The Army is launching a new fellowship program that allows qualified sergeants major to compete for scholarships to earn a master's degree through Pennsylvania State University.

The Sergeants Major Academy Fellowship Program is a merit-based program; it offers up to 20 scholarships a year for a master's degree in adult education.

Successful applicants will complete the one-year program while stationed at the Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas. They will then spend three years as instructors at the academy.

The program is part of the Army's overall commitment to improving its education programs and developing agile, adaptive and innovative leaders, said Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Defreese, commandant of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.

"We want the sergeants major that are teamed with either commanders or other officers to have a common understanding and ability to critically think," Defreese said.

The program also will better prepare soon-to-be instructors at the academy, he said.

"It really is hit or miss for me, as I select [instructors], if they have the aptitude to teach or not," Defreese said. "They may be a great leader, but they may not have the aptitude to teach."

The fellowship program came together in just six months, after Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler asked the academy to look into whether such a program was feasible, Defreese said.

"The chief of staff of the Army wants more noncommissioned officers included in the fellowships as part of his vision for innovative and adaptable senior leaders," he said.

As the fellowship program gets underway, leaders at the Sergeants Major Academy hope to eventually phase out its contracted instructors, replacing them with graduates of the master's program, said Jesse McKinney, the director of human resources for the academy.

Each class at the academy typically has one military instructor and one civilian instructor, McKinney said. There are currently 67 instructors at the academy; 32 of them are contractors.

"It's not that the civilian instructors don't do a great job, but when you get sergeants major that are coming from across the Army, it just keeps it fresher and more relevant," Defreese said.

The intent is for 20 sergeants major to start the master's program each year, Defreese said.

"Eventually, we won't have to renew the [instructor] contract," he said. "At the end of three years, I'll have 60 sergeants major with master's degrees in adult education. At that point, I will have two master's level instructors in each classroom."

The result should be instructors who are better prepared and equipped to teach their students, Defreese said.

The Sergeants Major Academy is already hearing from senior NCOs interested in applying for the program, Defreese said.

Based on the requirements, Defreese said he estimates more than 1,000 sergeants major are eligible to apply.

"We think we have a sustainable pool for the Army, and it's big enough that we'll get pretty good feedback," he said.

As the program gets underway, the students at the academy will reap the benefits, said Sylvester Smith, manager of the fellowship program and director of strategic plans at the academy.

"The reason why we're doing this isn't about having the fellowship program," he said. "It's about preparing those soldiers to lead in a conflict environment."

The fellowship program will cost $27,900 per student. The only cost to the student is a $65 application fee to Penn State; the Army will pick up the rest.

The Army opted for candidates to complete a master's in adult education because research shows that teachers with a background in education studies are much better prepared teacher than those with just content knowledge, officials said.

Smith himself served as an instructor at the academy for seven years, both in and out of uniform.

As a uniformed instructor, Smith had a bachelor's degree in management, he said. After he retired and became a contract instructor, he earned a master's in business administration and a master's in education.

"With all the skills I obtained from the education degree, I was able to be a much better instructor because I understood all the dynamics of education theory and other skills, and I was able to apply it in the classroom," Smith said. "It made me much better at my job."

Here's what you need to know about the program and how to apply.

Who can apply?

Active Army sergeants major with at least 12 months of experience as a sergeant major after graduation from the Sergeants Major Course.

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

They must have no fewer than 48 months remaining in service before their mandatory retirement date as of May 2016.

Applicants also must be able to pass the Army physical fitness test and be U.S. citizens. They must have a minimum General Technical score of 100.

Back-to-back instructor assignments are allowed for academy instructors, so sergeants major who are currently assigned to the academy can apply.

How does this work?

Applicants must apply by April 3 via e-mail to Sgt. Maj. Garner Daugherty at Human Resources Command. His e-mail address is garner.g.daugherty.mil@mail.mil.

The subject of the e-mail should be "Request to compete for USASMA Fellowship Program. The application packet must include DA Form 4187; Statement of Purpose; current DA Forms 705 and 5500-R/5501; and a letter of recommendation from the applicant's first line command sergeant major.

HRC will convene a panel April 6-10 to select the first class of candidates. The list will then be sent to the Sergeants Major Academy for final selection and approval.

Successful applicants will be notified by April 17.

The only out-of-pocket expense for applicants is a $65 application fee to Penn State. The Army will pay for tuition, books and technology fees for the full program.

What's next?

Successful applicants will incur a four-year service commitment. They will spend one year completing their degree, followed by three years as an instructor at the Sergeants Major Academy.

Those selected for the program must make a permanent change of station move to the academy by Aug. 10.

Selected fellows must enroll in their core courses by July 1 for the fall session, which begins Aug. 24.

The program will consist of three sessions, from August 2015 through August 2016.

Each semester, the soldier will be required to submit DA Form 2125 to outline their academic schedule and progress report.

Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 to successfully complete the program.

Those who fail to achieve a degree at the end of the year-long program, who involuntarily withdraw, or who are dis-enrolled for substandard academic performance or misconduct before completing their studies must submit an Academic Evaluation Report. Final determination of the student's status and the report will be filed in the student's official records.

Sergeants major instructors who fail to complete their three-year service obligation may be required to reimburse the government for the costs of the advanced education.

Michelle Tan is the editor of Army Times and Air Force Times. She has covered the military for Military Times since 2005, and has embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Haiti, Gabon and the Horn of Africa.

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