CuriousRambler
Contributor
I'm not sure exactly which forum this fits into better, or what to title it, so here it is!
I'm nearing the end of my last deployment that will fit into my enlistment, so to sum things up for my military career - it's all downhill from here. While I'll still be working every day, since I'm not deploying with my unit again, it's not nearly as essential for me to participate in all of the pre-deployment buildups and training. My chain of command is very supportive of taking advantage of that to earn college credits or technical certifications to set ourselves up for civilian careers after separating from the military, and they're very willing to work with us.
My first thought was to take advantage of this for dive training. I'm stationed in Southern California, and have been trying to advance my training for three years, but it's proven all but impossible working around a military schedule, you never know when you're going to get off, or if you're working weekends, so it becomes far too frustrating both to myself and to LDS's to constantly cancel and reschedule classes.
My chain of command, as I said, is very cooperative and even helpful, even knowing that dive training won't be through a college or likely even accredited. I'm getting hung up on one point. The military offers tuition assistance that's separate from the Montgomery GI Bill, TA pays 100% of tuition and fees up to a set limit per fiscal year which varies from one branch to another. I'm eligible up to $4,500/yr.
Where my command will be willing to give the OK for this, it goes higher up to be approved or denied for TA payments. Does anyone know of any way diving could be covered as a technical certification? TA will pay for things like a commercial drivers license, EMT certification, etc. While I don't expect to make a living off of diving by any means, it is professional certification that I hope and expect to use as a supplement for my career.
I've seen a list of PADI courses suggested for college credit by ACE, but I'm hoping to take DIR-F, and possibly an advanced nitrox course after that.
I'll stop rambling, I'm a bit tired and am running purely on coffee and jelly beans at the moment :crazyeye:, so I apologize for the drawn out post.
I'm nearing the end of my last deployment that will fit into my enlistment, so to sum things up for my military career - it's all downhill from here. While I'll still be working every day, since I'm not deploying with my unit again, it's not nearly as essential for me to participate in all of the pre-deployment buildups and training. My chain of command is very supportive of taking advantage of that to earn college credits or technical certifications to set ourselves up for civilian careers after separating from the military, and they're very willing to work with us.
My first thought was to take advantage of this for dive training. I'm stationed in Southern California, and have been trying to advance my training for three years, but it's proven all but impossible working around a military schedule, you never know when you're going to get off, or if you're working weekends, so it becomes far too frustrating both to myself and to LDS's to constantly cancel and reschedule classes.
My chain of command, as I said, is very cooperative and even helpful, even knowing that dive training won't be through a college or likely even accredited. I'm getting hung up on one point. The military offers tuition assistance that's separate from the Montgomery GI Bill, TA pays 100% of tuition and fees up to a set limit per fiscal year which varies from one branch to another. I'm eligible up to $4,500/yr.
Where my command will be willing to give the OK for this, it goes higher up to be approved or denied for TA payments. Does anyone know of any way diving could be covered as a technical certification? TA will pay for things like a commercial drivers license, EMT certification, etc. While I don't expect to make a living off of diving by any means, it is professional certification that I hope and expect to use as a supplement for my career.
I've seen a list of PADI courses suggested for college credit by ACE, but I'm hoping to take DIR-F, and possibly an advanced nitrox course after that.
I'll stop rambling, I'm a bit tired and am running purely on coffee and jelly beans at the moment :crazyeye:, so I apologize for the drawn out post.