According to the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) and the Navy College Program (NCP), Sailors are enrolling in distance learning education programs in record numbers and reaping the rewards in the form of college degrees.

In fiscal year 2005 (FY-05), 61,700 Navy personnel enrolled in more than 168,000 undergraduate college courses and just over 13,000 graduate courses.

This 6 percent increase in enrollments over FY-04 continues an upward trend in recent years as Sailors rely on distance learning to complete secondary education programs.

“What we’re witnessing is that Sailors are getting serious about seconday education,” said Senior Chief Electronics Technician (SW) William McKeithen, voluntary education (VOLED) program director for the Naval Educational and Training Command (NETC). "They see this opportunity as personal and career enhancing, and they’re meeting the Navy’s Professional Military Education (PME) task of earning a rating-relevant degree to increase their chances for promotion and job placement. A college education at the expense of the Navy is not only possible, but plausible, and it’s happening every day.”

McKeithen credits the continued rise in enrollment figures to the Navy’s aggressive approach to distance learning through its Distance Learning Partnership program with colleges and universities throughout the United States, and Tuition Assistance (TA), which pays 100 percent of tuition and fees charged by educational institutions for course enrollments.

Aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), which is presently deployed with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 in the Persian Gulf, more than 2,800 Sailors have registered to take instructor-led or distance education courses since the ship left her homeport of San Diego in January. According to the ship’s Educational Services Officer, Lt. Bill Kuzma, “Ronald Reagan University” is a perfect role model for the Navy College Program Afloat College Education (NCPACE) program.

Sailors who are unsure of what direction they need to pursue to obtain a college degree can turn to the Sailor/Marine Online Academic Advisor (SMOLAA), a “Virtual Counseling” tool that has been added to the Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART). SMOLAA also displays and plots rating-relevant degree programs offered through Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership institutions.

This degree-shopping feature allows Sailors and Marines to watch their SMART credits transfer into a degree program offered by 18 accredited colleges that have partnered with the Navy through distance learning.

With the Navy’s emphasis on enhancing promotion through academic achievement, more service members than ever before are enrolling in college courses and using their military experience or taking credit-by-examination to earn college credits.

Whether they’re serving aboard ship, overseas or on shore duty, a college education awaits through their nearest Navy College Office.

To learn more about the Navy College Program’s Distance Learning Partnership Program, CLEP testing or SOCNAV, visit www.ncp.navy.mil.