Education opportunities Navy vs. Air Force

[dividebyzero]

Something's struck me as I've been trying to decide which service to go into to become a pilot. How does the Navy rank as far as education opportunities while an aviator and on a regular deployment cycle?

As a carrier pilot, between the high optempos, the actual task of flying the plane, training, and additional collateral tasks such as being a div-o or what have you, does that really leave a lot of time for someone to even take advantage of such things as PACE?

For the Air Force, the impression I get is that because of the long conus tours, it's easy and encouraged that their officers pursue additional education in their ample off-time. Since they usually fly during the week, daylight hours, that gives them plenty of time to do so outside of increased optempos.

Basically, can anyone compare the availability and access to educational services of the two services?

 

[Spin]

Well, Stealth pilots fly at night .... lol. I would think that it will be difficult in any branch but definately possible. Depends how bad you want it.

 

[Dupe]

I know nothing about the Navy. In the Air Force, its fairly easy to get an advanced degree. They'll pay for 100% of it as well. The bad thing is that its a key factor to make O-4, and essentially required for O-5. If you're an engineering major, the Air Force runs its own engineering graduate school. Also, you can be PCSed to a university for a two year tour to exclusively work on your degree. Bottom line: the AF wants you to be edjumicated.

 

[46Driver]

Many of the colleges - in particular Troy State - are offering Master's Degrees over the internet. (I am getting mine now.) Very easy to find for time it but still requires a good bit of work. The Navy and Marines also offer billets that send you to school (acquistions and Foreign Area Officer) where you earn your Master's and then do a payback tour.

 

[dividebyzero]

That's one of my concerns about the Navy's educational programs, this apparent obsession with distance learning as a solution to all problems. If you're trying to pursue a Masters in anything lab intensive for a technical degree, you can forget it.

Also, the Navy has the WORST Tuition Assistance program in the whole friggin' military. I'd say it's a joke, but it isn't even funny. I seriously hope they change it soon. 12 credits per fiscal year?! Even the Marines and the Army are at 100% with a funding cap vice a credit hour cap.

All this unconstructive bitching aside, Naval Postgraduate School, being another postgrad education opportunity the Navy offers, kicks the teeth out of the mouths of all the other services postgrad schools.

 

[wink]

You can check the temp in Hell because I'm about to give the Air Farce some credit. It is more difficult to get a grad degree in the Navy. They have great full time programs if you can get one, but it is tough. The good news is that they recognize the difficulty of getting a Masters and don't put quite so much emphasis on grad degrees for promotion as the AF. And the comment on Navy PG school is right on. It is an outstanding institution. Far better than what the other services offer for in house degrees. Too bad more guys can't get there. Can't understand the differences in tuition assistance since the funding level for the program is the same for all services as set by congress.

 

[schmuckatelli]

The 12 credit limit on tuition assistance is for semester hours. If you are taking a class on the quarter system it is 18 quarter hours or 180 clock hours. (I know this because I just went to an ESO class.) You can also request a waiver of the credit limit. I do not know how many waivers are approved or under what circumstances but the worst CNET could say is "no," right? For more info on Navy education benefits go to

https://www.navycollege.navy.mil

 

[psrogers]

I know there are opportunities for advanced degrees in the Navy, but do we get to choose what we get those degrees in? Like could we get a degree in something totally unrelated to flight or engineering such as a law degree or a masters in history?

 

[wink]

Of course if you do it on your own time you can study what you want. Go to NPGS and you apply for a specific major like any university. Any major they offer is open to you regardless of your designator. Same with all the paid full time programs at civilian colleges. As to law, there is a specific law degree program that sends you to law school while on active duty and full pay. When done and past the bar you are automaticly redesignated a JAG Officer.