I'm not a US Navy Chief, however I read this on another thread:

The Navy is looking at removing the CWO/LDO program by 2015 and making a degree a requirement for Senior Chiefs and a Master's Degree for Master Chiefs as part of the reform.

Strange they are looking at this when(a)the Associates Degree was recently cancelled for Senior Chiefs and (b) the Navy has recently introduced CWO aviators.

http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/297192721/m/8280083861001/p/2

quote:

The Navy is looking at removing the CWO/LDO program by 2015 and making a degree a requirement for Senior Chiefs and a Master's Degree for Master Chiefs as part of the reform.

While others kicked back, relaxed, and were happier than a f@g at Fort Dix when the NAVADMIN came out, cancelling the requirement for an associate's degree to make Senior Chief, I continued to press on - because I knew that this was going to happen. Just got my bachelor's, and I start on my MBA next week. Looks like I made the right decision, as my "master's degree box" will be checked off long before it becomes an issue.

Sounds as if the Navy is looking for senior enlisted with degrees to do the jobs of CWOs.

However, I hope the CWO Aviator Program continues.

quote:

Navy is looking at removing the CWO/LDO program

This is coming from an outside think tank, not an internal Navy study. The mustangs would probably fight tooth and nail to prevent it from happening. Plus the new MCPON wants the Chief involved in more deck plate leadership. This would have the same effect as the previous MCPONs plans to have all CPOs earn their degrees. Unless the Navy brings back EEAP for those rates that don't have enough shore duty to earn a degree I doubt it will see much light.

Request to enter the Mess.
As an Ex CPO E7, CWO3, retired, old as dirt, I would offer this.
Attainment of advanced Degrees is the key to retirement success. My MS from Memphis, enabled me to work with Aerospace Corps for some 25 years after I retired. Without that advanced degree, I would most likely have been a Superviser in Budwieser Beer Brewerys STL. Missed this chance by a whisker.
The current programs, of which I am not up to speed, should offer as much education, for as least cost, as possible. A trained force is multiplied over and over.
A quick question..
Is there a CPO Academy still in operation?

TennSlim
When I left R.I. there was a CPO Academy at the War College in Newport.
TAK AMCS

Followup
I left R.I. in 99.

As to the idea of a CPO Academy, there was discussion of having selectees taken from their commands for professional training and then returned as Chiefs. From what I've heard it may not have gotten very far, which is fine by me. While I can see a standardized cirricula as a basis, that sort of training should be left to the Mess at that particular command so they can adapt as needed to their particular situations.

Education: Yes, we all need to be out there leading our Sailors and making the Navy run. However, we also need to position ourselves for a post Navy career, and "Been There, Done That" without the degree just doesn't make it.

Lets just make it a requirement that any and everyone joining the Navy from this day forward have a BS. That way the DOD and or the Navy won't have to pay for it or loose time while said sailor gets his degree. As for Chief, Senior Chief, and Master Chief, I'll have to give that some further thought.

It seems to me in all fairness to the enlisted ranks, that a degree requirement on your own hook, really isn't fair at all.

ALL
Resurrected my records on the CPO Academy, circa 1965.
1. All attendees were assigned, usually a few volunteers.
2. Reserve CPOs and Regular CPOs attended.
3. CPOs from units across the USN attended.
4. The Cirruculm was Military History, Military Uniform Standards, Military Drill ( we did alot of this), Leadership, Seamanship, ( although this was oriented to Surface Shipboard life) and a lot of Uniform Inspections.
5. Each Command had a Class allottment to fill. The Senior Commands down to the Reserve Units all had mandatory slots to fill for each convening class.
In the NATTC world of 65, CPO Academy was dreaded. Due to the cost of new uniforms, more than any one thing, we all avoided volunteering.
CPOs generally felt that the Academics was OK, but not necessary to be a Chief Petty Officer. We looked to our peers and Seniors for guidance on CPO conduct.
On my return I wrote up a Review of the Academy for our Skipper. He forwarded the paper to NATC and later on I noted some of the changes were encorporated. Note this was in 65, a whole nother Navy.
end

ALL
In my review of documents, I found a name
CPO e7, circa 1968.
A Chief AEC ZUMBRO, he was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet as Deployment consultant, for tranisting CVs to the West Coast. His Tours were aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, as CAG CPO Maint. and probable the USS Saratoga.
Last I heard of him, was his transfer to the West Coast, COMNAVAIRPAC.
Does his name strike a bell?
end

I keep getting drawn back to this post. Having been out of the service for some time (almost 30 years), I was surprised when the Navy lifted the requirement for an associates degree for SCPO -- mostly because I didn't know that the requirement had ever been put in. Now we have some think tank recommending that a masters degree as a requirement for MCPO. This seems to be quite a stretch to add another ~90 semester hours of college credit. Add to that thought the fact that very few people have a masters degree.

I currently work in IT where almost everyone has a bachelors degree, particularly where I am now. I would guess that 98% of my coworkers have a bachelors. Of that group, probably less than 10% have a masters degree. It doesn't seem reasonable, then, to require a masters degree just to be a candidate for MCPO.

A masters degree is much harder to achieve than a bachelors degree. As I was getting close to graduation, we asked the administration of our school what it would take to have a "with honors" designation on our diplomas. We were informed that a masters degree is considered "with honors" all the time because of the grade requirements. This does make sense as you have to have a 3.0 GPA to graduate.

Now, add to that requirement that this is not like the officers who get an assignment to the War College in order to receive their masters degree. This would be part-time study on your own time and out of your pocket. The first does not lend itself well to a quality education and the second is just unfair as we don't pay any enlisted person well enough.

Unless the Navy will be willing to take a degree from any institution, regardless of how it was issued, this will just further restrict the opportunity for promotion to MCPO. And, if they are going to accept any piece of paper that denotes a masters degree, they might as well just let the yeoman set up a printing press in the ship's office and issue the degree the days someone is promoted to SCPO. That is the quality of some of these degree mills.

All in all, I certainly hope that this idea gets dumped in the circular file where it belongs.

Sorry, that is just too close to free advertising for me. - TMCRandolph Hernandez, PO1 USN (Ret), B.S.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TMC_SW_Ret,

I have to add my 2 cents. You are not giving deck plate leadership, if your concern is writing some colledge paper, or reading some text, while your blue shirts, are trying to meet all the operational commitments, without your guidance and oversight. (how do you correct or guide, when your know nothing of whats actually going on). My second concern, is When you have more years of experiance, more knowledge, and possibly more education, why should you listen to, or respect junior officers. this is a good way to start a real rift between the Officers, Under qualified Officers, with authority over more educated enlisted, not a good model for success.

Snipechief,
That's an excellent point. If a SCPO were required to have a master's degree, on top of his 15 years of experience, what would be the point of having an ensign, LTJG, or LT with 1-5 years experience and only a bachelors degree?

MIKE

Hello Shipmates and retirees,
Here is my 2 pennies worth, keep the CWO programs. Most of the CWO's I know make great maintenance officers. The college thing is downright nuts. I am all for an education. Yes it helped me get the job I have now as a police officer. As you see, I am retired and have been for almost 10 years. Chiefs, and Senior Chiefs need to be on the deck plates(some college required would be great)but overall, they are running the division. At least they were when I left. Master Chiefs are administration so I can see a B.S. degree for them. Masters degree should not be required but are a plus if you have one. I understand that the Navy wants a better educated Navy but if everyone is in college so they can promote then who is running the division. Army does not require it. Airforce does not require it and the Marines are just the Marines but I am sure they do not require it.

Hmmmm... Doctor Master Chief...... I Like It!

If the Navy wants Senior Chiefs and Master Chiefs who have 15 or more years in to have degrees then they better start paying them more than an O-2 with 3 years in the Navy.