Posted on Feb 22, 2015
LTC Field Artillery Officer
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http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/enlisted/2015/02/21/sergeants-major-academy-fellowships/23688815/

Finally, the Army is starting to offer education opportunities for advanced degrees to our NCOs...but why stop there? There are several programs out there for the officer corps, why not continue to expand them to your NCOs. The Army could only benefit from expanding the educational advancement of all it's Soldiers!
Posted in these groups: Graduation cap EducationImages 20 NCOsOpportunity logo Opportunity
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CSM Brigade Operations (S3) Sergeant Major
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Edited >1 y ago
This is an opportunity that will only benefit a few senior NCOs (and a pathetic attempt at recruiting instructors).

A fellowship should be offered at the E-7/E-8 level. That benefits both the NCO and the Army because the NCO will have ample time to apply that education. Most CSM/SGM are already working toward their Masters Degree by the time they attend USASMA.

Don't want to sound like I am turning on my own but I wouldn't apply for this opportunity. I would rather compete to be a battalion or brigade CSM and spend that three years leading Soldiers.
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MAJ Latin Teacher
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I think that it sounds like a good plan. However, as CSM (Join to see) alluded to, this will present the same professional conundrum that higher education has presented to officers for years: 4 years away from the fighting force can be a liability. While one SGM was a CSM for four years at a brigade, the other SGM was teaching. Which one will seem for competitive for that GO-level CSM position? On the other hand, this may provide the perfect "Take-a-knee" moment for many intelligent men and women, or the perfect final assignment for a SGM who wants to fade into retirement.
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CSM Brigade Operations (S3) Sergeant Major
CSM (Join to see)
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MAJ (Join to see)
Sir - It's mostly just a ploy to recruit instructors for USASMA. The CSM/SGM must be a 6C, 7S or 7C that means they must be or have been a battalion CSM, a brigade or higher Operation SGM, or a brigade CSM. The biggest chunk of that population is close to retirement, like really close. It benefits those SGMs but doesn't really benefit the Army except that the SGM will be teaching soon to be SGMs at USASMA (it's not that hard just follow the POI).

The Army should really offer a BA program for SFC/MSG, that would be the key audience because chances are they are career Soldiers and have seven to seventeen years left.

CSMs/SGMs have enough "perks" and opportunities. They don't need any special treatment.
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MAJ Latin Teacher
MAJ (Join to see)
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I think it's a good idea to offer a competitive BA/BS to the top-tier SFC/MSG in any given community in the very same way the Army offers MA/MS to top-tier CPTs in the ACS program. These SFC/MSG can then take their new degrees to the plans and ops section of a BCT or higher and do some real good.
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SSG Mike Busovicki
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Agreed!
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