Correspondence Course Review

[lostSeaBee]

I called the help desk and asked for a hard copy of Annual Retirement Point Record. They were very helpful and sent it to me and it took just over a week. I am very pleased with the service.

 

[jason0231]

ALCON,

I am in the process of completing a couple of N7-approved correspondence courses with Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) and would highly recommend you do the same. The Irregular Warfare course is especially engaging and interesting without being academically daunting. That said, it *does* take time. Still, 15 points is 15 points.

http://jsou.socom.mil/Pages/Courses.aspx

Keep in mind that some JSOU courses are administered through their BlackBoard site while others (incl. IW) are taken on JKO. JKO has a feature which allows you to use your CAC to create a login and password for users with limited or infrequent CAC access.

Because I am still SELRES, I don't pretend to have any familiarity with the CAC issues discussed elsewhere on this page. That said, I hope this information is of some interest.

Have a great weekend,

Jason

 

[Randy Daytona]

For all of you transitioning from either active duty or SelRes to the IRR, really strive to get a good year that first disorientating year in the IRR. I only got mid 50's my first year, just had a friend miss a good year by a few points and now has to do an extra year in the IRR. Stay on top of these courses and knock out a good year.

Question - my bud was using a Mac and had problems logging into the JKO and FEMA courses which caused him not to a get a good year - think he is going to get a PC simply for the ease of doing these courses. Anybody else having problems doing courses on a Mac?

 

[Flash]

...Anybody else having problems doing courses on a Mac?

I have a problem doing just about anything .mil related on a Mac, but I know our CSO got a card reader for his iPad and loves how well it works so that might be another option to look at now.

 

[jason0231]

While Thursby software isn't guaranteed to solve *all* of your CAC/Mac interoperability issues, it will address most of them. Check it out.

http://www.thursby.com/products/pkard-mac

 

[lostSeaBee]

For all of you transitioning from either active duty or SelRes to the IRR, really strive to get a good year that first disorientating year in the IRR. I only got mid 50's my first year, just had a friend miss a good year by a few points and now has to do an extra year in the IRR. Stay on top of these courses and knock out a good year.

Question - my bud was using a Mac and had problems logging into the JKO and FEMA courses which caused him not to a get a good year - think he is going to get a PC simply for the ease of doing these courses. Anybody else having problems doing courses on a Mac?

Great point Randy. When I first entered the IRR I was not sure how things would play out. But the correspondence courses are fairly simple and easy, so I figured why not. It helped to complete some NETC courses while I was in the SELRES. I recommend not waiting to the end of your anniversary year to complete your courses. Do a few throughout the year even if they are only worth one or two retirement points.

 

[jason0231]

ALCON,

The Defense Institute of Security Cooperation Studies (DISCS) (formerly known as the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management, or DISAM) offers a couple of N7-approved courses that you might find interesting. They are:

- International Programs Security Requirements is worth 5 retirement points. A complete course description can be found here.
- Security Cooperation Management Orientation Online Course is worth 7 retirement points.

I have not yet begun the coursework so I cannot speak to the time commitment or difficulty level, but the subject matter looks to be at least somewhat interesting and 12 retirement points is 12 retirement points.

If anyone out there has taken either of these courses, let us know what you thought about them.

Take care,

Jason

 

[Sam I am]

Question - my bud was using a Mac and had problems logging into the JKO and FEMA courses which caused him not to a get a good year - think he is going to get a PC simply for the ease of doing these courses. Anybody else having problems doing courses on a Mac?

I do most of my stuff on a Mac. I use Chrome for NETC and used Safari for JKO. Those sites will function on each browser, but my machine seemed to prefer that combo. When I use a windows machine I also use Chrome for NETC, but then used Internet Explorer for JKO.

 

[Flash too]

ALCON,

The Defense Institute of Security Cooperation Studies (DISCS) (formerly known as the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management, or DISAM) offers a couple of N7-approved courses that you might find interesting. They are:

- International Programs Security Requirements is worth 5 retirement points. A complete course description can be found here.
- Security Cooperation Management Orientation Online Course is worth 7 retirement points.

I have not yet begun the coursework so I cannot speak to the time commitment or difficulty level, but the subject matter looks to be at least somewhat interesting and 12 retirement points is 12 retirement points.

If anyone out there has taken either of these courses, let us know what you thought about them.

Take care,

Jason

These courses sound interesting but when I looked them up, I couldn't see where it listed the retirement points. Also, I thought we were limited to the courses listed on the PERS IRR website. Is there another list of approved courses? It would be nice if we had some more options.
Thanks,
Rose

 

[jason0231]

Flash too,

Thanks for your email. I got my info from this link and the attached document from October 2015. As far as I know there has not been an update. If you flip through the tabs you will find the courses I've posted about highlighted. I am not sure there is a difference between IRR and SELRES when it comes to which courses are N7-approved. I am currently in the SELRES myself.

Does anyone else out there have additional insight? If I am wrong, please let me know!

Take care,

Jason

 

[Randy Daytona]

Been a hectic summer but just finished. Another 130 point year - done until 2017. Year after year, decade after decade; if you are patient the points can add up.

Well, I finished the courses in August - but PERS 912 just confirmed it (4 month delay). 130 points for the anniversary year.

 

[Sam I am]

I ended up disenrolling from NWC until next year. My father passed away in September and I get the responsibility of being the executor of his estate. Oh. Joy. Glad to help my Pop's out one more time, but it's a coin flip as to which is more painful: dealing with lawyers or reading Clauswitz. Yeesh,

 

[Sam I am]

Master At Arms Course. This is painful and not sure I'll be able to finish it. There are hyper link in the course book that take you to the instructions, which more often than not is NKO...CAC Access. Crap. Anyone figured out a way around this? The Instructions and Directives references are a PITA to work with through DONI.

 

[ChopChick]

Well, I finished the courses in August - but PERS 912 just confirmed it (4 month delay). 130 points for the anniversary year.

Good for you! The courses I submitted in August have not yet been credited.

Moderately related: I submitted my request to transfer to the Retired reserve (my 20th anniversary is today!) back in July with a retirement date of 1 Jan 17. I have heard nothing in response. I looked up my electronic record which does have a copy of my request. Shouldn't I get _something_ to notify me of a change in status?

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I ended up disenrolling from NWC until next year. My father passed away in September and I get the responsibility of being the executor of his estate. Oh. Joy. Glad to help my Pop's out one more time, but it's a coin flip as to which is more painful: dealing with lawyers or reading Clauswitz. Yeesh,

Ouch, Sam. Good luck.