tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post4342620833709889591..comments2023-11-03T09:36:22.100-04:00Comments on In From the Cold: The Death of Tuition Assistance, ReduxGeorge Smileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07049707648660651119noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-54731716774804288672013-03-12T21:34:06.744-04:002013-03-12T21:34:06.744-04:00Aaaaargh. My SIL was financing a degree in logist...Aaaaargh. My SIL was financing a degree in logistics to complement his supply MOS through TA. He's been busting his butt trying to finish. After this term, he'll only have three classes left. 1245SwampWomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08395051552137680646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-40608717854116945732013-03-09T20:59:08.248-05:002013-03-09T20:59:08.248-05:00You raise a very important point...because so many...You raise a very important point...because so many senior officers graduated from there, the service academies are immune from cuts, while many young enlisted members now lack an option for off-duty education, since they transferred their GI Bill benefits to a wife or child. <br /><br />I have experience with all three commissioning sources. In terms of bang for the buck, we get far more from OTS/OCS, followed by the academies and ROTC. I measure "bang" in terms of delivering officers ready for their jobs and committed to serving for the long term. <br /><br />Unfortunately, OTS/OCS have been cut to the bone; the Air Force program (where I earned my commission) graduates 90% fewer 2Lts than it did 30 years ago--and half the slots are reserved for civilian applicants. ROTC epitomizes the ideal of the citizen-soldier, but the washout rate for scholarship recipients out of high school is about 70%. <br /><br />As for the academies, they attract a lot of exceptionally bright and capable young men and women. But too many see it as a first rung on their climb into the meritocracy. I'd like to know what current retention rates are for grads who don't go into aviation or fields that require a longer service commitment. My impression is that they exit at the same level as ROTC grads--perhaps a bit higher. <br /><br />The obvious solution is to down-aize the academies and ROTC, while ramping up OTS/OCS. But that will never happen, since Mustang officers rarely reach the senior ranks. And besides, the academies have very powerful constituencies, led by politicians and retired flag officers who believe the U.S. can defend its interests around the world largely through sea and air power--and say it with a straight face. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712369389411084085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-22931600609852574812013-03-09T20:24:30.598-05:002013-03-09T20:24:30.598-05:00Rather than penalize those truly deserving the edu...Rather than penalize those truly deserving the educational benefit, mainly enlisted bullet dodgers, why are the service academies whose failed missions are to develop "career" officers left unscathed?<br /><br />Is it because so many liberal professors now in those venerable academies have been railing against war, viable preparations for it, and maintaining defenses strong enough to prevent it? <br /><br />Apparently most seervice academy graduates see their diplomas primarily as first class tickets to success in the private sector.<br /><br />Shame, shame on our congress!Vigilishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05051789616490005367noreply@blogger.com