The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

[quote="alleyalou"](1) I am receiving funds from SMART for one year (academic year 2015-2016) and received my first payment last August 21.

(2) I will be working full-time for the Navy at NAVAIR (naval air station) in Patuxent River, MD starting this June. I interned there for two summers already though, and I have had a good experience. The lab I've worked in is (judging from past comments on this forum) pretty unique though, in the fact that they actually conduct research in a lab rather than just paperwork. I don't know what type of work you'll be doing, so it's hard to talk about department-specific experiences. The Navy is huge though and still part of the government, though, so you just have to adjust your mindset to expect everything to move a little slower and less deliberately.

(3 & 4) I'm not working full-time for the Navy yet, but my husband currently works as a Navy (DoD) Civilian at the base I'll be working at and he has done a program called AWTAP (Acquisition Workforce Tuition Assistance Program) before to pursue education while working. He got his master's through it part-time while still working. It's a 1:1 (class:payback) program, and you can get a degree from any university (not just NPS) but it just has to be approved by your supervisor to show that it actually has some bearing on anything relevant to your work (like I doubt they'd pay for you to do an art history degree if you work in robotics). I would imagine that if you applied for it while still under SMART payback, it would just add time to your overall payback (I would look into that though, I don't know from experience). I don't know if AWTAP is the only option through the Navy, but it's at least one.

Hope this helps![/quote]

Thank You Alleyalou for the detailed answers !!
I'm also looking forward to work under NAVAIR (NAWCWD at Point Mugu, CA). I was told I would be recommended by that facility.. fingers crossed!
I did read about AWTAP. From what I read it does have a cap of $10,000/yr. Is that true? That wont suffice for any degree program IMHO, but I hear NAVAIR would fund you after AWTAP is exhausted. I read this @ federalsoup.com and that it doesn't carry any service commitment. Sounded too good to be true. Thanks for letting me know that there is indeed a service commitment.
NAVAIR and SPAWAR under the navy seems to be two good facilities to work for at the DoD. All the best to you !!

(1) I am receiving funds from SMART for one year (academic year 2015-2016) and received my first payment last August 21.

(2) I will be working full-time for the Navy at NAVAIR (naval air station) in Patuxent River, MD starting this June. I interned there for two summers already though, and I have had a good experience. The lab I've worked in is (judging from past comments on this forum) pretty unique though, in the fact that they actually conduct research in a lab rather than just paperwork. I don't know what type of work you'll be doing, so it's hard to talk about department-specific experiences. The Navy is huge though and still part of the government, though, so you just have to adjust your mindset to expect everything to move a little slower and less deliberately.

(3 & 4) I'm not working full-time for the Navy yet, but my husband currently works as a Navy (DoD) Civilian at the base I'll be working at and he has done a program called AWTAP (Acquisition Workforce Tuition Assistance Program) before to pursue education while working. He got his master's through it part-time while still working. It's a 1:1 (class:payback) program, and you can get a degree from any university (not just NPS) but it just has to be approved by your supervisor to show that it actually has some bearing on anything relevant to your work (like I doubt they'd pay for you to do an art history degree if you work in robotics). I would imagine that if you applied for it while still under SMART payback, it would just add time to your overall payback (I would look into that though, I don't know from experience). I don't know if AWTAP is the only option through the Navy, but it's at least one.

Hope this helps!

Hi,

I have a few questions for previous recipients.

1) When would you receive the first stipend payment ? August or september ? Can we choose the month of the first payment ?

2) How is the overall consensus about facilities under the Navy as SFs ?

3) Does the Navy allow/sponsor for continuing education while you are still under SMART's service commitment ? or would it take many years of service to qualify for tuition assistance ?

4) If I wanted to do a masters, would I be tied to institutions under the Navy (like the Naval Postgraduate school) or is it possible to attend other schools and get the Navy to pay for tuition ? Also, would I be prohibited from doing a masters in the same/similar field ?

Please chip in with your answers. You dont have to answer all my questions. I'm sure your answers would be a great resource for future cohorts

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance