STA-21

Comment

Comment by Chris B. on July 1, 2010 at 7:50am

Mark D--will you be in Newport next week? What was you son selected for? Pilot, Core, SWO, or?

Comment by Chris B. on July 1, 2010 at 7:44am

From left to right: my son OC Lee, nephew LCDR Matt, Matt's brother Kenny last week in Newport.

Comment by Chris B. on June 30, 2010 at 9:09pm

Tomorrow is the FY11 STA21 application deadline. I pray all applications got in on time. Now the wait begins!

Comment by Chris B. on June 13, 2010 at 9:12am

t's very nice talking to my son on a regular basis while he's at NSI. Last night the Officer Candidates get on-base liberty at the Officer Club. Lee said they were going to have a nice dinner and some refreshments. He said he would be looking out for his classmates who may be inclined to be "over-refreshed"! It seems somewhat surreal to hear him talk about the Offficer Club. He had duty Sat. morning for five hours. He said he would be quite busy with a new class of ODS students arriving.

Comment by Mary, Proud Mom on May 25, 2010 at 4:09am

Welcome Mark! Our son is applying for the first time with the July 1 deadline. Can I ask how many times your son applied before being accepted and which program did he go into? What school will he be heading to after NSI?

Comment by Chris B. on May 24, 2010 at 9:22pm

Welcome Mark! You may want to change your user ID (in case you used your last name)---OPSEC. Which part is he loving? The 4:45AM "wake-up calls" or the PT? LOL. Seriously, please share what your son said he loves about NSI. I could tell that my son was really looking forward to wearing his new uniform. He is a squad leader. He said he was making sure everyone had everything they needed for their uniforms.

Comment by Chris B. on May 24, 2010 at 9:15pm

Mary,

Sounds good. Please keep us posted with updates!

Comment by Mark D on May 24, 2010 at 7:50pm

Hello Chris
My Son is at STA-21 with your son, He is in his second week and loving it.

Comment by Mary, Proud Mom on May 24, 2010 at 7:47am

That is a great article, thanks for sharing Chris. Our son is working with a couple of Ensigns on his ship that went thru STA-21 and they are providing him with great support and some helpful suggestions. He has written his personal statement and is trying to wrap up everything for his package.

Comment by Chris B. on May 24, 2010 at 7:21am

What follows explains the STA-21 program, dated 5/22/08:

"GREAT LAKES (NNS) -- The Seaman to Admiral (STA-21) commissioning program, which provides a passageway for qualified Sailors to receive college educations and Navy commissions, is soliciting applications for fiscal year 2009.

"STA-21 is a full-time, undergraduate education and commissioning program open to enlisted personnel of all pay grades and ratings to receive a top-notch college education and become commissioned officers," says Cathy Kempf, Head, Selection and Placement, NROTC and STA-21, Naval Service Training Command.

All STA-21 officer candidates attend the Naval Science Institute (NSI) course at Officer Training Command, Newport, R.I., prior to beginning college studies at an NROTC-affiliated college or university.

NSI is an eight-week course of intense officer preparation and indoctrination. Course enrollment is timed to allow college entrance during fall, spring or summer semesters/quarters.

"Though the program is open to all ratings and pay grades, age at commissioning plays a big factor in eligibility," says Kempf. "Certain program options are restrictive in what ratings/qualifications are necessary to be eligible. Example: To apply for the Special Warfare option, you must already be a SEAL."

A limited number of selectees will be chosen to attend a three-month individualized program of study at Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training(BOOST) in Newport to assist in the transition to college. Following completion of BOOST, selectees will attend NSI en route to their university assignment.

"Just the desire to be a Naval officer is not enough. An applicant must show drive and leadership through their everyday responsibilities—that's what their chain of command will see," says Lt. Michael Brewer, lead NSI/STA-21 class officer and instructor.

"Applicants who go the extra mile with their education and preparation for a college/university environment show their chain of command that they are serious about following through," says Brewer. "This means taking SAT preparation courses, taking English 101, college algebra, etc. These are Sailors that get good endorsements from their commanding officers and go on to be successful in the STA-21 program."

Brewer has experienced the program from both sides. A graduate of NSI in 2000, Brewer was commissioned an officer in 2002 after graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

"When I was a third class petty officer stationed at NSGA (Naval Security Group Activity) Hanza, Okinawa, Japan, I read an article on commissioning programs in the Link magazine while on watch," says Brewer. "The possibility to become a Naval officer somehow became real because of that article, and by the end of my watch, after reading and rereading that article, I had made the decision that the Enlisted Commissioning Program—the model program for what is now STA-21 program—would be my one and only goal in life."

"Selectees are provided a maximum of 36 months of full-time, year-round study to complete a baccalaureate degree," says Kempf. "Participants remain on active duty while attending college and receive pay, allowances, benefits, and privileges of their current pay grade. In addition, selectees receive an education voucher for up to $10,000 per year to cover tuition, fees, and book costs."

For those who want to enter the program, Brewer offers this advice, "Focus on doing your job the best you can, let your chain of command know you are interested in becoming a Naval officer and the rest will follow."

The deadline for applications for the FY-09 STA-21 program is July 1, 2008. Application packages must be postmarked on or before the deadline date. Deadline for submission of additional documentation to an applicant's package is August 1, 2008.

Names of selectees will be announced by NAVADMIN in October 2008.

Questions concerning this program should be directed to command career counselors or to Naval Service Training Command Officer Development Division at (850) 452-9563.

For more information about eligibility requirements, visit https://www.sta-21.navy.mil.

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/greatlakes/. "

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