Pacific Western University & becoming a commissioned officer

While it is true that most senior Air Force Captains (O-3) do have advanced degrees, it is officially a non-player during the promotion process to Major (O-4). At the Major's Promotion Board, whether or not an officer has an advanced degree is masked to all board members and thus cannot be used to make a promotion decision. For promotion to Lt Col it is a different story since the data is then unmasked and you would be hard pressed to see someone get promoted who doesn't have an advanced degree and also some form of Intermediate Development Education (formerly known as Intermediate Service School).

 

Masking of advanced degrees is a pretty recent thing. It wasn't in place when I was on active duty (until I retired in 1996). Intermediate service school was masked, but not master's degrees. In fact, I see where 1996 was the first board where advanced degrees were masked. This might have an effect on captains pursuing advanced degrees as time goes by.

 

My wife spent twenty years 'haze gray and underway', retiring in 2000 as a HMC (SW). She did her BSc while on active duty and finished her MHA after retiring, all primarily via DL. She knew many enlisted sailors with undergrad and grad degrees, but in the Medical, Nursing and Medical Service Corps, she could not think of any commissioned officers that she knew without an undergrad degree.

Regards,

Michael Lloyd
Mill Creek, Washington USA

 

Milotach, looks this Graduates from Pacific Western University in university circles.

Also see this, Pacific Western University is incorporated in Hawaii and is recognized and commended by the Hawaii Senate and the Hawaii House of Representatives. http://www.pwu.com/home.asp?ID=8


John Nielsen, Program Coordinator, Grand Rapids
A.B., Calvin College
M.S.W., University of Michigan
Ph.D., Pacific Western University http://www.wmich.edu/hhs/Facultydirectory/social_work.html

Bill Fenn, Professor
B. S. P. A., University of Oklahoma
B. S. B. A., SUNY
M. M., Aquinas College
Ph.D., Pacific Western University http://www.wmich.edu/hhs/Facultydirectory/pa.html

Yair Ingber, Ph.D.
Pacific Western University http://copace.clarku.edu/programs/is-faculty.htm

Uri Patt, Ph.D.
Pacific Western University http://copace.clarku.edu/programs/is-faculty.htm

David Hergert
Ph.D. - Pacific Western University http://www.sas.muohio.edu/ent/BOOK/hergert.html

Terry de forrest Ph.D. Pacific Western University
http://www.cos.edu/view_page.asp?nodeid=3090&parentid=3065&moduleid=1

Salvatore J. Mazzullo , Professor (PhD 1974, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; DSc, Pacific Western University http://webs.wichita.edu/geology/people/faculty/

ANTHONY F. MULLEN, Ph.D.
Ph.D., Pacific Western University
M.S., Elmira College http://www.jonesinternational.edu/aboutJIU/faculty/profile.php?profile=208.12&pg=fctyteach&pt=

DR. JOHN P. KAESS
B.A., College of St. Thomas
M.A., University of Minnesota
Ph.D., Pacific Western University http://www.smac.edu/?ColFaculty

Barry Leahy, Part-time Lecturer, Ph.D. in Business Administration, Pacific Western University; Real Estate and Residential Project Development. http://depts.washington.edu/cmweb/faculty/


Shashi N. Sharma, Adjunct Professor, Statistics, Ph.D., Pacific Western University
http://www.sc.edu/bulletin/archives/2002-2003/Beaufort/admin.html

Jaime Costales Peñaherrera: Ph.D., Transpersonal Psychology, Pacific Western University. http://www.bu.edu/abroad/cities/quito_lla/faculty.html

Dr. Ernest E. Moyers
• Ph.D. Computer Engineering, Pacific Western University, 1989
• Ph.D. Mathematics, Rice University, 1965
• M.S. Applied Mathematics, University of Mississippi, 1960
• B.S. Mathematics ,University of Mississippi, 1957 http://www.aamu.edu/ComputerScience/csd_webpage/faculty_ft/moyers_ernest.htm

Gary F. Flanigan, Ph.D., Pacific Western University (Communications)
Adjunct Instructor http://www.cau.edu/acad_prog/mass_media/media_faculty_right.html

BERSTON, HYMAN MAXWELL
A.A., City College of San Francisco; B.S., University of California, Berkeley; M.B.A., San Francisco State University; Ph.D., Pacific Western University http://www.ccsf.edu/Catalog/FacAdj/

Judith M. Hearmann, M.A., Pacific Western University, 1994. http://www.drury.edu/multinl/story.cfm?id=1305&nlid=86

Paul Medhurst MS : Pacific Western University http://www.apus.edu/AMU/navigation/academic_programs/faculty/gprofessors.asp
Professor Hugo G. Gemignani Ph.D., Pacific Western University, http://ola4.aacc.edu/hggemignani/

Keith W. KrasemannEducation:
Ph.D. Comparative Philosophy, Pacific Western University
Ed.D. Adult Education, Northern Illinois University
M.A. Applied Professional Studies, DePaul University M.A. Philosophy, Northern Illinois University
B.S. Philosophy, University of Wisconsin

Beijing University, Chinese History and Culture
http://www.cod.edu/dept/lart/krasemann.htm
Edwardine Weaver, RSM Ed.D., Pacific Western University (education) http://www.rochester.edu/Warner/faculty/weaver.html

Paul Bell, Ph.D http://www.eni.edu/atlarge.faculty.bell.html

CHARLES L. MADER Dr. Mader received his Ph.D. from Pacific Western University. http://www4.nas.edu/webcr.nsf/CommitteeDisplay/ARLT-L-97-90-G?OpenDocument

MOHAMED ALI ABUKAR, Ph.D http://www.aste.usu.edu/Dr.%20Abukar/DrAbukar.html

Jeena Whang Piccuta http://www.continuing-ed.calpoly.edu/osher/arts.html

LAWRENCE, RICHARD, PhD, JD PhD in Business Law and Education at Pacific Western University
Acting DEAN http://www.irvineuniversity.edu/coa/coa_fac.asp

John H. Seffel
Ph.D. (Pacific Western University) http://www.uiw.edu/ugcat0305/08.html

Dr. David R. Bishop Ph.D. Pacific Western University http://dco-proxima.dco.pima.edu/curonline/faculty/facultylist.htm
Moyers, ErnestDegrees Earned:
Ph.D. in Engineering from Pacific Western University, 1988
Ph.D. in Math from Rice University, 1989 http://www.aamu.edu/oipre/FacultyProfile/faculty_profile.asp?ID=28

Caroline Mosessian , Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Administrative Officer http://www.usc.edu/schools/medicine/util/directories/faculty/profile.php?PersonIs_ID=819

Timothy McNamara Ph.D. in mathematics education from Pacific Western University http://www.monroecc.edu/etsdbs/PubAff.nsf/0/8b85bcdc477759e085256ac0006cf6d1?OpenDocument

Robert F. Moran PH. D. Health Sciences Management, Pacific Western University, 1989. http://www.wit.edu/Academics/AMS/sciencefaculty/Moran.html

In addition, the list continues

PhD Pacific Western University (Criminal Justice)
MA Caribbean University (Criminal Justice)
BA American University of Puerto Rico (Criminal Justice)
Certificate University College of Criminal Justice
Certificate Universidad Metropolitana (Paralegal Investigator)

 

[q] Originally posted by Michael Lloyd
My wife spent twenty years 'haze gray and underway', retiring in 2000 as a HMC (SW). She did her BSc while on active duty and finished her MHA after retiring, all primarily via DL. She knew many enlisted sailors with undergrad and grad degrees, but in the Medical, Nursing and Medical Service Corps, she could not think of any commissioned officers that she knew without an undergrad degree.

The Navy used to have a Physician Assistant Warrant Officer program. I don't know when the program was discontinued. Late eighties or mid nineties?

If I remember correctly, no degree was required or awarded upon completion of the program. However, the school was long and intense. I'm not near my ACE guide, but I believe the credit recommendation was substantial for the PA school.

The PA program was also unique in that Petty Officers Second Class (E-5) were eligible to apply. In most (all?) other cases (since I have been on active duty) applicants have had to be Chief Petty Officers (E-7) or above for the Warrant Officer Program.

 

I just asked my wife about this, and she could not recall any Warrant Officer PA program in the Navy back during her time. All of the PAs she knew were commissioned and already had a PA certificate upon entry into the Navy.

She did, however, go to IDC school (Independent Duty Corpsman). You had to be an E-5 with at least ten years in to apply. It was a one year long school with a very competitive entry and high flunk rate, held in San Diego, and I think you were almost automatically promoted to E-6 upon completion. Her first IDC duty station was at San Nicholas OLF, where she also made chief near the end of her tour two years later.

The IDC school is essentially a PA program with the exception of units covering pediatrics and geriatrics. The George Washington University in DC has a IDC-to-PA program whereby you take 45 additional credits or so, and graduate with a BS in health administration and a PA certificate, qualifying one to take the PA-C exam.

So I wonder if you are actually thinking about IDC school, which still exists. Another possible source of confusion is when the PA profession first started back in the late 60's, it was designed almost solely to give additional training to military medics, corpsmen and IDCs. For many years, it used to be that every PA you encountered had a military background. Now, most PA programs have moved away from their former military roots, and most of the students have nursing or other healthcare backgrounds.

 

Late edit to my message above: PA's were commissioned into the Medical Service Corps as were other allied health providers, such as dietiticians, podiatrists, audiologists, psychologists and the like.

 

When the national television program American Journal did a segment on Pacific Western in the early '90s, they

1. Got a Master's degree for one of their staff members, under cover, in less than ten days,

2. Showed pictures of an empty room in Hawaii, which was the campus address, and

3. Interviewed an Army General in Washington, who was all sweetness and light until they started asking him about his Pacific Western doctorate, whereupon he became very angry, put his hand over the camera lens (interview programs *love* this sort of thing) and threw them out of his office.

When my posthumous edition comes out, there may be more to say, possibly including a link to
www.epc.buffalo.edu/ezines/deluxe/six/104gate.pdf
of all things.

 

Hi Michael,

I actually assisted a few Corpsmen prepare their applications for the Warrant PA program. Here's a story apparently the Navy PAs will be celebrating their 30th anniversary this July.


"HEADLINE: Navy Physician Assistants Celebrate 20 Years
BUMED Washington (NSMN) -- On 31 July 1974, eight hospital
corpsmen completed two years of training and were promoted to
warrant officers, becoming the first Physician Assistants in the
Navy.
Over the past 20 years, the program has had a very stormy
course, testified to by its cancellation on three separate
occasions. But it survived. And, on 1 September 1989, PAs found
a new home in the medical service corps.
Although no longer counted among the Navy's nearly 200 PAs,
one of the original eight physician assistant warrant officers is
still a certified PA and on active duty: optometrist LCDR Robert
Aitken, MSC, officer in charge of Navy Branch Medical Clinic
Charleston, SC.
Happy 20th Physician Assistants"

http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/mednews/med94/med94028.txt

 

Ah, so I see that although there was a warrant program back in the 70's, it was no longer active when my wife was on duty. Interesting.

 

Pacific Western University and becoming a commissioned officer

In the Navy and Marine Corps, enlisted personnel can be selected to Warrant Officer, and the Limited Duty Officer (LDO) Programs without a bachelor degree. Furthermore, as an LDO, they can advance to paygrade 0-6 without a degree.

I was commissioned under the Navy's LDO program in 1980 and advanced to Lieutenant Commander (0-4) without a high school diploma.

While an advanced degee might improve the chances for selection and promotion, it is not required.


All the best,

Fred

 

Charles:

Also interesting about the old Warrant PA program in the Navy is that, until about 1978 or so, they were the ONLY warrant officers appointed in the W-1 pay grade, meaning that they were NOT commissioned officers. Instead of a commission from the President, they received a warrant from the Secretary of the Navy. That's why their cap device was just crossed anchors without the eagle and shield.

Upon promotion to CWO-2 (Chief Warrant Officer) they received a commission.

All other original warrant appointments were to CWO-2 or CWO-3, commissioned grades.

I just went through my military physical; a Captain, U.S. Army, did the honors. He was a PA, not an MD.

 

I just checked, and there currently exists an Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) located at the Army's Medical Department School at Fort Sam Houston.

Interestingly enough, the entry requirements can vary a bit according to the branch of service. In some branches, enlisted only (Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard) can apply. In the Army, enlisted, warrant or commissioned can apply. Again, seemingly dependent upon which branch of service you are in, the student ends up with either a bachelors or a masters from the University of Nebraska.

The IPAP admits 60 students at a time for a total of 180 students per year. The program takes two years, you receive your usual pay, and you incur a four year service obligation upon completing the course. In the Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard, you are commissioned an O-1 upon completion, Army enlisted is commissioned an O-1, and I am not certain what happens to Army warrants or commissioned officers.

http://www.hood-meddac.army.mil/default.asp?page=pat&vi=n&mnu=3

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-w/g-wk/wkh/pa/

http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/ipap/program/program.htm

are some websites explaining the program.