Military Education, military education, service programs, G.I. Bill - Military Times

Service programs —Marine Corps and Navy

Seaman to Admiral-21. The STA-21 commissioning program is designed to create a fair system for sailors to receive an undergraduate college education and become commissioned officers. Enlisted personnel must meet eligibility guidelines.

Those who are selected receive a maximum of 36 months of full-time, year-round study to complete a bachelor’s degree. Participants remain on active duty while attending college and receive an education voucher of up to $10,000 per year to cover tuition, fees and books. STA-21 participants also become members of the Navy ROTC unit at an NROTC institution and drill with NROTC midshipmen.

A limited number of participants will be chosen to attend the BOOST program, a three-to-six month individualized program to improve academic skills in reading, writing, math and science.

Contact: (850) 452-9563 or DSN 922-9563; https://www.sta-21.navy.mil

Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program. This program provides an opportunity for outstanding enlisted Marines on active duty to complete their college degree program and become officers. Eligible Marines must meet the following criteria:

å Hold the rank of corporal or above.

å Be at least 20 years old but not yet 26 by July 1 of the year applying.

å Be ranked in the top 50 percent of their high school graduating class, or pass the GED certificate test with a minimum score of 75 percent on each test.

å Have an SAT score of 1000 or above.

Those who are selected will attend 10 weeks of preparatory training in San Diego. Marines must pay tuition and other education costs and may use the GI Bill and other benefits, but not tuition assistance.

Students must agree to re-enlist or extend so they have at least six years of obligation left when they enter college. While in the program, Marines are promoted noncompetitively as soon as they become eligible for the next enlisted rank. Upon completing the program, commissioned officers are required to serve at least four years on active duty.

Marine Corps Lifelong Learning. This organization oversees the education centers and counselors, administration of tuition assistance, testing and all other voluntary education services for the Marine Corps.

The organization also is responsible for delivery of Voluntary Education Programs and services to the Marine Corps community, including counseling, tuition assistance, testing, apprenticeship, Sailor Marine American Registry Transcript, Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Marine Corps, Deployment Program, Military Academic Skills Program, Marine Corps Satellite Network, Department of Veterans Affairs programs and briefings on educational opportunities.

Marine Corps Staff Noncommissioned Officers Degree Completion Program. Selected personnel can earn bachelor’s degrees that fulfill Marine Corps requirements. Degrees may be obtained in accounting, safety, psychology, education, music or business management, with emphasis in accounting or financial management.

Eligibility is limited to Marines in the ranks of staff sergeant through master sergeant who have the potential for retention and promotion. Degrees must be obtained within 18 months by attending school full time year-round.

Applicants must agree to extend or re-enlist for four years beyond completion of the program. Marines receive regular pay and allowances during school, but they must pay for the courses.

Contact: (703) 784-9200; http://www .usmc.mil

National Apprenticeship Program/United Services Military Apprenticeship Program. In this program, enlisted members can apply their training and work experience toward a civilian journeyman certificate and achieve recognition equal to their civilian counterparts. Apprenticeships are available through the Labor Department in more than 100 trades.

Contact: https://usmap.cnet.navy.mil

Navy College Program. The Navy’s voluntary education program includes tuition assistance, NCP for Afloat College Education, Academic Skills Program, Navy College Learning Centers, NCP Distance Learning Partnership Schools and the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Navy.

The program helps sailors and Marines earn high school equivalency certificates, vocational or technical certificates, and associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Civilian counselors are located at installations worldwide. Also, sailors on nearly 300 ships have access to academic skills and college-level classes through NCPACE.

Contact: (877) 253-7122 or DSN 922-1828; https://www.navycollege.navy.mil

Navy College Center. NCC is the Navy College Program’s central location for responding to inquiries about off-duty voluntary education programs and services. It also has information about the Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript program.

Contact: (877) 253-7122 or DSN 922-1828; https://www.navycollege.navy.mil

Navy College Program for Afloat College Education. This shipboard program offers undergraduate college courses and basic academic skills to sailors and ship’s company Marines. Accredited college courses are delivered via an instructor who sails with the ship or distance learning via computer.

Contact: https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/ncp/pace.html

Navy College Learning Centers. At select bases around the world, Navy College Learning Centers provide free computer-based instruction in subjects such as English, math and reading. Adult family members are eligible to participate on a space-available basis.

Other subjects include algebra, calculus, geometry, trigonometry, chemistry, physics, sciences, social studies, life and job skills and parenting skills. Preparation for the ASVAB, GED, SAT and CLEP exams also are available.

For service members assigned to a sea-duty command, instruction is available through NCPACE (above).

Contact: https://www.navycollege.navy .mil/ncp/as6.html