STA-21 ECP

This group is for those interested in discussing enlisted commissioning programs.
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  • Amber

    Hi everyone!! I have a couple questions about the STA-21 if some of you can answer for me. My husband just recently applied for the program a week ago and now is getting ready to take his SAT and ACT to get his packet together. I can read online about all the steps that happen next if he does get accepted but is it really hard to get in? Or is it all about your score? And if he does get in I know it says he goes to Newport News for 9 weeks for officer bootcamp but after that when he goes to the university of his choice will the navy pay for me to move with him? And if your married do you have to live on campus? Sorry if these are stupid questions but I want to be prepared. :)

  • Carol Aileen

    Hi Amber,  it is a pretty competive process,  have you looked at the sta-21 website?  there is good info there - start with this brief -https://www.sta-21.navy.mil/fleet_brief.asp  this brief also shows how many were accepted in the last 2 yrs.

    other interesting reading is https://www.sta-21.navy.mil/pdfs/1420.1B_chapter8.pdf.

    They look at the total package,  My son was accepted this year,  he said he is the lowest academically in the group that is he aware of ( of about 6 nukes) , He thinks that his interviews and his LOR's gave him his boost.  

    So it is worth it to take the time to enhance his application.  If not selected the first time around keep trying!   I have heard some folks taking 3 or 4 times before getting selected.   http://www.ocs.navy.mil/nsi_faq.asp 

    Aaron is looking at renting a house once he starts college, he already has a roommate lined up.  Not sure how it works if you are married.

    Carol

  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    The DF get his BAH, we're not married but it cover our rent and I pay the other bills. The DF get 4k for spring and fall semesters and 2k for the summer to cover college expense. His university only cost 11k a year (including books) so he cover the rest out of pocket to keep the GI bill untouched.
  • granjanr

    My son was accepted this year, it was his second application to the program.  He is married and will be selling his house in Virginia and moving to Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.  The Navy will pay for the moving expenses. 

    Academics are important but in service performance, reviews and recommendations will balance out the picture.  Because the OC's only get three years to complete their college degree it is important that they have some transferable college hours under their belt.

    NSI is in Newport, Rhode Island - not at Newport News, Va, is is the first hurdle they have before reporting to their ROTC / University.  Good Luck on your hubbies application.  

  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Brady only had 9 college credits that transfered. but this semester he aug-dec he completed 23 credit hrs no problem. He wants to walk at graduation so he'll need to graduate in 2.5 years !!! yikes! But i just got out of college its not hard if your putting school first its just when the partying get in the way or the failure of a class that makes it difficult to finish well.
  • Chris

    The Right Thing:

    "What colleges did your sailors pick?"

    The Citadel...a good school, very military friendly, an exceptional bargain, in familiar territory (Charleston SC).

    "Will the next round of STA-21 applicants hear yes/no next October?"

    Yes, sometime between OCT-NOV.

    "Or do different sections of the Navy (nukes, IT, etc.) start at different times? Thanks!"

    Needs of the Navy!  FY-10 there were two NSI classes, one in Feb. and one in May.  All Nukes went in Feb.  As a pilot, Lee went in May.  This year, FY-11, there is only one NSI class--approximately half the number of OC's as previous years (@120).

     

  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Our dear friend Del is going to the Citadel next fall as a part of STA-21. He's bring his lady friend with him. I hoping that means wedding bells!
  • Carol Aileen

    Aaron got his orders to NSI /college today!!! :)
  • Chris

    Great news Carol.  Did Aaron get picked up out of the pipeline?
  • Carol Aileen

    Yes, he was in the last stages of Prototype - looks like he will not finish - they pulled his watches and such. 

  • Mrs. STS <3

    Hi everyone, my husband is putting in his STA-21 packet this year and we know a lot about the program (we've done TONS of research before making this decision) he's putting in for Oceanography and is wanting to go for his BA in Physical Oceanography since he is a Sonar Tech on submarines right now and his job already deals with Oceanography and he knows a bit about it. He has 25 prior college credits from before joining the navy and has put in for Old Dominion University, Texas A&M at College Station, and University of South Florida.. I know that it is a difficult program to get into but we're really REALLY crossing our fingers and hoping he gets picked up on it since everyone in his family has been an officer and or is an officer in the military now and he has thought long and hard on this decision and being in the Navy almost 3 years ( i know thats not a very long time) but he really wants this as do I :) He took his SAT today and is taking ACT next month and i got him the career counselor for our base's phone number to get more information/ help with getting the packet together (were trying to think of any and everything possible to help out with getting it done before he leaves on deployment in a few months)  Do any of you know if being in the program makes you eligible for in state tuition?

     

    Thanks!! :)

  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Him being Military and you being his wife on his orders makes you both eligible get in state tuition.
  • Mrs. STS <3

    Thanks! Thats what we figured, and even emailed the contact person for STA-21 and they didn't say for sure just said we 'should' get in state, but some states are different..
  • Carol Aileen

    well Aaron heads to NSI today..... Time for the next adventure to start!
  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Brady called me the first day, then we didn't talk a whole lot the first two weeks. They take a lot of classes and are getting lots of new things to get used to.
  • Carol Aileen

    Good to know.... I was figuring that there wouldn't be too much communications at first.... been getting a lot out of the way this week! :)

  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Our friend at NSI called us (we're in AZ) at 5 am our time "Hey Man what do I need to bring in for uniforms from my car".... haha needless to say Brayd got out of bed to give him answer his questions. Its gonna be sad to not skype him for 2 months we play sorry via skype with him and his girlfriend so much fun!
  • Carol Aileen

    oh that is great!! lol   no phone or text yet.... but he posted on FB that he was going to check in in an hour or so..... its been 3 hours so I suppose he is there.  He went with a group of guys so I imagine they are all having fun.... :)

    skype game playing sounds awesome....  we did Christmas presents that way... what a difference the internet has made.

  • Carol Aileen

    I've been looking to see if there are any NSI groups started, see several OCS groups but not NSI - so.... if interested...

     

    http://www.navyformoms.com/group/nsi

  • navymalespouse

    My wife is 33 an will turn 34 in one month. She is getting her package together for next June. My question is most programs require to be commissioned prior to 35. She is about 60 credits away from her b.a. Do they make exceptions since she will not by commissioned by 35? She is an AM. Is there any particular program that she would have the best shot if accepted? No more Chaplain program neither?  A lot of questions but any information is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
  • Carol Aileen

    MiaB,  You will most likely find out in October,  it was 10/19/11 when we found out!
  • Carol Aileen

    MiaB,  I saw it on Airwarriors.com   - check out this thread: http://www.airwarriors.com/community/index.php?threads/fy12-sta-21-...

    from what I understand it really should come from their command though.   My son saw it first on that site and then the info was deleted about an hour later.  He got the official word the next day.

  • Carol Aileen

    well results are out - congrats to those who made it this year!

     

  • Carol Aileen

    Yahoo!!!!! Congrats MiaB!
  • navymalespouse

    @ miab.  Congratulations!

     

  • TheRightThing

     My son is one of the lucky ones!  : )  ----a nuke,   for those who have done this, do they start at NSI at different times?  If so, what has been the earliest start date?  And then so they begin at their University in the summer semester? 

    Congrats to all!

  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    The program is much smaller than when the DH got into it in fall of '09. But Last year they only had one NSI program at Newport. They started school in the summer.
  • Carol Aileen

    I think that there will only be one class again this year. I saw someone say in feb. Then start college summer session . Where does ur son want to go? My son is a nuke at Oregon state.
  • TheRightThing

    Thanks so much for the info....this is all so new to me.  My son wants to go to North Carolina State University. Do they get the "regular college" vacation breaks or does the Navy make them stay on campus and work?
  • Carol Aileen

    I'm still getting this figured out - I know that he has to put in for leave, and he goes to school year around.... but he is coming home for Christmas for about 10 days.... and he got over this summer for a few days also. - Where in the nuke pipeline is your son Rightthing?
  • Carol Aileen

    Have you checked out the sta-21 page?  http://www.sta-21.navy.mil/index.asp - under the FAQ's is  a information package letter that will explain some things for you. -  Aaron did have to work in the NROTC office while waiting for school to start, and he had to go through the NROTC miniboot camp - which he wasn't too thrilled with having already gone through reg. Boot camp and NSI.... I told him it was a small price to pay for his education.
  • Carol Aileen

    oh its actually under other links.......

     

  • Carol Aileen

    one more link for you to check out - http://www.ocs.navy.mil/nsi.asp
  • TheRightThing

    CarolAileen- He is on Grad Hold between Power School & Prototype....in Goose Creek.  Thanks so much for the link!
  • Carol Aileen

    I'm saying Congrats again Dolphin! :)   so exciting!    You are welcome.....

    My son was still in prototype when he was selected - he stayed in prototype for a while, but it was getting harder and harder to get signed off on things, and since he was not going to be going on they put him at the bottom of the list.... they finally pulled him from prototype and he just checked in daily - maybe do some work but mostly he was able to get back into shape.  and freshen up on swimming.... and a lot of snowboarding.....

    after NSI he was able to come home  for about a month and then he reported to college/NROTC about a month before school started.

    Can't help on the husband part.... 

  • Chris

    IRRC FY 12 NSI begins 2/19/12 one class only.  Whatever is required of the OC's is determined by the NROTC Battalion at the school.  There should be a website for more information. My son gets leave for all the school holiday breaks (The Citadel).  They have phone musters on break.  They have PT several times a week at 5AM. There are FRX (Fleet Readyness Exercises) as well.
  • TheRightThing

    Thanks so much Carol & Chris!
  • Chris

    MiaB.  Eight weeks I think.  You will have plenty of time to plan if you want to go to the NSI graduation dinner.  Coming home depends on leave.  They follow the regular school schedule.  Many OC's go to summer school in order to complete their degrees in the required three years.  My son had 19 credits after NSI.  We had a wedding this summer that he was able to attend.  It shouldn't be a problem.  

     

    My son said his first year in school was "ten times easier" than being in the Nuke pipeline.  Easier, meaning much less stressful...go figure.

     

    Auburn has a NROTC website. Check it out. 

  • Chris

    Lee was picked up in November 09.  He left Ballston Spa in early April 2010 having a month to report to Newport.  After NSI in July he had another month to report to school in August.  Bottom line, your OC should have some down time before he reports to school.  However, as you know, needs of the Navy....
  • Renee

    Thanks for having this group!  I'm looking ahead to help my son who is waiting for his A school classes to start.  As I've been reading on the STA-21 website, the deadline for application packages is July 1 - what is the opening date?  After looking at his SAT dates, he needs to have something more current, and there is still time to get one in this year.  Thanks in advance for your help!
  • Chris

    There is no opening date, or, that said, July 2.  A STA-21 application is a process that usually takes months, or in some cases, years.  My son applied three consecutive years, improving his package each year, before being selected.
  • Chris

  • Chris

    10/29/11 The Citadel vs. VMI lacrosse game.  Proceeds of the game went to Special Operations Warrior Foundation.  Top picture, half time presentation. Bottom picture post game team captains--brothers in arms.
  • Carol Aileen

    Cool! Thanks for sharing!
  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Chris, I agree many people do not get picked up the first  time. My DH assumed it would be a 3-4 year process. It really is something that should be started as soon as possible (because of age requirements) .
  • Carol Aileen

    Hi Dolphin,   Aaron got instate tuition,  I think I read somewhere that active duty are considered in state...... can anyone confirm that?

    His Sta-21 payments are not enough to cover everything, he got a small loan,and has also found out that he can use the GI Bill for school now also ( I think this is fairly new for Sta-21 students) He filled out the form wrong though so is still waiting for those funds.

    I understand that at some colleges the Sta-21 payments do cover everything, so just depends.

    I'm not sure about the 2nd part of your question..... Aaron was already approved for OSU when he found out that he made Sta-21 - so he was in contact with his Rep that same week.  He was able to get help with selecting classes and tips on finding a place to live.

  • Chris

    Much depends on the "military friendliness" of the school.  I would contact the NROTC ASAP.  My son was not accepted at his first choice (UVA), though he had qualifying test scores.  He got little to no help from the faculty or staff there, in spite of spending three days there.

    The Citadel was much more helpful and his STA-21 money covers all expenses.  The academics are very good.  My son likes living Charleston, and he likes  the school.  

     

  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Just to let you know they only have 4 years to use their GI bill once they start using the money. So If there are some expenses not covered I would suggest getting a government loan to cover it (they must fill out the FASFA  once they get their taxes done). Because the GI bill can be give to a Spouse or a child. No use in wasting it. Brady has only had to pay 2k out of pocket for 1.5 years of classes which is nothing in the long run. just a few hundred dollars every semester.

  • Sweet*Southern*Lady

    Dolphin, time goes by so quick until they get into school I still can't even believe that so much of this year has gone by quickly. 565 days til Pcola! haha

  • Chris

    Whitney,

    We'll see you in Pensacola...lol