Navy announced that officers in Unrestricted Line (URL) communities must now be screened by administrative boards in order to attend in-residence graduate education (IRGE) programs, in NAVADMIN 263/18, Oct. 25.

Beginning with the Fiscal Year 2019 cycle, community administrative boards began selecting the most fully-qualified, due course URL officers for IRGE programs and in-residence Joint Professional Military Education (JPME).

Tuition assistance, graduate education vouchers, and other opportunities remain open for all officers, without the board requirement.

Starting with Fiscal Year 2020, statutory and administrative boards will adhere to revised precept language that enforces the value and importance of IRGE programs in their selection of officers for promotion and career milestones.

URL officers in year group 2015 and beyond will be required to graduate from an IRGE program prior to assuming major command. 

However, these officers will be able to screen for major command prior to graduating from an in-residence program.  This will allow maximum career flexibility to meet the graduate education requirement.

To meet the requirements of this policy, IRGE is defined as a completion of a graduate degree or professional military education program allowing officers to dedicate time in an academic environment. The program may be funded through the Navy or self-funded.

In-residence education programs, such as Naval War College, Naval Postgraduate School, Fleet Scholar Education Program, Olmstead Scholar, and other similar programs, provide the best opportunities to mature critical and strategic thinking skills for Navy leaders.

Distance learning degree programs and the compressed JPME Phase II course at Joint Forces Staff College will not count toward this requirement.

The graduate education program changes reflect the Navy’s continued emphasis on developing Navy leaders who understand the art and science of warfighting and can lead in complex strategic environments.

For complete information on this policy, read NAVADMIN 263/18 at www.npc.navy.mil.

For information about graduate education opportunities, visit the NPC website at: http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/officer/Detailing/educationplacement/Pages/default.aspx.

To contact your detailer, visit the NPC PERS-4 detailing website at: http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/officer/Detailing/Pages/default2.aspx.

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