Vent and military question.
SS has been in military almost a year now. He is coming for a visit in a few weeks. I am totally freaked out about it. I don’t want to deal with him or BM!! It has been a glorious year except for him being here at Christmas! lol
VENT…last night DH is bragging on SS as usual. He told me and some friends that SS already almost has an associates degree from being in the military. Is this even possible? I know he has been taking some electrical and communication courses, but can he really already have that type of degree this quick?
DH also said that once SS gets his degree in a few months, he will be able to star officer training.
I call BS on both of these stories. Any military know if this is correct? Can he really have an associate degree from going to military school. (not college). And can he really train to be an officer this quick?
FML…these types of “stories” will be very abundant for the next few weeks until SS gets here.
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Hmmm...I would call BS on the
Hmmm...I would call BS on the officer training since he has only been in for 1 year. My DH is a Tech Sgt in the Air Force and he has his Associates Degree but he was in for about 6 years before he completed it. I don't think your SS could have completed the Associates with only being in for 1 year. My DH cleped (never took course just the test for the class) and passed all of them. Is your SS really smart??
Also, my DH had a graduation ceremony for his Associates, so if and when he does complete it, he will have a graduation.
Hope this helps!!
The associates thing is
The associates thing is possible, depending on his courses. A lot of universities that cater to the military will offer a crapton of credits for military training. Thing is, these are mostly crap type universities, mostly online only types. Diploma mills, if you will. Legitimate colleges, like an Ohio State, UNC, Florida State, etc are not going to give crazy credits for military training. Maybe a few here and there, but nothing like 60 credits worth.
As far as the officer type training, I know in the Marines there were several officer programs, but none of them involved you getting your associates and automatically being enrolled. All the programs were HIGHLY competitive and you had to apply for them and be accepted.
With all this shit though, why waste time worrying and refuting it? Just nod, smile, and say,"Wow, that's nice" and move on.
Is your SS in the Army? If
Is your SS in the Army? If so, he could be trying for the Green to Gold program.
Link for the program: http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/enlisted-soldiers.html
The almost having an
The almost having an associates is possible *if* he chooses a school that counts his military experience as credits. In this case, he would have to pay that school a fee to evaluate his experience and transfer it into credits, then he would actually have to enroll in and attend that school to get the final degree. ANd DeeDeeTX is correct that these colleges are diploma mills; many aren't even accredited.
The being able to be an officer w/ an associates, though, is complete BS. When that military was really hurting for recruits, the army (no other branch) would allow you to become an officer if you had at least 90 credits, but even then they only allowed you 2 years to get your degree or they stripped you of your commission and you began all over again as either an E4 or an E5. They no longer offer this option, but they are now instead watching your every move with baited breath waiting for you to screw up so they can kick you out.
Now, if he is army, he can drop a "green to gold" packet once he gets his associates degree. They will put on a strange type of status where he is still considered army, but he doesn't report to duty everyday or anything like that. He won't get any type of normal pay, but will get bah at the E5 w/o dependants rate. He will have 2 years to complete his BA/BS. If he does, the army will cover the cost of his college. If he doesn't, they won't, and he picks up right where he left off. B/c so many people end up flunking out on the green to gold program, it's pretty difficult to get it approved. Putting a G2G packet together can take well over a year. Once he gets his BA/BS, he will still be required to attend and graduate OCS before he is allowed to be an officer.
Any other branch, though, no clue.
And even IF he was wanting to
And even IF he was wanting to go to Officer Training School, well honey, there's a selection process for ENLISTED PERSONNEL. I went through it and it was so long that i just stayed enlisted. YOU have to get commander's recommendations, you have to have that Bachelor's degree, and you have to have your package SELECTED.
The selection boards happen once a year in the Air Force, and it's around approximately about a 34 to 38% selection rate from the candidates.
Replace "Bachelor's" w/ "Associate's" and "34 to 38%" with about 10%, and this is what your SS would have to do to get picked up for G2G in the army.
That % rate for the USAF
That % rate for the USAF sounds high to me. 38% selection rate from enlisted to OTS? That is higher than some promotion rate years. I would have to check on that, I think it would be much lower. I know the USAF has already met recruiting goals for the year. And with "force shaping" (reductions) that the AF has done along with changing HYT for Officers I cannot imagine them taking 38% of applicants for OTS.
My son's soccer coach (E-6) got picked up for OTS on his second attempt and he had a GO endorsement on his package. That was the only way he got picked up. It is very, very competitive!
Thanks all! I actually
Thanks all!
I actually think DH believes this bunch of crap. I don’t know why because SS always lies about this stuff. (When he first went in, he told everyone he was in the seal program.)
SS barely passed jr high and was worse in high school. I think the only reason SS did pass was because the teachers did not want to deal with him anymore.
I don’t know why it bothers me, but it does. I hate all of the storied that SS makes up and DH drinks it in then it ends up all being bull and DH looks dumb because it makes him look like he does not know what he is talking about.
Depending on the branch it is
Depending on the branch it is possible for him to have a "military equivalent" of an associates degree. Not sure how it would transfer into a civilian sector college though.