Staff sergeants and above have an opportunity to earn a degree on the Marine Corps’ dime.
Manpower officials recently released details of the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Degree Completion Program, this year’s bachelor’s degree program which helps leaders fill critical enlisted billets that require a high education by granting staff noncommissioned officers time to attend school.
The program gives Staff Noncomissioned Officer Degree Completion Program provides staff sergeants through master sergeants up to 18 months to attend school so they can fill billets that require a baccalaureate degrees, according to ” reads Marine administrative message 179/15, signed April 3. Staff NCOs In addition to meeting rank requirements, Marines must already have an associate’s degree or two years of study towards a bachelor’s completed and have the potential to become a sergeant major or master gunnery sergeant to qualify, according to Marine Corps Order 1560.21 E, which details the program.
The number of billets and fields of study Exactly how many billets are eligible and in which fields varyies year to year. This year’s 17 eligible fields of study include but under the fiscal 2015 program there are 17 educational fields of study open, openings in fields including safety, psychology, accounting, education, paralegal and music.
Marines must pay for their tuition and all associated expenses, but they can used the GI Bill to offset costs. The and the program does frees staff NCOs them from regular duties to focus singularly on their studies. Marines who are selected will attend an undergraduate institution full time and continuously — that includes summer sessions — to complete their degree as quickly as possible.
In return, Marines must serve four additional years, three of which must be in the specific billet they were educated to fill. Consequently, Marines filling those billets will be ineligible to apply for warrant officer or regular officer programs during their incurred obligation.
Ineligible Marines include those who are attending a formal military school and have already completed 20 weeks or more of study, those who are currently serving on a special duty assignment, and those receiving or who are eligible to receive a selective reenlistment bonus since those are targeted to occupations with existing manning shortages.
Marines must also have at least three years time-on-station, or two years and be accepted to a local school near their parent command. Marines who are serving overseas are eligible, but they must complete their current assignment before attending a college or university in the continental U.S.nited States.
Applications for the program must be received no later than May 15. The board will convene in June.
Billets eligible for the program include: [[[[chart sent to graphics department]]]]
