How to earn degree while in Navy?

Me too - I thought the test was for dummies but the recruiter said that fully half of the classroom only qualfied for Boiler Techs. They didn't offer me any bonus. I guess in 1979, I didn't rate

I surmise it was because of the area - Clay Street AFFEE's in Oakland. Not a very good area.




Hey - is the B&F #5 still set up to look like the Cheers Bar?:

 

"First of all, I never wrote that your son had a bad ASVAB score. But why not practice and score even higher? (LOL-my high school teachers told me that I could only take the SAT once, and that there was no way to prepare for the SAT!) My experience with recruiters has been that the personnel at the MEPS center, like the classifiers, are the ones with the knowledge."

I've been recruiting much longer then any classifier so I can assure you none of them have more knowledge then a Chief Navy Counselor (Career Recruiter Force). The only thing the classifier has that I don't have in my office is the computer that connects to pride (our job bank) to tell me what jobs are available at what time. It only takes me a phone call to get this information. Regardless, it's not my job to discuss Navy jobs with applicants. I discuss the opportunities that the Navy has and help them with the enlistment process. The classifier matches jobs to their qualifications and interests.

"Mr. Recruiter, have you seen this young man's ASVAB scores? Are you sure that he will qualify for ANY area?"

The only job he may not qualify for is the Navy Nuclear Power Program (unless he has medical or civil issues that may disqualify him from other jobs). It takes a 75 AFQT on the ASVAB to qualify to sit for the advance placement test to determine this. However, most people above an 85 AFQT are automatically qualified for this job. There is much better things this young man can do with his time then buy ASVAB study guides to try and improve his score when he's already qualified for everything he wants to do (join the Navy and be a linguist).

"Also, the personal attack on me comes from a recruiter. LOL! Is this because the US Air Force was mentioned?"

Personal attack? If you consider my recommending he not listen to your misinformed advice on retaking the ASVAB a personal attack then so be it. I would be happy to have him serve beside me in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, what you think the Air Force has to do with it confuses me. His father said he is interested in being an enlisted man in the Navy that seems to bother you, not me.

"Furthermore, I do have military (No, I never served in the US Navy) and law enforcement experience, and my father served in the US Navy during and after WWII."

You make my point for me. This is why he should take advice about life in the Navy, from people who have never been in the Navy, with a grain of salt. Feel free to share your experiences about your service with him but leave Navy life to those of us that have served in the Navy.

"What's the matter with trying to help someone and give someone other options?"

Nothing at all, his father appreciates it I'm sure. Just as I was doing by advising him to not waste his time studying and retaking the ASVAB when he's more then qualified for what he wants to do.

"Why be critical of me when I am only sincerely trying to help someone?"

You fail to see the distinction...I was being critical of your advice on retaking the ASVAB. It had nothing to do with you as a person.

"Why does Barnes and Noble sell ASVAB study guides then? Why are there 1 year preparatory schools for the US Military Academies then?"

To help people score higher that need to score higher. He doesn't need a higher score. It's an aptitude test, not a badge of honor he will wear for the rest of his life. His test shows he has an aptitude for the things he is interested in (plus a whole lot more) so telling him to waste time and money studying and retaking the test is poor advice. I'd rather see him join the Navy and spend his time studying to prepare for Recruit Training.

"Here we have the opportunity to offer advice to a young 19 year old man. He can take any advice or leave it. Advice is coming from different areas and ages. But why must we criticise others who are only sincerely trying to help someone?"

I'm not criticizing you, just your advice on retaking the ASVAB.

"Mr. Recruiter, I do not know this young man who is considering enlisting. Maybe he is in great shape and can easily go without sleep and loves getting up early in the morning. Or, and no offence intended, maybe he likes sleeping late, is overweight, and likes playing computer games? Maybe he is a really polite and super young man? Who knows? Only the original poster here. At any rate, what is the matter with advising the young man to wait, and examine the situation carefully?"

He's 19, he's been waiting. Seems to me he's tried other things and found they were not what he was looking for at that time. Sitting around analyzing things isn't going to move him forward. Setting goals and taking positive steps forward towards those goals is going to get him places in life. I deal with kids every day that are right out of high school, not going to college for one reason or another, out of work and sitting at home "examining the situation carefully" thinking some big opportunity is going to knock on their door. Life doesn't work like that. People have to seek out opportunity and make commitments and follow through on those commitments to achieve what they want in life.

"Maybe the young man will change his mind and want to be a pharmacist's mate so that he can later go to medical school in the Ukraine? Who knows?"

So you would have him sit around until he is 100% sure he doesn't want to be a "pharmacist's mate" (no such thing in the Navy by the way) and doesn't want to go to medical school in the Ukraine? I'm 36 years old and been in the Navy for 18 years and I'm still not sure I don't want to go to medical school in the Ukraine. Spending four years in any branch of the service getting some training, education, life experiences is not going to stop him from going to medical school someday if he so desires.

"Mr. Recruiter, I never wrote that this young man's decision was a bad choice, or that he was un-American (whatever that means)."

Who said you did? It surely wasn't me.

"My personal experience and opinion, is that I would take recommendations from a recruiter with a grain of salt, and I would tend to consider more objective opinions."

His joining the Navy doesn't affect me in any way so why you think I wouldn't be objective is beyond me. However, I'm sure my 18 years of service in the Navy does qualify me to be able answer any questions a concerned father or son may have about Navy life.

"Perhaps your son can talk with some enlisted sailors (that are not recruiters) for their thoughts. Perhaps your son can speak with some naval officers as well."

I'd be happy to arrange this for him.

"If we do not share knowledge and experience with a 19 year old man, but rather keep secrets, what is the good of "education" in this society?"

You lost me on this one, maybe you can share which secret you're referring too?

As I said before, I'd be happy to help in any way I can.

 

The ASVAB score is high enough and there really is no reason to pursue a higher score--I scored an 89 and qualified for everything out there, I did speak to the Navy who was attempting to convince me to go Nuke, I sat for some math test at MEPS. I also spoke to the Marines, was interested in their special duties, e.g. Embassy, Sea, or Presidential but decided not to (did not want Sea Duty, lol, nor did I go any further with the Navy) I did not speak too much with the Air Force, though they did tell I qualified for all of their jobs and if I picked any three they would garuantee one of them. I went Army, combat arms (Cavalry Scout)--I retire in 4 yrs and 4 mos., I have managed my to pursue an education and will start an MBA program this Jan. 05, so time and distance can be overcome, regardless of the service you join. I have enjoyed my service and leading my troops, from the borders of Germany to Iraq. All I would recommend go after the best job you can get, one that is in demand in the civilian sector, then immediately begin your education--either in person or DL, as soon as you report to your first duty station. Or, if he likes combat arms--go for it, we need and have intelligent soldiers too, lol...

W Parker

 

As a parent, I obviously want him to learn a skill that is useful in the civilian world. I don't see how sitting on a nuclear sub could translate into a valuable skill on land. After touring some old WWII subs, I personally don't think I could handle living on a sub, but maybe he can. He has an interest in law enforcement and is now thinking of going to FBI or CIA post Navy. My son wants to excitement of travel, so I don't think he would mind going to sea. His computer skills are excellent, so he shouldn't have any trouble navigating online classes. I have taken online courses and like the flexibility they offer, but one has to be self-directed in order to succeed online.

 

Just wanted to add another Air Force reccomendation. I'm an E3 now. I've been in for a year and a half and I already have my associate'salthough I had no previous college before enlisting. That's thanks to my picking a career field(aircraft maintenance) that, through tech school alone, gave me 4 college credits. I've CLEP/DANTES/Excelsior tested for all of my other credits. I think the Air Force provides the maost opportunities for education if that what your son is after. Not only that, but in the Air Force, with the exception of a few career fields, your son will spend his entire time int he service on an Air Force Base. There is the ocasional TDY/deployment, but I think that being in the AF is the most stable education-friendly move.

 

How to earn a degree while in the Navy

The point about the USAF having an advantage for educational purposes is probably not as valid as it once was since a significant number of universities offer distance learning degrees from AA to PHD. All Sailors and Marines have e-mail addresses and access to computers regardless of duty station now. So, unless a person wants to be in class, he or she can take classes on ship, overseas, or in CONUS.

Furthermore, on the larger platform ships, the Navy takes instructors with them under the PACE program. So, even at sea, Sailors can have the more traditional type classes. Finally, the Navy has a sea and shore rotation plan that is about three years at sea and three years ashore for a large number of jobs. Some jobs have longer shore tours and shorter sea tours.

I enlisted in the Navy in June 1969 as an E-1 and advanced to Chief Petty Officer (E-7) in the Personnel field. I was then selected for a commission under the Limited Duty Officer Program without a college education and advanced to Lieutenant Commander (0-4) prior to retiring. While on active duty, I earned
a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management with the University of Maryland - University College while stationed in Stuttgart, Germany.

I just finished a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Management with the University of Phoenix via the online method.

One important consideration to factor in what service to join is upward mobility. The Navy and the Marine Corps has outstanding upward mobility programs. As far as I know, the Army and Air Force does not have a program that will allow you to obtain a commission without a college degree. Upward mobility is very important if a person is planning to make it a career.

Fred

 

The Army requires 90 SH and an acceptence and completion of OCS in order to be commisioned as an officer.

W Parker

 

I earned 2 of them while on active duty in 6 months....

I completed 2 degrees. one AAS in Electromechanical Technology, and another BS in General Business. Final GPAs were 4.00 and 3.68, respectively.

I am currently enrolled in a MS in Management @ Colorado Technical Univerisity http://www.ctuonline.edu


My website should be fully up in about another week or so. Many, MANY hours put into it and it's coming along quite nicely. It will outline exactly how I did it and how anyone can do it as well.