Grad-school option chosen as cadet must be scheduled when selected for captain

By Andrea WalesAugust 8, 2012

Through the Career Satisfaction Program, cadets in the Reserve Officer Training Corps and at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point can choose among three options to shape their Army experience, according to the CSP website at http://www.career-satisfaction.army.mil/. Once chosen, two options take effect right after graduation while the third must be scheduled by the Army officer years later.

In exchange for an additional three-year Active Duty Service Obligation, the CSP allows these cadets to choose

1. Army basic branch (BrADSO) or

2. first post of assignment (PADSO) or

3. fully funded graduate school at the U.S.-accredited school of their choice in the academic discipline of their choice for up to 24 months (GrADSO).

"As GrADSO officers go into their fifth year of service, they need to contact their assignment officers to schedule the timing of their school attendance," said Kerry W. Pavek, chief of the Advanced Civil Schooling Section under the Officer Personnel Management Directorate's Leader Development Division's Advanced Education Programs Branch. OPMD falls under the U.S. Army Human Resources Command. "This GrADSO was first offered to Year Group 2006, and it continues today."

The program is offered to 300 ROTC cadets and 300 West Point cadets annually.

"These 600 GrADSO cadets signed a contract during their senior year of college to have the option of attending graduate school through this program," he said. "If they exercise their option and attend graduate school, they incur an additional ADSO of three days for each day of graduate school up to a maximum ADSO of six years."

CSP is a career and retention program, said R. Elaine Freeman, chief of the Advanced Education Programs Branch. This Army G-1/Personnel program, established under former Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Pete Schoomaker, is a way to encourage and manage talent.

"GrADSO differs from our other fully funded Advanced Civil Schooling opportunities in that there is no cost cap associated with it. For example, if a GrADSO officer gets accepted to Harvard Business School, they can attend and the Army is contractually obligated to pay the full tuition and most mandatory fees," she said. "The other difference is that other ACS opportunities are only allow 18 months for graduate schooling."

To be completely vested and be able to attend graduate school under GrADSO, officers must

1. be selected for captain

2. attend school between the sixth and 11th year of service

3. NOT be pending adverse action.

If you signed up for GrADSO and are going into your fifth year of service or later, go to the CSP website at http://www.career-satisfaction.army.mil/ or the HRC website at https://www.hrc.army.mil/ to contact your assignment officer.

Related Links:

Career Satisfaction Program, or CSP, website

HRC website