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masters degree

flyerstud4

flyerstud4

Registered User
I've been looking at various schools, such as ERAU and NPS. I was wondering when is a good time to start my masters degree.. i.e. while im flying or during my B-billet. I was hoping someone out there could tell me about thier experiences with trying to complete a masters degree while being on active duty. Thanks fellas
 
I am currently doing EMBA through NPS. It isn't too terribly bad so far, but certain weeks it can be a bear. The program isn't available for Marines, so no luck for you. Getting your masters in residence is pretty much a career ender for any Naval Aviator as far as I know. I am sure others have their own experiences.
 
Lazy8s said:
I've been looking at various schools, such as ERAU and NPS. I was wondering when is a good time to start my masters degree.. i.e. while im flying or during my B-billet. I was hoping someone out there could tell me about thier experiences with trying to complete a masters degree while being on active duty. Thanks fellas
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Graduate degrees shouldn't be in your scan just yet (you are pre-API, correct?) You've got a long road ahead of you, between flight school, the FRS, and (at least) your first tour as an Aviator. Focus on those.

You may feel like you have a ton of free time on your hands right now (because you DO), but it won't always be like that. In fact, the next few years are sure to be extremely busy.

Don't be in a hurry to start graduate school - you'll get your chance when the time comes. If you've got specific questions, feel free to PM me.
 
phrogpilot73 said:
"In Residence" i.e. - going full time to a school to get your masters. Out of the cockpit for 1-2 years, doing something that benefit you and not big navy.
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Ok, that certainly makes sense. I was only curious because I'm about to finish my M.A. a few weeks before I leave for OCC.
 
I'm on a "B" billet right now, and about halfway through my masters. I've been in 12 years. I wish I would have done it earlier. To be honest, the added responsibilities at work and at home make getting it part-time harder as time goes on.

The best way to get a masters in the Corps is at a resident school that they send you to. There are several programs that will get you a masters. The way I would recommend is at a school such as Command and Staff, at which you basically do the Marine Corps program of study, add a thesis along the way, and BAMMO! Masters degree. However, it will be in "Military and Strategic Studies" or some such, which may not be what you want. There are some other degree programs that will lead you down some weird career rabbit-holes, as well.

I'm not going to a resident PME course anytime soon, so I'm taking a little assistance from the Corps ($250/credit-hour) and going to an extension campus on base on the weekends. When I'm done, I'll have a masters in business.

If you really want to get the degree, get it started during your first tour, AFTER you've established a good foundation on the job. This means 1 deployment, aircraft commander qual, etc.
 
phrogdriver said:
I'm not going to a resident PME course anytime soon, so I'm taking a little assistance from the Corps ($250/credit-hour) and going to an extension campus on base on the weekends. When I'm done, I'll have a masters in business.
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Does this TA require extra obligated service?
 
Techinically it's not obligated service, since they won't MAKE you stay in after taking it. All they can do if you get out is make you pay it back. The requirement is 2 years of service after completion of the courses.

The big blue arrows for Tuition Assistance (TA) in the USMC are: $250/credit-hour up to a max of $4500/FY. USMC TA Policy
 
phrogpilot73 said:
"In Residence" i.e. - going full time to a school to get your masters. Out of the cockpit for 1-2 years, doing something that benefit you and not big navy.
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I think it depends on when you do it. If you have all of the other tickets (breakout EPs, boat, underway qual of some sort) punched, had sustained superior performance, and your records supports you doing this, then maybe it will be okay. I think it's all about timing.

I see a lot of guys getting NWC orders off of their disassociated tours as they have time in between that and when the need to report to the FRS for DH tour.
 
Going to PME school in residence=big plus, generally. Expeditionary Warfare School (captains), not so much (do it by seminar/correspondence); but resident C&S (majors) or War College (LtCol) are very good for your career.

What's generally bad is going to Naval Postgrad or a civilian institution full-time on the military's dime. They WILL make you do a payback tour in a billet making use of that field. That's doable for ground siders, but for a pilot, 2 yrs out of the cockpit for school and 3 in a payback is generally a kiss of death in the Corps. You may be recognized as the best operations analyst/statistics weenie in the Corps, but you'll likely retire a major. If you like that, awesome, just know it when you sign up.
 
Phrogdriver -

That is the MARADMIN to which I was referring. After a closer read, I can see where I may have misread it.

Good deal!
 
phrogdriver said:
Going to PME school in residence=big plus, generally. Expeditionary Warfare School (captains), not so much (do it by seminar/correspondence); but resident C&S (majors) or War College (LtCol) are very good for your career.

What's generally bad is going to Naval Postgrad or a civilian institution full-time on the military's dime. They WILL make you do a payback tour in a billet making use of that field. That's doable for ground siders, but for a pilot, 2 yrs out of the cockpit for school and 3 in a payback is generally a kiss of death in the Corps. You may be recognized as the best operations analyst/statistics weenie in the Corps, but you'll likely retire a major. If you like that, awesome, just know it when you sign up.
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I had a few classes with a Harrier pilot out at NPS. He said that after NPS the Marines essentially stop looking at you as a pilot and instead as what your degree field was in. In his case, he was essentially going to be an analyst the rest of his career.

At least, that was his interpretation on it.
 
I'm a bit frustrated by how the Marine Corps treats external PME. As far as I can tell, my next opportunity to get a resident Master's at a civilian institution is either a fellowship at the ILS level...or to get out at the end of my EOS, get my degree, and then come back in.

I think the "resident school=career ender" is a dumb attitude. Some of the principal individuals who've been on the ball with regard to irregular nature of OIF - David Petraeus and David McMaster, hold Ph.D.'s from Princeton and UNC, respectively. John Nagl, who helped author FM 3-24, is a Rhodes Scholar. Gen. Petraeus has been a staunch advocate of civilian graduate education for officers. Rigorous resident programs in relevant fields do make better warfighters, and it's a shame if the Navy and Marine Corps don't see it that way.

Phrogdriver, what are these other rabbit holes? I'm aware of the Olin scholarship, and of the SEP programs in education and history as well as a few limited fields at NPS and AFIT. I imagine you'd be locked into something relevant to what you studied but I haven't seen anything in the MARADMIN's to indicate what implications it has on your following assignments.

Has anyone had any experience with Norwich University or AMU's online programs?
 
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