What do you think of the Pentagon's plan to send more officers to civilian graduate schools?

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:06:47 -0400

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/

DoD plans to send more officers to civilian grad schools

The Pentagon is preparing a plan to send more officers to earn graduate degrees at top-notch civilian universities, a key piece of soon-to-be

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 24 at 2015 1:09 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:09:49 -0400

I see it as a force multiplier.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 1:10 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:10:35 -0400

Unsure on that one. Do we really need to spend money on grad school if the budgets are being slashed?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 1:10 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:10:49 -0400

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

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 1:10 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:10:56 -0400

Used to be a requirement for advancement.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Aug 24 at 2015 1:12 PM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:12:58 -0400

Are similar opportunities going to open for enlisted service members?

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Aug 24 at 2015 1:18 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:18:01 -0400

Expanding education is always a good idea. When its for American military and our leaders its even better. The nation will get good returns on these invests in the future and the leaders closer to the battlefield will be better prepared to make the decisions the often get sent to the highers.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 24 at 2015 1:23 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:23:15 -0400

Weird...they're cutting TA back to pre-war levels, some services are even limiting how many classes can be taken, servecemembers are being shown the boot for any and everything, but now we have money to send officers to "ivy" league schools? I applaud anyone enlisted or officer that wants to further their education, but this doesn't make sense. And like mentioned below, what about the enlisted members that have degree's? They can't get the same benefits? Why not do away with the F-35 (and any other bloated useless weapons system) and take that money to help current serving troops with their lives and career choices?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 1:28 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:28:19 -0400

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.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 1:48 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:48:07 -0400

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, I think that it is a great idea. I know plenty of CPT's who put in for these opportunities. I think that this will help enhanced the overall capabilities for those Officers. I would like to see these opportunities to be open for NCO's and Warrant Officers. Right now, I know of one graduate degree program that Warrant Officers can obtain on the dime of the Army, and that’s TLOG Logistics Master’s degree program through ALU.

Response by MSgt Manuel Diaz made Aug 24 at 2015 4:18 PM

MSgt Manuel Diaz — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 16:18:31 -0400

The way I figure it, it has to do with indoctrination to socialist party ideology. Many higher learning universities have been subtly doing that to civilians for a long time now. That is why so many university educated young people question the existence of God and lean very liberal. The government wants those kinds of officers so they will do as the government directs versus protecting and preserving the U.S. constitution and the American way of freedom of the people.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Aug 24 at 2015 4:49 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 16:49:07 -0400

Great opportunity, I paid for my own

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 8:18 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 20:18:21 -0400

On the plus side it could inspire officers who never considered a graduate degree program to pursue one.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 8:18 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 20:18:47 -0400

I could see MBA programs being more beneficial than some degrees.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 8:19 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 20:19:40 -0400

I have mixed feelings about sending officers to civilian graduate schools. I participated in ROTC during law school. This experience was rewarding and required a lot of coordination and cooperation with my cadre, professors, and the administration at my university. I was fortunate that each of these groups supported my success. I met the requirements for my degree, ROTC, clinic, and an externship. I built multiple networks, but none of them were fully developed due to the rigors of my schedule. While, I understand the military's desire to have officers more integrated with civilians--graduate school is not necessarily the way to go. I think 6 month externships at Fortune 500 companies would have stronger results.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 24 at 2015 8:28 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 20:28:56 -0400

I have a better idea. Make the officers brainstorm and become innovative towards Afghanistan and Iraq.

Response by GySgt Moses Lozano made Aug 24 at 2015 11:49 PM

GySgt Moses Lozano — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 23:49:21 -0400

Just what the military doesn't need officers with even bigger heads due to obtaining an Ivy League education. More money should be focused on senior enlisted education. After all, senior enlisted members are the ones who teach officers and keep them out of trouble!

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Aug 25 at 2015 4:55 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 04:55:26 -0400

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad They have been doing this for years. I would really like them to start sending enlisted.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Aug 25 at 2015 6:27 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 06:27:02 -0400

That would depend on the school and the course work. If an officer/staff NCO is attending an business MBA program or an advanced degree that his little or nothing to do with his or her career path in the military I would say no. I am not sure which "top notch" schools offer advance degrees that align well with military career paths.

Most MBA schools focus very hard on business related topics. Things that most in the military have little use for. The leadership courses they teach in many of these courses are not the same leadership the military is looking for or needs. They tend to focus on advancing self in the modern workplace. Things the military should avoid like the plague.

I would be more for the military coming up with a curriculum that focuses on the needs of the military and military leadership, working with universities to put it together and get it accredited than sending people through regular advanced degree programs.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Sep 12 at 2015 2:37 PM

COL Ted Mc — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 14:37:13 -0400

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad - Gunny; In principle I'm in favor of it.

I would, however, prefer to see the military students somewhat more concentrated and be required (at a minimum of one day per week) to parade for "in service education" and to wear their uniforms on campus.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2015 7:26 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 07:26:38 -0400

the intention is good ... I just worry the businesses will end up recruiting those officers in the end.

Response by SGT William Howell made Oct 30 at 2015 8:19 AM

SGT William Howell — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 08:19:43 -0400

Why would we not send enlisted to undergrad schools? Hard to believe Washington was able to defeat the Red Coats without officers with a MA.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2015 9:47 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 21:47:39 -0400

Sign me up!

Response by MAJ David Brand made Oct 9 at 2017 2:30 PM

MAJ David Brand — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 14:30:30 -0400

Thanks for sharing!