The Military and a Doctorate Level Degree

Discussion in 'Military-related education topics' started by bpreachers, Feb 24, 2011.

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  1. bpreachers

    bpreachers New Member

    Good morning all.

    I am posting as I was told a rumor a few days ago with regards to military members and Doctorate level degrees. Now, as a caveat, let me state that I have not yet begun my MBA program so this is far in the future for me but I wanted to see what info is out there. Basically I was told that due to being Active Duty military, once I finish my Masters Programs that there are a number of Doctorate level programs that I would be able to attend for little to no money because of my military status. Is this true/do you know anything about this? I have been unable to find any information with this regard but that does not mean much as the internet is a expansive place haha.

    I plan to pursue a DBA once my MBA is completed. Just have to find money for it as I will exaust my Post 911 GI bill with whats left of my Bachelors program and my Masters program.

    Thanks in advance for any information/insight you can give.
     
  2. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    Yes, it is possible to earn a doctorate through the military at no cost to you. There are several institutions operated by the government that were created for service members. Being admitted into a degree program is the hard part.

    A few examples...

    The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
    The Air Force Institute of Technology
    Naval Postgraduate School
     
  3. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    I have a Selected LtCol in the Army in my class. He is attending Capella University's Ph.D in Organization & Management for FREE. I am not sure if he is using the Post 9/11 GI Bill; however, he has mentioned that he does not pay anything out of his pocket except textbooks.

    I would recommend you to attend any school that takes only tuition assistance without touching your Post 9/11 GI Bill. You should save your GI Bill for your Doctorate. There are plenty of schools give active duty discount. For example, Liberty University charges Active Duty only $250.00 per credit for Graduate level. I earned my Bachelor from Troy University within 24 months while on active duty, and I spent only $2,000.00 from my pocket for textbooks.

    Another thing I would recommend you to stay away from Ashford University. I have nothing to against it except the guerrilla admission.
     
  4. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    Most of the service schools that provide free Masters and Doctoral level degrees are for officers. Like the National Defense University, Naval Postgraduate School, Naval War College, Air University, US Army War College, National Defense Intelligence College, and more . There are exceptions (which I'm sure you can be one of them) but more than likely enlisted are not going to these schools.

    I am not sure why the military would pay for your DBA. Perhaps they might see fit to get you a degree in Military History, Political Science, International Relations or even a STEM degree, but not a business degree. Most of the services have programs where an officer goes TDY to school to earn a Masters degree. I imagine that the number of people earning PhD's on our uncles dime are going to be high level folks that already have a ton of skills to offer and the government sees a long term investment in that person paying off.

    You going officer or staying enlisted? Staying Navy strong or crossing over to another branch? I saw that the Air Force is getting rid of 10,500 of its officers. I imagine the Navy will drawn down a bit too.

    Good luck to you.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 24, 2011
  5. major56

    major56 Active Member

    The U.S. Army War College does not offer doctorial degrees, but do offer the Master of Strategic Studies Degree.

    The National Defense Intelligence College (DIA) highest degree offering is the Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence.

    The Naval War College degree offering is Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

    The Air University has been working with Congress for approval to offer the doctorate of philosophy in strategic studies; I’m unsure whether or not the PhD is yet available.

    National defense University: Masters level only

    U.S. Army Command & General Staff College: Master of Military Arts and Science (MMAS).

    Naval Postgraduate School: Masters (several), PhD and EngD /DEng
    :usa:
     
  6. major56

    major56 Active Member

    Marine Corps University (Quantico, VA):

    Marine Corps Command and Staff College: Master of Military Studies
    Marine Corps War College: Master of Strategic Studies
    School of Advanced Warfighting: Master of Operational Studies
    School of MAGTF Logistics: MBA in partnership with Syracuse University
     
  7. ITJD

    ITJD Active Member

    I love these school names.

    Makes me want to start up a school called "Kick Yo Ass University School of Curb Stomping"

    Of course we'd only offer culinary courses.
     
  8. bpreachers

    bpreachers New Member

    I plan to pick up a commissioning in the Navy as either a Health Care Administration Officer or an Administrative/Human Resources Officer. This is in my 6 year plan so not too soon but it is coming. That is why I am completing my undergrad and grad now so that I have those accomplished to pad out my application.
     
  9. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    I'm pretty sure the Army paid for General Petraeus' PhD from Princeton, but in exchange he had to commit to serve additional years. Also, some DoD agencies have sabbatical programs, but they are very hard to get in the current budget climate.
     
  10. CornCod

    CornCod Member

    I read somewhere that every senior member of Patraeus' staff when he was commander in Iraq had a doctoral degree of some kind.
     
  11. major56

    major56 Active Member

    From The Seattle Times
    "Petraeus' guys"

    “Members of the staff assembled by Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, who takes command of U.S. forces in Iraq today:

    Col. Michael Meese, a Princeton PhD economist and son of former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese, will coordinate security and reconstruction efforts.

    Lt. Col. David Kilcullen, an Australian army officer with a Ph.D. in anthropology who studied Islamic extremism in Indonesia, will be chief adviser on counterinsurgency operations

    Col. Peter Mansoor, who received a Ph.D. at Ohio State for a dissertation on how Army infantry divisions were developed during World War II, will be Petraeus' executive officer in Baghdad.

    Col. H.R. McMaster's 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in northwestern Iraq provided one of the few bright spots for the U.S. military in Iraq by taking back the city of Tall Afar from an insurgent group.

    Lt. Col. Douglas Ollivant, who holds a political-science Ph.D. on Thomas Jefferson, caught Petraeus' attention with an essay scorning the U.S. military's reliance on big "forward operating bases" in Iraq.

    Ahmed Hashim, who holds a Ph.D. from MIT and teaches at the Naval War College, wrote a book criticizing the U.S. military operation in Iraq and advocated partitioning the country along ethnic and sectarian lines.”

    The Washington Post
    Nation & World | Petraeus' Iraq staff armed with lots of Ph.D.s | Seattle Times Newspaper
     
  12. peejcj8

    peejcj8 New Member

    General Petraeus entered into a program that sent him to earn his PHD in exchange for teaching at West point. Different services do different programs at different times. I believe the navy is trying out allowing officers to go get their PHD and then become life long professors at NA, as opposed to having most of the PHD's being Civ and getting further instruction from Naval officers who are doing a tour and might have only a masters.
     
  13. Dr.Tim

    Dr.Tim New Member

    Joining with an existing Doctorate, prior USAF service, and being a SDV

    This thread appears to be what I am interested in for a future examination.

    Specifically, I had 7 years prior-service as a USAF junior enlisted member and an Associates and Bachelor Degree.

    I left with an Honorary Discharge, gained 2 Masters degrees and a Doctorate in Management, focusing on Organizational Development & Change.
    All of my degrees are from accredited universities.
    I was re-evaluated as a 60% service-disabled veteran (although I am fully mobile) and all of the physical illnesses I have are fully controllable with medication.
    I am also nearly 45 years old.

    As you can see, there are solid pros and cons to the consideration of rejoining, with my prior service, multiple degrees, and expanded knowledge.

    I was third-generation military here in the US, and would be more than willing to try and rejoin as a Doctor if possible, specifically focusing on Management improvement techniques, but haven't found much information on the feasibility of this idea (good or bad).

    Anyone have any ideas or resources I can check to examine the existing policies? Thanks.
     
  14. instant000

    instant000 Member

    This is not an official source, so you would want to check at the websites of the respective services:
    Military Entrance Requirements - Today's Military

    Usually, they allow you to subtract time already served from your current age.
    So, 45 - 7 = 38.

    These are the ones that you appear to qualify for, at first glance.
    Air Force Guard - 39
    Coast Guard Reserve - 39
    Navy Reserve - 39
    Army Reserve - 41
    Army Active Duty - 41

    I've ordered these by personal preference. Having served in the Army, and having worked alongside most of these others. The only one that I haven't really worked around is the Coast Guard.

    I hope that this information helps you.

    I really don't have a good idea on what to tell you about the disability, as I'm not sure on the medical entrance requirements, and/or how willing they are to give waivers.

    Have you considered working as a civilian alongside the military? That might be a more appropriate role for you.

    Do you mean medical doctor?

    Considering that you've done Air Force, the only way you should do anything with the Army is if you work with the medical field, as they're the most laid back part I've encountered yet. Oh wait, all of the medical support is falling under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) now. (How could I forget that, considering that I work in DHA?!)

    Look for gigs with the Defense Health Agency (DHA).

    Hope this helps!
     
  15. Delta

    Delta Active Member


    I heard some branches were offering age waivers for certain high demand professions like Physician, Nurse, Dentist, Nurse Practitioner, other health fields, etc. I heard there was a program in the US Army that offered a two year active duty stint as long as one was less than age 60.
     
  16. Delta

    Delta Active Member

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  17. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    There are always exceptions. In this extremely rare case a very fit 61 year old with no prior service came in as a doctor with a waiver from President Bush. A Family's Valor, a Nation's Freedom - WSJ.com

    However, simply having a doctorate in management is not likely going to result in them taking you back in (there are occasionally enlisted people with Phds). The person posting above is correct that with an age waiver and waivers for whatever medical conditions you have it is theoretically possible for you to get back in as an enlisted person. It is unlikely unless you are a nurse or med doctor that they will make you an officer. If you were an officer I suppose you might get back in as an officer but I have also known of a case where a former officer became enlisted to get back in.

    One of the additional disadvantages you have is that this is not ten years ago when the military was desperate for recruits. It is much more difficult to get in, to get the MOS you want if you do get it and if you are in to stay in (they are downsizing). Even in better health you are not a hot commodity to active duty. You might try Reserve and National Guard or some other type of service (e.g. State Defense Force) that is similar and will be rewarding.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 8, 2014
  18. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    With a few exceptions based in the law, the age limit for commissioning is 35. No waivers. No exceptions. (Again, a few are outlined in the law, like nursing and medicine.)

    Enlistment age is capped at 27.

    The Reserve and Guard are the same.

    But don't take advice from this thread. Go ask.
     
  19. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    Too true! The reason is that things frequently change. As I mentioned above, we are in a draw down stage of the military and they do not need people again. Things are getting tougher. Even enlisting as a private for the MOS you want is not as easy as it was 20 years ago. The young High School graduate is not the same hot commodity. In some cases they will simply tell you what MOS you get (no bargaining). Prior service are generally at a huge disadvantage these days. These facts have changed things even once you are inside (easier to get put out for a variety of reasons, less catering to you, etc). But it all cycles.
     

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