Post by cattledogkisses on Mar 8, 2013 15:00:51 GMT -5
H read me the email he got about TA being stopped until "the financial situation matures," or something to that effect. We looked at each other and were like, "So... never."
I didn't know the Marines already cut off TA.:/ When I joined the AF in 2000 TA covered 75%, which was still an awesome deal. H just started his master's program, so if they did something similar to that I know he would finish his degree. I don't think he will, otherwise.
Post by crimewatcher on Mar 9, 2013 20:59:20 GMT -5
My husband and I were talking about this. He is currently taking an online Masters program and using TA. The only reason he is getting his Master's is so he can promote to Major. He has already decided if the AF cuts his TA he will stop his Masters.
What really makes me sad are all the Enlisted people who are working on their Bachelors. They really need it for post Military life and heck even life now. It's a reason some join. I find that to be very unfair to them.
My husband and I were talking about this. He is currently taking an online Masters program and using TA. The only reason he is getting his Master's is so he can promote to Major. He has already decided if the AF cuts his TA he will stop his Masters.
What really makes me sad are all the Enlisted people who are working on their Bachelors. They really need it for post Military life and heck even life now. It's a reason some join. I find that to be very unfair to them.
They still have the GI bill when they get out. It's a complaint, but I wouldn't go so far as calling it unfair.
Does your H at least have his BA+? They are definitely promoting to major with that. He might not be in the top 20%, but he wouldn't be automatically disqualified.
Husband is like 2 classes away from getting his MBA, he took last quarter off, and when he heard the rumors he signed up for his next class and turned in his thing for TA. I think he just got approved, but who knows how long they'll keep doing it for.
My husband and I were talking about this. He is currently taking an online Masters program and using TA. The only reason he is getting his Master's is so he can promote to Major. He has already decided if the AF cuts his TA he will stop his Masters.
we talked about this too! it is becoming almost a necessity for promotion above captain. With RIFs and force shaping the way it is, this is going to make it difficult for people to get there. Or they're going to have a much less educated force (both enlisted and officer) sigh. I know they need to make cuts... but still... this is not awesome, hopefully they'll bring it back down the road
My husband and I were talking about this. He is currently taking an online Masters program and using TA. The only reason he is getting his Master's is so he can promote to Major. He has already decided if the AF cuts his TA he will stop his Masters.
What really makes me sad are all the Enlisted people who are working on their Bachelors. They really need it for post Military life and heck even life now. It's a reason some join. I find that to be very unfair to them.
They still have the GI bill when they get out. It's a complaint, but I wouldn't go so far as calling it unfair.
Does your H at least have his BA+? They are definitely promoting to major with that. He might not be in the top 20%, but he wouldn't be automatically disqualified.
Yes he has is Bachelors from the United States Air Force Academy. It all depends on where we are stationed and the Command Structure. For instance, the current Base Commander really isn't sending any Officer promotion paperwork through at the Major level and above. I think H is feeling really discouraged right now --He went from wanting to be a lifer to now talking about leaving at his 7yr mark. I hoping it is just a phase because he has worked so hard to get where he is.
My husband and I were talking about this. He is currently taking an online Masters program and using TA. The only reason he is getting his Master's is so he can promote to Major. He has already decided if the AF cuts his TA he will stop his Masters.
we talked about this too! it is becoming almost a necessity for promotion above captain. With RIFs and force shaping the way it is, this is going to make it difficult for people to get there. Or they're going to have a much less educated force (both enlisted and officer) sigh. I know they need to make cuts... but still... this is not awesome, hopefully they'll bring it back down the road
This base is super hard too. The Current Base Commander hasn't been letting any paperwork go through for promotions to Major or above. H has a couple people in his squad locked in at Captain until their commitment is up. Granted the Commander is leaving this summer and H wont be in the running for Major for a few years -- you just never know. I can't say I love where it is going either, but it's not my call.
I'm confused...I thought the the Post 9/11 GI Bill could be used even while on active duty. DH was taking classes in Afghanistan using VA money, not TA.
I'm confused...I thought the the Post 9/11 GI Bill could be used even while on active duty. DH was taking classes in Afghanistan using VA money, not TA.
You can. Since my husband went to the Air Force Academy he is not eligible to use it for 5 years I believe.
Some don't want to use the Post 9/11 GI Bill for themselves because you can transfer it to dependents, whereas TA you can not.
crimewatcher BA+ isn't bachelor's. It's where you get credit for getting a certain number of graduate hours. I'm not sure how many it takes, but H qualified a long time ago.
And while I know it's tougher to get that major's promotion than the nearly automatic 1LT and CAPT, the selection rate is still something like 90% (at least it was last year), so your H shouldn't be too discouraged. When H was an exec (and so saw all the packages), he said something about how people who were less competitive would sometimes get DPs to give them an extra boost. There's a lot of stategery [sic] when it comes to these things. He wouldn't likely get the top 20% to guarantee a school select, but that's not the end of the world.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by the command not allowing paperwork to go through. I didn't think they got a choice. Anyone eligible should be looked at by the board, even if they're in no way competitive. I'm pretty sure the command also has a quota for the definitely promote, promote, and do not promote designations, so I don't think they could get away with giving everyone DNP.
Sushi - I wonder if things work differently for Air Force. (regarding the sending paperwork up) Promotion percentages might be different, too, I suppose.
I do know that DH is happy he already has his MA. He used tuition assistance while at his career course to get it. Made for some insane long days/nights/weekends of studying and homework to cram it all in, but it's done now...
I'm sure it's different by branch, but crimewatcher said AFA, so I'm assuming AF and responding that way.
Anyway, I got a bit of clarification. Command can allow UP TO 75% (I think, my short term memory is bad) to get DP designation, but there's no mandate nor quota for the ratio of the other 2 designations. The theoretically can say 100% are DNP if they want, but they still have to submit the PRF (I feel like stan with all this jargon I just find it hard to believe they would do that because it's really screwing over their guys when they compete if other bases are using as many DPs as they can.
What I'm guessing is really happening is that there's a bit of telephone game going on at crimewatcher's base. This year's major's board was slipped a year for everyone in the AF, so maybe that turned into "not allowing paperwork and captains are stuck." Also, pin on dates for last year's maj selects are way delayed now. It already took about a year previously, and now they're thinking 2 years.
It's also possible leaders have let it be known that without your master's they won't give you a DP. If you assume that 75% are DPs because they're using as many as they can, and all of those will be promoted, those in the bottom 25% have a much tougher fight as 40% of them (assuming the last maj's board's rate of about 90% remains the same in the future) won't be promoted.
Whew. A lotta numbers. And capitalized letters. And assumptions. Because this isn't adding up, and my logic obsessed brain can't stand that
Oh, and to get BA+, you need 15 hours of graduate work completed.
Sushi - feeling sheepish, I'm guessing you are also connected to Air Force. My bad.
DH is Army. I know he believes having an MA is not quite a requirement, but darn close. That might be specific to his specialty within the Army, though - I get the impression there are differences between specialties.
But, honestly, I don't really know how it all works (particularly evident when I realize I don't understand half the acronyms you used...). I know bits and pieces, and how they impact DH and his career, but know that at least some of that can not be extrapolated to other servicemembers.
Regardless, killing tuition assistance (or even just highly restricting it) sucks for everyone. Continuing education is an important benefit of serving, and this really hurts that.
I'm sure it's different by branch, but crimewatcher said AFA, so I'm assuming AF and responding that way.
Anyway, I got a bit of clarification. Command can allow UP TO 75% (I think, my short term memory is bad) to get DP designation, but there's no mandate nor quota for the ratio of the other 2 designations. The theoretically can say 100% are DNP if they want, but they still have to submit the PRF (I feel like stan with all this jargon I just find it hard to believe they would do that because it's really screwing over their guys when they compete if other bases are using as many DPs as they can.
What I'm guessing is really happening is that there's a bit of telephone game going on at crimewatcher's base. This year's major's board was slipped a year for everyone in the AF, so maybe that turned into "not allowing paperwork and captains are stuck." Also, pin on dates for last year's maj selects are way delayed now. It already took about a year previously, and now they're thinking 2 years.
It's also possible leaders have let it be known that without your master's they won't give you a DP. If you assume that 75% are DPs because they're using as many as they can, and all of those will be promoted, those in the bottom 25% have a much tougher fight as 40% of them (assuming the last maj's board's rate of about 90% remains the same in the future) won't be promoted.
Whew. A lotta numbers. And capitalized letters. And assumptions. Because this isn't adding up, and my logic obsessed brain can't stand that
Oh, and to get BA+, you need 15 hours of graduate work completed.
Sorry I totally ignored the + on BA+. He has his bachelors plus 2 Master's classes but not sure on his hours. I think what is happening is more and more are getting there Masters so now its pretty much a must. (Which is what I think you were saying but you're numbers got me confused as well lol Sunday Night is not a good time for Math Problems).
All I know about the Commander is from one of the H's Squad Members that is working in his office. According to him, the Base Commander is refusing to submit paperwork unless they are competitive and make Him and the base look good.
In the end, it will probably change several times before it comes time for my husband to go through the promotion boards.
Lol. Apparently H does actually know how it works with other branches and can quote percentages for promotion at nearly all ranks. He's so freaking weird (I love it!) Sounds like the navy has a pretty good system.
crimewatcher, that still doesn't make sense. The base and commander will look bad by not submitting people. He'll look like an asshole, and he won't have as many promotions at his base as they have elsewhere.
Lol. Apparently H does actually know how it works with other branches and can quote percentages for promotion at nearly all ranks. He's so freaking weird (I love it!) Sounds like the navy has a pretty good system.
crimewatcher, that still doesn't make sense. The base and commander will look bad by not submitting people. He'll look like an asshole, and he won't have as many promotions at his base as they have elsewhere.
I agree its like the self fulfilling prophecy.. you still look bad for not sending people. Oh well he is gone in August.
Otherwise, I've no real experience to add to the discussion. Although, IIRC I questioned why a friend of DH's, or DH himself, didn't take advantage of it at his old unit and they said it was common knowledge that no one got approved and it was a waste of time to apply. They were low guys on the totem pole at the time though, E4s and below. Not that's he's really all that higher up now. Anyway, it all came about when the friend started complaining about how he was worse off after he left the Army than he was when he went in. I mentioned how he should have taken advantage of things that could have helped him, like the TA, and got what I like to call the civilian head pat. Is it harder for lower enlisted soldiers to get approved?
I know nothing about rates of approval. I thought as long as there was money (so don't apply end of FY), and as long as you satisfied the requirements, it was approved regardless of your rank.
Flip positive side. With TA gone, there's speculation that degrees will be masked again, like they were a few years ago. So, those capts and lts who haven't completed theirs can breathe easier (until they reverse the policy. Again).
Flip positive side. With TA gone, there's speculation that degrees will be masked again, like they were a few years ago. So, those capts and lts who haven't completed theirs can breathe easier (until they reverse the policy. Again).
I'm making a mental note to ask H how this might affect him. He's finishing up his captain's career course and has been looking at going to back to school for a Masters in education.