<p>Xiggi - no WAY anyone is making O-6 after 6 years out of the academy unless we’re talking during the Civil War or something. Most likely an O-3 at that point. O-6 generally takes closer to 20 years after a commission.</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>Really? What is the pay scale of a Captain in the Navy? Or do you imply that it takes 20 years to make Captain? Because if you did that would be dead wrong, as a 2008 Naval Academy graduate could have become Captain by now.</p>
<p>Maybe you are mixing services, xiggi?</p>
<p>A Captain in the Air Force, Army, or Marine Corps is an 0-3, usually something you make after 4 years. To make 0-4 (Major) after 6 years, would be quite impressive, below the zone. Impossible to make 0-6 (Full bird Colonel) after 6 years.</p>
<p>A Captain in the Navy or Coast Guard is an 0-6 (considered same as a Colonel in the other services).</p>
<p>Big difference between a Captain in the Navy and Captain in the Army.</p>
<p>Right. Only way a 2008 Annapolis grad is a captain is if they’re in the Marine Corps, which is an O-3. (Or they cross commissioned to the Army or AF which is very rare). Captain (Navy)/Colonel takes I’d say a minimum of 18 years.</p>
<p>Pretty sure I’m not “dead wrong”. </p>
<p>Source - husband and I are both academy grads and I have two kids at academies/in the military.</p>
<p>a 2008 Naval Academy graduate could have become Captain by now. >></p>
<p>No way. A 2008 Academy grad would be an 03 and would have pinned it on in May 2012. A Navy officer would be a Lieutenant and a Marine officer would be a Captain. It’s 2 years as O1 and two years as O2 before pinning on O3.</p>
<p>Making Navy Captain is rarely below 20 years and is the equivalent of a full bird colonel in the other services.</p>
<p>Masslou - yes it did. And frankly, she debated whether she wanted to commit herself for the additional time. As I recall (and I could be wrong), it was a 2 for 1 deal - two years of additional time for every year of school.</p>
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<p>In the Army, Air Force or Marines, but NOT in the Navy. By tradition Naval and Military officer designations are very different. I would think any academy grad would know this. </p>
<p>Captain, Military rank (read O-3 pay grade) = LT., Naval rank (read O-3 pay grade) A Navy Captain is rank equal to a Military full Colonel, both an O-6 pay grade. </p>
<p>[Military</a> Commissioned Officer Promotions](<a href=“http://usmilitary.about.com/od/promotions/l/blofficerprom.htm]Military”>http://usmilitary.about.com/od/promotions/l/blofficerprom.htm)</p>
<p>^^Actually, toblin, any officer would know this. Yes, even us podunk ROTC or OTS grads would know that.</p>
<p>Ok, I did confuse a Navy graduate who made Captain in the Marines with a Navy Captain. ;)</p>
<p>^^It’s easy to do. I admit, so did I for awhile. Must have been since I didn’t have that elite Academy education.</p>
<p>Okay, there has been some ribbing over the years in my mixed Academy/ROTC marriage.</p>
<p>busdriver11, remember it’s their nature to be bitter. ;)</p>
<p>^^Yeah, probably because I can’t resist saying how I actually had a great time and lots of freedom in college!</p>
<p>Actually, my husband is very good natured about it.</p>
<p>Heard from older cousins and grad student friends who were/are commissioned officers that the grad Programs they/Petreus has are extremely competitive and have conditions…such as major/field sometimes being determined according to needs of service regardless of one’s prior major or academic inclinations/interest. </p>
<p>Cases of history majors doing grad engineering degrees and undergrad science majors doing grad IR degrees aren’t unheard of according to observations of academy/ROTC classmates in such programs. Moreover, taking advantage of this program does add more time to one’s service obligation as previous commenters noted. </p>
<p>The extremely competitive factor plus the possibility one doesn’t always have free choice in choosing one’s graduate program/field once selected and added service obligation time are factors in why many opt to temporarily go on inactive status to attend grad school of their choice on their own dime/time or to do it after they leave the service.</p>
<p>One ROTC cousin who was an NFO did luck out by having the Navy pay for his Masters right before a major RIF not long after the fall of the Soviet Union in the early '90s. Ended up not having to serve the full service obligation from his NFO designation and his 2 year Masters as a result.</p>
<p>So many people spouting bad info on this thread. And busdriver you need to do some research as to what exactly the ROTC or military academy commitment is both during school and after. You might change your tune. These are not typical college kids. And they have a longer time commitment after commissioning than you think. For instance, currently for Navy ROTC the commitment is a minimum of 9 years total active & reserve. If you are an aviator or go nuke it is longer. </p>
<p>Less pay than civilian, restrictions to your personal freedom, putting yourself in harm’s way, etc. These young men and women are making sacrifices so that you can sleep at night. If it is such a waste and a great deal why didn’t you sign up?</p>
<p>My S1 (NROTC) graduated /commissioned in 2009. He is now a Lt.jg. He prob. spent 18 months getting through grueling EOD school and all it’s other required schools. A lot of it was something akin to torture that most of us can’t conceive of. Maybe I’m biased but I believe providing opportunities for educational advancement is owed to our military personnel who are putting their lives on the line for our country.</p>
<p>I agree with you PackMom. It’s money well-spent. Also gives them (and their families) a bit of a respite from their stress.</p>
<p>Somebody alluded to this in a previous post. More and more military families are opting to not move every couple of years, so the active duty military person is often on his/her own and sees his spouse and children only upon occasion. That lifestyle can’t serve to strengthen relationships! </p>
<p>I just wish Patraeus and other high-ranking officers had been stronger leaders and avoided this kind of misconduct. It makes their brothers and sisters in the military look bad.</p>
<p>My sister and BIL are both Naval Academy grads. BIL is still in active service. I see the hard work and sacrifice that they each put into their careers and continue to put into the service. They never complain and are very grateful for the opporunities they have each had as a result of their service. </p>
<p>Sure on the surface it all could look a bit exciting and glamorous - fabulous education w/ no tuiton or student loans (at a Service Academy), opportunties to travel the world, being part of an interesting community, opportunities to develop fabulous skill sets etc… There are many, many, many sacrifices our military people and their families make every day. Many children (my nieces and nephews included) go months without seeing their parent because of deployments - this is their “normal”. Trust me I step in often to help out - it is not easy with several school age children to be the only parent (HINT - HINT - to all of you out there - if you know of a military family under deployment why not offer a helping hand every now & then). Also, these folks (officers) are making a decent wage but they are by no means bringing in big bucks or living large. Our military folks put their lives in danger doing their job to protect our freedom! </p>
<p>So what! Petraeus earned a PHD! It is one of the possible benefits that came along with the job. In my opinion these types of benefits are a bargain! They help to keep our most talented individuals in service to our country - working for us. Yup Petraeus made one doozy of a mistake. The person I feel HORRIBLE for is his wife! Her job has been every bit as hard along the way. Knowing what I know about the life of a military family my heart aches for Holly Petraeus. Forget the PHD there is no way this man could ever have been who he was in the service without the extreme support of his family.</p>
<p>Iron Maiden, you need to go back and read bus drivers posts more carefully…</p>
<p>Sports mom, glad that you mentioned spouses. Money spent on military education is usually spent on getting the service of two, not just one.</p>
<p>No hyperbole xiggi - and not a fool either, thank you very much! Brother is a retired Captain (USNA) and hubby is retired Colonel (USMA). Our peers at the big name grad school were in fact earning one-tenth of what they could have in IB and consulting by staying in the military. The Army sponsored students did get pay while in school and every one of them was required to pay it back with time at West Point. There have been periods in the Army where grads were forgiven some of the time required for payback as part of a draw down. For example, some of the USMA grads in the 1980s did not need to fulfill 5 years of service. The academies are great opportunities: good education, full ride, modest salary while a student, and guaranteed employment for 5 years (or more if you read the fine print). Of course, you have no idea where you might get sent or if you will be in harm’s way.
On a related note: the e-mail scandal has grown. Now a second high ranking officer has inappropriate e-mails coming to light. Apparently there are four and five star general “groupies!” I agree with the comment above that these few officers are making their brothers and sisters in uniform look bad.</p>