate in the PSYOP Q course right now with a PhD in industrial engineering! I have had several PFCs and SPCs who were more highly educated than the company commander! As a guy who has one foot out the door marked "Retirement", I humbly suggest that the Army catch up with the times and provide more opportunities for junior NCOs to earn advanced degrees. Why? Because they will then use that education to contribute more to the Army. If they get the education 10 or 12 years from retirement instead of 4 years before retirement, then that return on investment is much higher. By the time they become SNCOs, they have had time to put that education to real-world use and have a firm understanding of their field of study instead of just an "academic understanding". I love the Army, but sometimes the way they do things in the Pentagon just baffles me. Hell, I would have gone to 30 years if branch would have let me attend NDU and move to the strategic planner side of the house.

I think NCOs should be offered something along the line with what field grade officers get. A two year breah in service (while still getting paid) to attend a school full time. I have Field grades officers who have gotten masters degrees from MIT, paid for by the army. I have even met another MAJ who was accepted for a Phd in chemical engineering with a follow on assignment as teacher at West Point.

Should NCOs be getting advanced degrees in ivy league schools? maybe, maybe not. But an option for NCOs around their 8-12 year mark would be that two year break, after re-enlistment to ether finish out that AA or BA. (take money out of the GI bill if you have too) No need to PCS the Soldier to Harvard or Yale. just keep them stable at current duty station to attend and finish at local school, or grant a PCS to a duty station with a good local 4 year school.

TA is definetly one benefit most Soldiers do not use. I regret waiting five years into to start pursuing college, but I'm doing my best to make up for lost time. Prioritizing for what you want is key, and there are so many opprotunities to get what you want. Want a bachelors asap? Get out and use your GI bill. You earned it. Want a BS and a commission? OCS, ROTC, or the academy. Want one while on activie duty without either of the first two routes? Use your TA, pay out of pocket if needed, and put the time in. Scholarships still exsist, you only need to find them and apply for them. If your a single income household and have a few dependants, the Pell grant is free money to go get a degree. Maximize a few options at the same time, and use your TA and scholarships to pay for tuition, Pell to buy books and a good laptop, sacrafice some off duty time and get to work. I got my AGS last fall. Since Oct, I've finished 14 semester hours, almost half way done with 6 semester hours, and will be taking 8 more SH this fall, all distance learning, and will have spent zero dollars out of pocket, and all on off duty hours and at night while on CQ. Needless to say, I'm exhausted at work, but its well worth it. Plenty of bases have sat classes, night classes, and if your unit can spare you, on duty courses. If you want a degree while active, it can be done. My wife is also in nursing school full time and I have two kids under two. Prioritizing and finding balance is paramount if you want to get a degree your way and still do well at your job. Anything is possible if you want it bad enough. I'm not waiting for the army to come up with a pcs assignment to send ncos to school. I just dont think that will ever happen.