Sorry prominent answerers, but can the Navy officers, recruiters, sailors, etc. help me out?

Question

Alright I have someone that really wants to go to the Navy, but she fears that she may not be able to get her college degree. So the question is going to be quick so listen up and please sarcastic answers will prove to be quite ineffective and irrelevant at this time so refrain from them. How will you be able to get your college degree in the Navy? Do you have to juggle and time manage in order to attend all of your classes. As a matter of fact give me any information about achieving your college degree in the Navy. Any information is helpful. And as you know the most helpful answer will receive the ten points.

Answer 1

This is a very difficult question to answer simply because there are a lot of factors that can play in to various opportunities. With out have a crystal ball to see the future; here is the best possible answers I can give you.
Once she qualifies for enlistment by taken an ASVAB and physical, she will sit down with a NAVY CLASSIFIER. Now, there are approximately sixty different jobs that the Navy has to offer in five of six different programs. These jobs are offered based off of what she qualifies for and what is available. Depending on the job that she selects really sets the stage into answering your question.
First, all Navy schools and even Navy work experience is college accredited. These credits go on regular transcripts issued by the Navy Education Center and are transferable to Universities and Colleges. Ideally, this will not line you up for a degree but does help knock out basic classes and prerequisites.

Now, the Navy offers 100% college Tuition Assistance (TA) to active duty sailors. The maximum amount is 16 credit hours a year (this is waiver able for more). Using this is funding is highly encouraged by all Naval Commands but has to be approved by the chain of command. Its encouraged because if we aren’t using it, we may lose it. The sailor has to request permission to use it via her chain of command which vailidates her success and time to do courses. So, her immediate supervisor all the way to the Command Officer have to approve the plan on balancing work with school. If she doesn’t pass then she is responsible for paying back the TA (potentional hardship on the sailor and Commanding Officer). So depending on her job, it’s hard to say. Alot of sailors are attending online degree programs. This is common at both ship and shore commands.

Program for Afloat College Education (PACE) If stationed aboard a ship, sailors have the opportunity to attend classes with college professors aboard the ship. This is a classroom setting that is taught by college professors that live and teach on the ship. The are sent by big schools like University of Texas. The classes offered are you freshman and sophomore levels.

Free CLEP testing. Test out of required classes is also very common.

She needs to understand that some jobs are more challenging and offer more excitement and experience in different fields. Now a days, looking at the classified ads, employers want a college degree with “a minimum” years of experience. The Navy offers that experience. If it’s a short cut and college is all she cares about. Check these two enlistment options out:

Full Time Support (FTS): These jobs are normally administration, medical, and aviation, some engineering. This enlistment is for the Training and Administration of Reservist (TAR). Basically, there is about a 90% chance she would go to Boot Camp, go to Navy “A” School, then pick a Naval Reserve Center some where in the U.S. The job is full time staff at a Reserve Center and offers very relaxed working hours with a lot of opportunity to go to college.

College First Program (CFP). Very under used by recruiters and has strict requirements. The CFP allows qualified DEP members the opportunity to go to college for up to one year prior to boot camp. The Navy will pay the accepted member for this program the base subsistence of $250 per month plus a supplement up to $225 per month depending on cost of living in the schools zip code. The student has to be going to school full time and maintain 2.5 or higher.

In my opinion, these are the best two options to ensure time and opportunity towards a degree. About 72% of first enlistment sailors are working on a college degree. So the opportunity is there. Lastly, if she decides to get out at the end of her term and for what ever reason could not achieve her goal, the G.I. Bill will not only cover cost of living but pay tuition to finish it up.

Best of luck, hope I helped. Feel Free to Email me if you want more info

Answer 2

Do not take a job you do not WANT. Once a cook, it is HARD to get out of being a cook. However cooks can get their college courses done faster than most other rates can. I did subs. It is more money. It is tax-free. It is better food. It does have much faster advancement. And many bubbleheads get their degrees while on subs. I did. Steak is served EVERY breakfast. Lobster, is really up to the crew and how often the crew wants lobster. usually every 2 weeks. The crew on a sub writes the menu. I left bootcamp as an E3, I put on E4 at school. I have seen guys put on E9 after 13 years in the Navy. Feel free to contact me if you have more questions. I have been a crewmember of a few different subs. Mrsjvb - "Bubbleheads are too weird for their own good. and have a Soft Spot for the Dark Side" ??? That could be a good thing :)

Answer 3

I was in the Navy for 5 years. It isn't easy to get your degree, but it can be done. I joined straight out of highschool. First you have bootcamp (so there's no time for college there). Then, depending on your ASVAB score, you go to A school, or C school. Once again, no time there. However, Bootcamp and A school can be counted towards college credit. Once you are at your final command station (after all of your training), you will have the opportunity to attend school. Shore duty is preferable as it is pretty much a 9 to 5 job. Should she have to go on a boat, some ships offer classes onboard from accredited schools that send their professors on board to teach. she would just need approval from her superior to take the classes. I was able to get my associates degree before I got out. I have since graduated from law school.

Answer 4

I know the military does offer college classes, but that may mean that it could take longer for her to finish her degree. If her college has a Navy ROTC program, that would be my suggestion if she wants to finish before joining. A big plus to joining the Navy now and finishing later is the GI Bill. If one is active duty for at least three years, and then attends college full-time, the GI Bill pays $1,075. For an enlistment less than three years, it is about $873.

Your friend could also join a Navy Reserve unit, which has one active weekend per month and a two-week drill once per year, similiar to the National Guard.

Answer 5

You obviously have to take classes in your off time. In the Navy, you can take classes when your underway. You can actually get a bachelor's in four years (while working full time) if you work hard enough.

Most of the time in the military you'll have a set schedule, so it's not hard to schedule classes around that, if that's your goal.

Answer 6

What about NROTC? Is that an option for her? She would then go active duty as an ensign after college and be active duty four years then reserve status an additonal four after that. She should maybe look into it....good luck!