By Ed Barker, Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs
The Navy's 2009 Graduate Education Voucher (GEV) program offers eligible unrestricted line (URL) officers the opportunity to receive funded graduate education during off-duty hours.
"The GEV program enables URL officers whose career paths may not provide adequate opportunity for full-time education the ability to participate in programs that enhance performance," said Cheral Wintling, graduate education coordinator for Naval Education and Training Command. "Officers must select a regionally accredited school and choose a course of study that meets the requirements of at least one approved Navy sub-specialty code as verified by the Naval Postgraduate School."
The GEV program is targeted at officers with demonstrated superior performance and upward career mobility, who are transferring or have recently reported to shore duty, in order to allow sufficient time for completion of a graduate program. The GEV program is open to URL active duty list officers, paygrades O-3 through O-5, in designators 111X, 112X, 113X, 114X, and 13XX.
There are 136 quotas available for fiscal year 2009. Quotas listed by degree program and warfare areas are available in NAVADMIN 144/08/. Further details can also be found at the Navy College GEV Policy web page.
All required fees normally charged by the university relating directly to student application and enrollment, including mandatory health fees and health insurance, laboratory fees, vehicle registration and identification cards, and computer fees are reimbursable. Other reimbursable expenses include the cost of textbooks and course materials, and limited expenditures for transcript and entry fees, and final thesis production. GEV will not, however, be paid retroactively.
Some restrictions apply and enrollment in the program carries a service obligation of three times the number of months of education completed, with a minimum of 24, and a maximum of 36, months obligation. NAVADMIN 144/08 contains additional information on specific program requirements. Interested officers should submit written requests to their detailer, per the NAVADMIN.
For those not qualifying for the GEV program, educational assistance may be available through the Tuition Assistance Program and other graduate education programs, as listed on the Navy College Web site at https://www.navycollege.navy.mil
