becoming a military officer via excelsior?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by originalbigjim, Aug 5, 2006.

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  1. I am current an active duty enlisted sailor in the us navy, with big dreams of becoming a naval aviator. either a pilot or a NFO, i am currently pursuing a degree in the fastest way possible. I currently take as many cleps and dantes as my schedule permits and i take courses at ERAU online. Also i have done 20 some FEMA courses. I am seriously considering excelsior college but a little worried about the reputation of the school. I have heard different things from different people, some good some bad, but the fact remains, i need a bachelor's to be an officer. will going to excelsior make it harder to be selected to OCS than another school? Also what majors would be helpful when trying to get picked up to be an aviator? any info would be helpful and if there are any officers that attended excelsior on the forum there testimonials would be greatly apprecaited. thanks guys.
     
  2. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    Not an Officer and not in your branch of service (I'm a "zoomie" - Air Force for those not familiar), but I can tell you to go check with your Navy college office/Education officer. I can pretty much guarantee they can tell you exactly what you need to know.

    I'll finish my career as a MSgt, but I several years ago I successfully helped a subordinate SSgt (E-5) make it to the AF Acedemy prep school, and subsequently make it to 2Lt (0-1) in a few years. I helped pin him on last year, and got the "Silver Dollar" as his first salute. Good luck!

    Dave
     
  3. fiveninerzero

    fiveninerzero New Member

    To OCS/OTS boards for aviation, once you have a bachelor degree, it is usually just another box to check in the way of prerequisites, then you move on to the next process (at least in the AF it is.)
     
  4. PhD2B

    PhD2B Dazed and Confused

    This statement is true. I sat in on an OCS selection board as a voting member and the degree was just a check in the box.
     
  5. Michael Lloyd

    Michael Lloyd New Member

    My wife retired in 2000 with 20 years of service. She left as a HMC (SW), a chief corpsman for all the non-Navy types.

    She personally knows several former Navy enlisted in the Hospital Corps who completed the Excelsior distance-learning nursing program, and were subsequently commissioned as ensigns and are working as registered nurses.

    So at least from the standpoint of earning a commission through a degree at Excelsior, the Navy is pretty familiar with this concept. My wife earned her BS on active duty via distance learning from SIU at Carbondale, and her MHA from Chapman after retirement.
     
  6. AGS

    AGS New Member

    Ohio State Univ or Thomas Edison

    why dont you check Ohio State Univ and Thomas Edison...

    Ohio State U has an independent distance learning program ..I believe they might have an aviator programs ....
     
  7. AGS

    AGS New Member

    as everyone says

    but Excelsior is very popular with the service people ..
     
  8. MGKRILL

    MGKRILL New Member

    Army "Grunt" Enlisted NCO.. ETS in 1997 but from my understanding a degree wasn't required to apply to OCS but that may differ from branch to branch.

    60sh credits from a RA school was the minium requirement

    I wouldn't worry about Excelsior as AGS said Excelsior is very popular with the service people
     
  9. PhD2B

    PhD2B Dazed and Confused

    For Army OCS, 90 credits from an accredited university is the minimum.
     
  10. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    AF requires a degree, and they're starting to get more selective as to which they'll accept for consideration.

    To the best of my knowledge, the Navy requires it as well. This link provides a breakdown of the various commisioning paths the Navy offers.

    Dave
     
  11. Michael Lloyd

    Michael Lloyd New Member

    The original poster may also want to page or send a private message to Ray Trautman, another member of this board. Ray is currently an active duty CPO and is working as a recruiter. Chief Trautman may have some words of wisdom here.
     
  12. LBTRS

    LBTRS Member

    In my experience where you received your degree matters little when competing for commissioning programs as an active duty member. Any engineering, science, math degree would give you a leg up over those with business and liberal arts degrees.

    The degree itself will be a requirement they check that you have fulfilled. Your performance on active duty and your GPA will carry much more weight then where the degree came from.

    That being said...I would think in cases where two candidates are evenly qualified the person with a degree from say Arizona State University would get the nod over someone with an Excelsior degree. I only feel this way because Officers are making the selections and I would think they would likely see the ASU candidate as "more like them".
     
  13. planejane

    planejane New Member

    I'm a Command Career Counselor

    in the Navy and the instruction wants a bachelor's degree. It does not give preference to which schools are preferable over the other. If you are looking at being a pilot or NFO, beware of your major. Make sure it is aviation-oriented/engineering-oriented. Get your degree done. Once you are about six months away from completion, actively pursue putting your OCS package together. Schedule to take your officer test (all six sections) and make sure you study for this test. Your CCC can assist you.
     
  14. Re: I'm a Command Career Counselor

    does the degree have to be in an aviation-oriented/engineering-oriented one. Or does that just give you a leg up? Id really like to get a BS in political science or sociology but if they want a different degree I guess I will have to go another way with this and get an avation degree.
     
  15. PhD2B

    PhD2B Dazed and Confused

    Re: Re: I'm a Command Career Counselor

    I believe what planejane is saying is, if you want to become a pilot or pursue any aviation-related job, stick to the aviation-oriented or engineering-oriented degree programs. I have a couple of neighbors that are Navy test pilots and they are engineers. Personally, I think the Navy seeks out engineers for more fields than just aviation, but what do I know, I'm just an old Army type that works for the Navy. :)
     
  16. planejane

    planejane New Member

    I checked OPNAVINST 1420.1A for OCS

    and it states for Unrestricted Line Officers "any technical or non-technical degree from an accredited institution will qualify". However, I do know they favor aviation/engineering degrees. Will it give you a leg up? Yes. When it comes down to two officer's packages and one is aviation-oriented and the other isn't, then guess who gets accepted. I have seen candidates be selected for pilot and NFO with other degrees. It is not impossible.

    The Navy is getting very picky right now and I want you to have the best possible chance of being selected. You must also do what is in your interest too. Whichever degree program you select, make sure it something that you will get good grades in too. In other words, the degree program peaks your interest and it keeps it.

    When I am working with fellow sailors, I lay all the cards on the table. This way, educated decisions can be made. I always tell people that knowledge is power, especially about one's career.

    I wish you the best of luck and to great success in achieving your officer ambitions. Feel free to PM if you need to.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 8, 2006

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