Stay Enlisted or go Officer?

[JanusthePhoenix]

seems good, too bad i'm not in the navy. i'm AF, so i'm wondering what is sta-21?

https://www.sta-21.navy.mil/

Basically, if you're a sh!t hot sailor who can complete a degree in 3 years, the Navy will pay all your tuition and pay you E-5 BAH for you to go get your degree and get commissioned for like 6 years I think. It is a good deal, but really competitive and kind of fixed like I said.

[CLEP101]

https://www.sta-21.navy.mil/

Basically, if you're a sh!t hot sailor who can complete a degree in 3 years, the Navy will pay all your tuition and pay you E-5 BAH for you to go get your degree and get commissioned for like 6 years I think. It is a good deal, but really competitive and kind of fixed like I said.

This Navy program sounds like the Army's "Green to Gold" program, where we can apply and the Army will pay you E5 pay to include BAH to complete your degree and come back as an Officer. I might be off on the details.

GoArmy.com > Army ROTC > Enlisted Soldiers

[jaer57]

This Navy program sounds like the Army's "Green to Gold" program, where we can apply and the Army will pay you E5 pay to include BAH to complete your degree and come back as an Officer. I might be off on the details.

GoArmy.com > Army ROTC > Enlisted Soldiers

And the Marine Corps' MECEP program - same deal:

https://www.marines.usmc.mil/G3/Officer/...rement.htm

[notaseal]

I think its a good program I am going to route a request just for the hell of it. Worse they can say is no. I will also have my commanding officer recomendation. Were buddies =p not really.. but he goes out of his way to tell me I am doing a great job.

[Munkin]

Well since I am a Army NCO Corp demoted from SSG(P) to 2LT thru OCS I will give my opinion.

First thing to note is that you still have to serve 10 years as an officer to retire as one. If you would do say 8 and make MAJ you would still retire as a MSG.

Second OCS sucks!!! It is like basic, PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC all wrapped into one and they treat you like 1st week basic through most of the course. Many senior NCO's quit OCS because they do not want to be treated like that again? I had serious trouble with that myself! But hey that is how the Army conducts a school to train a Officer in a short period of time. If you go to OCS do not expect to be in charge because you know what is going on? My 1st day of OCS the guy they made Co comander had 9 weeks service time.

Another option you should check into because of your degree is the Public Health Service. They are a unarmed service but follow the same retirement/pay as the military. They are strictly direct commissioned officers, use the Navy rank structure ans as far as I know strictly CONUS. I am looking into this myself as an option?

[LordRayner82]

notaseal,

I wouldn't buy into the whole "fixed" bit for sta 21, I think that is a load of bull. I do agree that as a branch, someone has a better chance of being selected who is closer to their degree completion (personally I would say between 1 and 2 yrs banged out) I don't know how much you know about the program, but keep in mind you have to attach to a NROTC unit and will not do the summer cruises like the other midshipmen. The only reason paygrade may play a role is due to sustained performance (if you haven't heard that yet, big Navy cares a big deal about it) not to mention proving that you are a proven investment (many junior Sailors seem to find trouble easier then saltier senior ones). If you haven't yet, def get your stuff together for fy 10 boards, get your pins if your at a command that can get them (both if on a cvn) and hopefully your evals are great. It is an uphill battle without a doubt, but with the drive I am sure you could get picked up if not fy 10, maybe fy 11 with the added experience and hopefully rank. If you want to see some stats on those selected for fy 09 and those applying for fy 10, check out Airwarriors.com. Keep in mind it is primarily an aviation website, but it has a lot of good gouge. If you have any questions, just shoot me a PM, Good luck.