Is there a policy that allows commanders to authorize SM time off for college?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 09:19:55 -0400

I have heard stories of a regulation that allows SM time off for college with commanders authorization, but I can’t find it anywhere. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2020 9:43 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 09:43:11 -0400

I know a while ago (back in the late 90's), there was a reenlistment option (and I only saw it at FT Irwin) was that if someone reenlisted and wanted to do college, then half of their work day was attending college classes on base. You could try contacting your base Education Office to see if they have that particular reg you are looking for.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2020 9:45 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 09:45:34 -0400

Previously, I believe you could reenlist for college, and you would get 6 months to attend college as your full time job. After 6 months, you would resume your normal Army job. Not sure if it is still available. Green to Gold is another option to attend college as your job, then you would commission upon graduation.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2020 9:47 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 09:47:44 -0400

It was a reenlistment incentive in the 1990s, you could attend a semester full-time at the ed center or a college within commuting distance of the post, this was before there was college on the internet.

Your options today for getting paid to go to college are Green to Gold, in-service application for USMA, or tuition assistance to complete classes on your off time.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2020 10:01 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 10:01:24 -0400

There are no official programs that offer you time off to go to college. There is a reenlistment option that will give you 6 months of college but it is not used very much. Your best hope is going to college online. I did it for years. I was even in Iraq going to school online. I was able to finish 4 classes while I was deployed.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2020 10:45 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 10:45:24 -0400

I have seen it happen unofficially. Especially if there is some downtime, but it has never been 100% time off, there are still obligations an SM must meet, even if it just mustering for quarters or standing previously required duty. So, I guess it wasn't really time off, but more of a relaxed schedule to assist SMs taking college courses. It is all at the discretion of your commander, within reason.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2020 10:53 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 10:53:44 -0400

A lot of people don’t know that school op isn’t only for reenlistment. My neighbor just got of it. So look into it.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2020 11:17 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 11:17:03 -0400

I never knew of an official policy. However, any chain of command I had would make what concessions they could in advance of continued education. Mission came first, of course, but AF leadership always supported servicemembers going to school. Nevertheless, it was up to the SM to deconflict their school and work schedules.

I thought in-person classes in brick and mortar schools were always a better option, but online classes work, too. You just have to set a schedule and adhere to it.

Response by SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint made Aug 27 at 2020 1:00 PM

SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 13:00:30 -0400

If there is a field exercise....no, you can not quit your unit mission and go to college. Also, if you deploy and your unit is going on a patrol...NO. But, there are down times and when it can help the unit. (FYI, in most places in the civ world, you will need to show how you going to college can benefit the company's profit. That is their mission.)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2020 12:58 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 12:58:58 -0400

Contrary to popular belief there is no such thing as a reenlistment option for college. Hearing the term “college option” is like nails on a chalk board to every Career Counselor. There is an Education Incentive offered by most posts and Corps. The difference between an option and an incentive is that an option is guaranteed by the Army and an incentive is a little extra provided by the command to popularize and incentivize reenlistments. The incentive is the icing, the option is the cake. If you don’t receive the training associated with the option you re-enlisted for, it’s an unfulfilled contract. If you reenlist for stabilization so that you can take advantage of the Education Incentive but never go to college, the Army did not fail to uphold its end.

So, you see commanders can authorize time to go to college. Most incentive policies require a three year reenlistment period but I’ve worked out college incentives with commanders for much less. It’s within your commanders power to utilize their Soldiers as they deem fit as long as they meet the mission. No commander can justify simply letting one Soldier not show up to work for a months, just because. Online college is too easy these days, and to be competitive in your MOS you will need a bachelor degree. You need to start college on your own. In the future if you want to reenlist to stabilize where you’re at you can utilize the education incentive to take some of the more difficult classes in person at your local education center.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Oct 25 at 2020 4:29 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 16:29:54 -0400

Yes, no, maybe.
You will not find such thing in any official Army publication. However, every blue moon, at the Corps/Div level, you could see a retention policy at some commands (not Army wide) where Soldiers were authorized some time for civ. education during duty hours; about . At least that was sometimes the case during my time; a Quid pro Quo type of deall.