Sailors Head to College Under STA-21

MILLINGTON, Tenn - The Navy announced the selection of more than 200 Sailors for the FY-09 Seaman to Admiral Program (STA-21) in a Navy message released. More than 50 Sailors were selected as alternates.

"These highly motivated men and women will be among the leaders of our Navy well into the 21st century. More than 900 highly competitive applications were received from well-qualified and deserving Sailors," said Vice Adm. M.E. Ferguson III, cief of Naval Personnel, in NAVADMIN 289/08.

The STA-21 Commissioning Program is designed to allow superior active duty Sailors to receive a college education and become commissioned officers in the urestricted line, special duty officer (intelligence), special duty officer (information warfare), Medical Corps, Nurse Corps, Supply Corps, or Civil Engineer Corps.

Participants receive full pay and allowances including basic allowance for housing and basic allowance for subsistence for their enlisted pay grade, maintain medical care and commissary/exchange privileges. They also remain eligible for enlisted advancement and receive up to $10,000 per year, paid to the university to supplement the costs of tuition, fees, and books.

Applicants must meet several requirements in order to apply including U.S. citizenship, a high school diploma or GED, the ability to complete a baccalaureate degree in 36 months and physical fitness standards for commissioning.

Selections are conditional upon the selectee remaining fully eligible in all respects, meeting physical qualifications for commissioning as determined by Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and assignment by Naval Service Training Command to an approved Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps affiliated university based upon an official degree plan and acceptance letter from the university.

When the selected Sailors have completed the approved degree program, they will receive appointments as ensigns in the U.S. Navy.

For a listing of FY-09 STA-21 selectees,please review the NAVADMIN.

For more information on STA-21, read OPNAVINST 1420.1A. and visit your command career counselor.

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