Photo By Sgt. Michael Udejiofor | U.S. Army Sgt. Naija A. Staten, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion,...... read more read more
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FORT STEWART, GA. — The Green to Gold Scholarship Active Duty Option Program is a two-year degree consecutive education program that provides eligible Army enlisted Soldiers an opportunity to obtain their first bachelor’s or first master’s degree.
Upon completion, Soldiers are commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. Applicants who entered the program as juniors or graduates retain all benefits, base pay, allowances and promotional status until commission.
Intelligent, adaptable and professional Soldiers are the Army’s greatest asset in developing future commissioned officers. Two human resource specialists from 3rd Infantry Division’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion were recently selected for the 2022-2023 school year G2G scholarship program.
U.S. Army Pfc. Jatwon Burkes attended a university while being enrolled in Army ROTC, but due to COVID-19, he instead enlisted in Jan. 2021.
“I had 87 credits after leaving my university,” said Burkes. “I only needed 120 credits to get my degree.”
He said he would like to see what it would be like to be a commander in the Army. His goal is to complete his education and being selected for the Army G2G program will help accomplish that.
“I feel extremely lucky,” said Burkes “I saw people that have been in the services for multiple years, so I do feel extremely excited because I get to go back to college to complete my degree. A big goal is to make sure that education is well taken care of and it's free.”
The junior Soldiers selected often already have experience with management at greater levels of responsibility.
“Most of the Soldiers that are selected have some ongoing commissioned officer roles in their daily duty,” said Denise R. Jackson, a human resources contractor assigned to the 3rd ID. “What happens is that we take those Soldiers in those … roles already and basically convert them into commissioned officers.”
Sgt. Naija A. Staten, the second HHBn. Soldier selected for G2G, was grateful for the support from her first line leadership.
“[My NCOIC] always asked me what I wanted to become and what my goals were in the Army,” said Staten. “I always told her the end goal was to be an officer and she presented to me the Green to Gold option.”
The process for submitting an application can seem daunting, but Staten recommends that anyone who is interested in the program should absolutely do it and submit their packet.
“Because if that's your end goal, then why not just keep pushing to do something that you want to do?” she said.
Staten was accepted into Savannah State University in Georgia and plans to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Burkes was accepted into Northwestern State University in Louisiana and he plans to earn a Bachelor’s Degree of Science Computer Information Systems.
Soldiers may also apply and qualify for the 3rd ID Commanding General’s Hip Pocket Scholarship. To earn the scholarship, Soldiers have to be selected by the division commander and meet all administrative requirements.
Jackson said that the Hip Pocket Scholarship is for Soldiers planning to leave Army service. Soldiers in the Green to Gold Program, like Burkes and Staten, will receive active duty pay while they go to school to become commission officers.
For more information on the 3rd ID CG Hip Pocket Scholarship, 3rd ID Soldiers should speak with their unit leadership.
For more information on Army Green to Gold visit:
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/green-to-gold/green-to-gold-active-duty.html
| Date Taken: | 02.25.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 03.01.2022 10:49 |
| Story ID: | 415328 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART , GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | NEW BERN, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 249 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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