<p>Is the only way to earn a post graduate education is to win one of the three scholarship?</p>
<p>No, there are many programs available for officers to further their education. After graduating West Point, the Army will pay for a master’s degree provided you do another 3 years active duty. You can also compete for slots to go to school as a senior captain or so. Not a bad deal. You get paid to go to any school in the US you can get into.</p>
<p>Airborne101,</p>
<p>Is your normal military salary paid while pursuing a graduate degree?</p>
<p>Also, I was under the impression that service of two years for every year of graduate study was the requirement. Is this incorrect?</p>
<p>THAT IS AWESOME, bcs im going to serve atleast 20 years regardless
is it allowed to have multiple majors?</p>
<p>Your normal salery is paid to you while attending school. As far as the two years of extra service per year of graduate school I can't say, I have not heard anything about that. However it still could be a possablity. </p>
<p>SteslaS: Career all the way.</p>
<p>SteslaS: Career all the way.
What you mean?</p>
<p>I mean career is the only way to go. Hooah and all that. :)</p>
<p>When we were visiting West Point last March the Captain that talked to us parents mentioned that, currently, the Army was trying to retain more officers by allowing them to get a masters degree with only an additional 3 year commitment. The Captain said that usually it is a 2 year commitment for each year of college the Army pays for beyond your bachelors. So he had to commit to an additional four years to get his masters degree. He didnt know how long this deal would continue to be offered.</p>
<p>Currently there exists a retention incentive program that allows graduating West Point and most ROTC cadets the option of:</p>
<p>1) Receiving the opportunity to attend graduate school proceeding commission
2) Receiving branch assignment of choice
3) Receiving post of choice
*note that a cadet may only choose one of these options, if he/she so chooses to accept the ADSO (active duty service obligation). Most graduating cadets who participate choose to receive branch of choice, since branches are competitive and even DMGs (distinguished military graduates) are not guaranteed their first choice of branch, although they are guaranteed one of their top three. If a cadet chooses to receive branch of choice, his/her position on the OML (order of merit list) will still be evaluated like everyone else’s, and if he/she would have been selected for their branch of choice without having chosen the ADSO option, the cadet will be given the opportunity of choosing another "guarantee", such as education, or refusing the additional ADSO they had previously agreed on.</p>
<p>See below for brief explanation regarding length of ADSO as obtained from West Point ADSO FAQ:</p>
<p>"ADSO (Active Duty Service Obligation): Officer ADSOs are governed by AR 350-100. You incur a 5 year ADSO for your attendance at West Point. This is your commissioning ADSO. If you participate in one of the 3 career satisfaction incentive programs, then you will incur an additional 3 year ADSO. This would be your option ADSO. If you attend a graduate program that is fully funded by the Army, then you incur a graduate school ADSO equal to 3 times the number of months in school, up to a maximum of 72 months. This would be your education ADSO. "</p>
<p>Note: Further details can be found at <a href="http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r350_100.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r350_100.pdf</a></p>
<p>Keep in mind additional programs exist for students who gain acceptance to medical school, law school, divinity school etc. In addition, officers will have a chance to obtain their masters later in their career, since it's often a prerequisite to promotion. When taking into consideration one’s ADSO, also be aware that officers can receive additional ADSOs at times fo:r promotion, training for ASIs (additional skill identifiers), and attending military schooling (i.e. flight training, Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course, Senior Advanced Military Studies, etc.). However, many of these ADSOs may be served concurrently. </p>
<p>Last thing: the Army can always reject your request for "guaranteed" schooling, and possesses veto power over your choice of study. In addition, the Army offers a wide variety of schools to attend for advanced education, including Harvard, however the list is pre-prescribed and is not limitless.</p>
<p>For more clarification see <a href="http://www.usma.edu/opa/adso/FAQs.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.usma.edu/opa/adso/FAQs.htm</a></p>