Further Education while in the Navy

[TolgaK]

I know the Navy can help out with Master's degrees. I'm not asking about that.

What options do I have for pursuing a second Bachelor's degree?

I made the mistake of choosing a worthless degree. I've already graduated and already have an OCS date. It's too late to change what I have and once I'm in the military, time and money will be tight.

I want to get a degree in engineering. Has anyone here done anything similar to what I want to accomplish?

 

[BackOrdered]

My two cents is you are better off taking the pre-reqs (Calc II, Physics etc) for which ever Academic Profile Code (APC) you want and get a masters via NPS.

 

[TolgaK]

My two cents is you are better off taking the pre-reqs (Calc II, Physics etc) for which ever Academic Profile Code (APC) you want and get a masters via NPS.

I'm definitely up for it. However, some companies don't accept a Masters as academic qualification when you don't have the corresponding Bachelors.

Are there opportunities to take these classes on deployment? Does the Navy help officers with non-masters pursuits?

 

[bert]

Do you already have a lot of the math done? What is it that you want to be that your current major will prevent?

 

[TolgaK]

Do you already have a lot of the math done? What is it that you want to be that your current major will prevent?

I have some calculus and physics. I started in Engineering but wasn't mature enough to work as hard as I needed to. I switched to Aeronautical Science, which is only required for some corporate flying jobs. I want to be a research test pilot while in or after leaving the Navy I understand that they don't specifically require a STEM degree, that I can take some math and physics courses to be qualified, but the chances of getting accepted without one are not at all good.

I know I've made some big mistakes considering my ambitions. I'd like to see what I can do to make up for those mistakes.

 

[bert]

You have a few misconceptions:

- "Aeronautical Science" degrees are not a requirement for any corporate (or other civilian) flying jobs.

- The biggest variable to acceptance to TPS are the community you are in and what their openings are during the window you are able to apply (you have to be into and out of your test tour prior to DH timing unless you are an AEDO).

- A sufficiently good APC and solid performance in your first tour is all you need (here is how to figure out yourself what your "some" calculus and physics are worth) if your community has plenty of openings compared to interested applicants with sufficient APC, timing, and FITREPS. On the other hand, I saw guys with 3.5+ in aerospace from MIT and first-tour EPs not make it because their community had too few (or no) slots.

- You can always get into the test world via the OT (operational test) route.

- Not sure what you mean by "research test pilot" - are you talking experimental test (like for an OEM), or something else?

 

[BackOrdered]

Are there opportunities to take these classes on deployment?

It isn't impossible to get a class or two in on deployment, but the mission comes first (evolutions, watch bill, etc). Also consider your community's qualifications. You will also become a slave to the ship's comms status if the class is strictly online. Overall, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[TolgaK]

You have a few misconceptions:

- "Aeronautical Science" degrees are not a requirement for any corporate (or other civilian) flying jobs.

I said that: "only required for some corporate jobs." Since so few companies require it or something similar, I have no advantage with the degree.

- The biggest variable to acceptance to TPS are the community you are in and what their openings are during the window you are able to apply (you have to be into and out of your test tour prior to DH timing unless you are an AEDO).

What is DH and AEDO? Is the test tour after the initial 3 year sea tour?

- A sufficiently good APC and solid performance in your first tour is all you need (here is how to figure out yourself what your "some" calculus and physics are worth) if your community has plenty of openings compared to interested applicants with sufficient APC, timing, and FITREPS. On the other hand, I saw guys with 3.5+ in aerospace from MIT and first-tour EPs not make it because their community had too few (or no) slots.

Understood

- You can always get into the test world via the OT (operational test) route.

How so?

- Not sure what you mean by "research test pilot" - are you talking experimental test (like for an OEM), or something else?

Testing new aircraft designs or aerodynamic qualities, as opposed to doing only maintenance tests or production testing.


I'll definitely go through with those options. I will still need that Bachelor's in the civilian world, to my knowledge though.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Renegade One]

I've already graduated and already have an OCS date...

So, you're "good", yes? For the next XX years?

... some companies don't accept a Masters as academic qualification when you don't have the corresponding Bachelors.

That would appear to be a question for another day. Maybe XX years from now?

What is it that you want to be that your current major will prevent?

Color me "Me too". Inquiring minds want to know. Seems to have been "good enough" for your first goal...

You have a few misconceptions: [and then a LOT of good stuff…]

TolgaK: You have many, many wolves "closer to your sled" right now than what you're burning your brain about. I kinda-sorta think I understand where you're coming from, but….first things first.

Take a good hold….use the sights…slow your breathing and SQUEEZE the trigger. Kill the wolves one at a time...

OBTW..CONGRATS on the OCS date. Nice!

 

[BigRed389]

My two cents is you are better off taking the pre-reqs (Calc II, Physics etc) for which ever Academic Profile Code (APC) you want and get a masters via NPS.

If you do what tiz said, NPS "lets you" take the necessary undergrad engineering classes to ramp up to getting a graduate engineering degree.

That honestly is probably the best bet. Think about the work required to get an undergrad engineering degree...that's probably a good 2.5-3 years of full time study since most credits from a "useless degree" won't count to fulfilling the credit requirements, and I don't know of any reputable (accredited) online engineering undergrad degrees that would let you make it work while you're in the Navy.

So NPS, or get the second bachelor's before you join.

 

[Spekkio]

The answer is you will have few options.

1- You can use the GI bill to off-set the cost, but you will realistically have to do it on shore duty, and even then you might have a workload that doesn't support.

2- You can do a shore job at an NROTC unit and use your status as staff to get reduced tuition. Dunno how an NROTC job rates for aviators.

Be aware that the Navy benefits from you having a Masters, so that's where the options are.

 

[MasterBates]

NROTC is career death for Aviators.

Sent from a van down by the river via Tapatalk

 

[phrogdriver]

Two of any degree is pretty worthless.

Depending on your community, getting coursework done could be difficult during your first tour. Recommend you just dilligently take coursework in the prereq classes you're weak in, then apply to a masters program. Don't take two steps back to take one step forward.

 

[PropAddict]

I don't see how a BS in a particular field would be more advantageous than an MS in the same field when applying for any job, anywhere. That's just not how it works.

First sea tour is a bad time to get a degree, IMO. Upgrading, deploying, and eventually getting one of the EP jobs will consume considerable time and effort.

I would say flight school is a bad place, but I have two buddies who got Masters' degrees via distance learning there. Both started in A Pool and finished within a month of their winging. We're all P-3 guys now anyway, so the marginal NSS advantage I had over them really seems to have been a Pyrrhic victory in the long run.

 

[TolgaK]

I don't see how a BS in a particular field would be more advantageous than an MS in the same field when applying for any job, anywhere. That's just not how it works.

They didn't say a BS was more competitive. Having an MS without the corresponding BS is apparently not qualifying for positions at NASA (straight from the mouth of an astronaut). I don't know what the private industry's perspective is on this (not specifically space but any test piloting gig), but I imagine it's not far off.

Yes, it's too early to really be worrying about this. But the answers to these questions are giving me a bank of knowledge to draw upon when the time comes.

Thanks for the help so far.