Shore Duty/MBA

[BRM21o]

I'm not sure if I'm going aviation yet (medical) but this question applies to any MOS. How long is shore duty/B-Billet? Also, how much does the Navy/Marine Corps help with tuition assistance? I heard Navy pays 100% for active duty in return for a longer commitment, is there any limit for assistance? Does anyone have any experience with doing a part-time MBA program?

Some good programs for those interested:
University of Chicago
http://gsbtestwebsite.chicagogsb.edu/parttime/index.aspx

Northwestern (Kellogg)
http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/parttime/saturday/index.htm

NYU (Stern)
http://w4.stern.nyu.edu/admissions/langone/innovativecurricula.cfm?doc_id=332

UCLA (Anderson)
http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x119.xml

University of Maryland (Smith)
http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/partmba/weekend.html

Each of these programs are in the Top 20 (if not Top 5) and can be completed by taking classes each (or every other) Saturday for 2.5-3 years.

Thanks!

 

[xmid]

Tuition assistance for the Navy covers 100% of the tuition, BUT... its only up to $250 a credit hour and up to 16 credit hours per year. Officers must stay in the Navy for 2 years after they finish their last class, but the time runs concurent with your original commitment. So as long as you don't take the classes <2 years before you get out you're good.

There was a NSI/OCS instructor (SWO) in Newport that was doing the NYU program above. He would drive down on Saturdays. He paid completely out of pocket, but that was only because he was planning on getting out when his shore tour was done.

 

[Harrier Dude]

I did mine while active duty from Boston University. Standard TA rules apply. They'll pay for up to $4500 per year for a 2 year extended commitment (that runs concurrently with whatever you already have). The rest you can cover with GI Bill or out of your pocket. All of these programs are the best bang for your buck for getting an MBA. Pick your school based on availability in your area. All tours are generally 2-3 years, sometimes more, but should easily allow you to complete the program.

 

[phrogpilot73]

You can also buy your way out of your TA commitment. It's pro-rated, so you at least get something. Example - I took $1500 for six credits and finished my classes in Dec of '05. Wanted to get out in May of '07. Paid the difference between May and December (it worked out to like $400) and was approved to get out in May.

 

[Rugger]

There are a handful academy guys who selected aviation, but got to defer for grad school (Navy funded) - not sure if this is still done or not.

Off the top of my head -
Stanford B school (08)
Duke - physics (06)
UT - ?? (02)
NPS - a bunch of them , (00 - at least 02)

There are FRS instructors who is/was going to b school on weekends at UNC (Keenan Flagler), and part time programs at ODU, NPS, and William and Mary.

There's also the NROTC instructors who usually take classes at their institutions. Since they're faculty members instructing and not staff, some of the schools require that they either have a masters degree or be enrolled in a graduate program.

Hope that helps.

 

[villanelle]

My husband got an MBA through NPS while he was a RAG instructor. It didn't cost him anything (other than books). He and the other students were given Thursdays "free" (no flights, only late sims), and they went to a nearby location where they attended class via video teleconference.

He went to Monterey for 2 weeks (I think) at the start of the program and the rest was done from San Diego. It took 2 years to finish.

He did occasionally miss class for a flight or when he was somewhere TAD (though even then, he made it to many of the classes via VTC). Classes were recorded, however, so if he missed one, he could watch it later. It cost him an 3 year commitment, which really only adds 2 1/4 years since it runs concurrent with other commitments.

His command was pretty supportive of the program, but I don't know if all are, and if that changes with leadership.

 

[snake020]

Anyone know how the GI Bill top up works? I heard from one source it covers everything TA doesn't, another said it's only TA plus your max MGIB benefit.

 

[phrogdriver]

I'm almost done with the Boston University MSBA program (2 weekends to go...woot!). They have extension offices at a few major bases. It's worked pretty well with RAG duty, though I have missed several cross-country opportunities. Also, it always seems as if they collaborate with the military to have a paper or final coincide with a major project at work.

The internet programs vary widely in committment from what I've heard. The biggest drawback is that most of them cost more than classroom instruction, so your out-of-pocket will be more.

If you can get on a military program, that's the best, but different ones have different career ramifications, so you have to look at them carefully.

 

[Praying4OCS]

Anyone know how the GI Bill top up works? I heard from one source it covers everything TA doesn't, another said it's only TA plus your max MGIB benefit.

Top-up pays the differece for your class that TA doesn't cover. (Class- $1000, TA-$750, Top-up-$250) You just have to write "Top-up" on the TA paperwork when you fax it to the VA. It works great because it doesn't take your full GI bill cut per month. The important part is to remember to conact the VA and switch from full GI to TA/Top-up, while using TA and then back again.

 

[orionbubba1077]

I'm currently in the Smith MBA program while on shore duty in DC. It is a fantiastic deal, although I have rencently stopped taking TA in anticipation of getting out in less than two years. After years of flying, getting the MBA has been an eye-opener. If this is something you're interested in, try to work DC orders after your Fleet tour. By day you get a LT's view of how the levers of power work in DC, by night you get a first class business education from the Smith school. The rest of the time you can spend eating drinking and networking in DC. No comparison as far as setting yourself up for life after NATOPS and 3710.