A recent story appearing in May 25th issue of
The Waterline comments on the growing number of navy personnel
pursuing college degrees through distance learning programs. In 2005, 61,700 Navy service members enrolled in 168,000
undergraduate college courses and 13,000 graduate
courses.
Through educational programs like Navy College Program for Afloat
College Education (NCPACE), by which sailors can take basic skills
classes or college
courses while on sea duty assignments while on a ship, deployable
squadron or at a remote site, and Navy College Program Distance
Learning Partnership
(NCPDLP), where eligible members can earn rating-related degrees from
accredited educational institutions through various distance learning
methods, pursuing one's educational goals while preparing for personal
and professional growth isn't just idle talk - it's a reality.
Case in point: Naval Educational and Training Command's voluntary
education program director, Senior Chief Electronics Technician William
McKeithen. Says McKeithen, "As a junior Sailor, I discovered the Navy would pay for
CLEP and DANTES
subject exams, so I took several opportunities to
refresh myself on courses I knew fairly well and then followed through
by taking the exams. Once I passed all of them, I submitted my
transcripts to a local college and was awarded college credit. By the
time I had completed my first tour of duty, I was already into the
continuous learning mode, so I stuck with it. Overall, my CLEP and
DANTES exam credits provided about half of the credits I needed for my
associate's degree." McKeithen has since earned a bachelor's degree and
various graduate certificates.
Need more information about
Defense Activity for
Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES); Navy College Program for
Afloat College Education (NCPACE); NCP Distance Learning Partnership
Schools; Sailor/Marine American Council of Education Registry
Transcript (SMART); Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Navy (SOCNAV);
and Tuition Assistance (TA)?
Pay a visit to a Navy
College office. The Navy College Program (NCP) provides marines and sailors with
opportunities to earn college degrees by reviewing academic credit for
training, work experience, and off-duty education.
Search for a Navy College office near you.
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