Advanced Education Programs and Requirements for Military Personnel
Summary of Change
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1775
Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
8 May 2024
*Army Regulation 621–1
Effective 8 June 2024
Education
Advanced Education Programs and Requirements for Military Personnel
By Order of the Secretary of the Army:
RANDY A. GEORGE
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff
MARK F. AVERILL
Administrative Assistant to the
Secretary of the Army
History. This publication is a major revision. The portions affected by this major revision are listed in the summary of change.
Authorities. This regulation implements Section 2005, Title 10, United States Code; Section 2013, Title 10, United States Code; Section 7401, Title 10, United States Code; DoDI 1322.06; and DoDI 1332.10.
Applicability. This regulation applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve. This regulation also applies to all agencies, activities, and Army commands or units directly under or dependent upon Headquarters, Department of the Army for personnel support. It does not apply to general officers or Army Medical Department personnel in accordance with AR 351–3.
Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this regulation is the Deputy Chief of Staff, G–1. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions to this regulation that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating agency, in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this regulation by providing justification that includes a full analysis of the expected benefits and must include formal review by the activity's senior legal officer. All waiver requests will be endorsed by the commander or senior leader of the requesting activity and forwarded through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25–30 for specific requirements.
Army internal control process. This regulation contains internal control provisions in accordance with AR 11–2 and identifies key internal controls that must be evaluated (appendix B).
Suggested improvements. Users are invited to send comments and suggested improvements on DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) directly to usarmy.pentagon.hqda-dcs-g-1.mbx.publishing-team@army.mil.
Distribution. This regulation is available in electronic media only and is intended for the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve.
*This regulation supersedes AR 621–1, dated 11 December 2019.
AR 621–1 • 8 May 2024
UNCLASSIFIED
TOCTable of Contents
Chapter 1Scope and Goals of the Programs
Chapter 2The Army Educational Requirement System Review
Chapter 3Determination of Graduate Education Requirements
Chapter 4Utilization of Personnel
Chapter 5Administration of the Civilian Schooling Programs
Chapter 6Fully-Funded Schooling
Chapter 7Partially-Funded Long Course Programs
Chapter 8Training with Industry Program
Chapter 9Short Course Training
Chapter 10Headquarters, Department of the Army Strategic Broadening Seminars
Appendix AReferences
Appendix BInternal Control Evaluation
Glossary
Army command, Army service component command, direct reporting unit, agency, and/or activity Member of the AERS who approves unit AERS positions. Database manager for TAADS – R AERS coded positions.
Army Educational Requirement System An annual review system established under the direction of the DCSDCSDeputy Chief of Staff, G–3/5/7, G – 1 to identify all Army officer posi- tions where civilian schooling or TWI (nondegree producing) is essential for optimum performance of du- ties. The AERS also provides the means for determining the Army’s annual ACS and TWI requirements.
Assets For the purposes of this regulation, assets are defined as: tion degrees or TWI (and WOs with bachelor’s degrees) in academic disciplines that support their branch, functional area, or MOSMOSMilitary occupational specialties. Nonobligated officers include officers who obtained their degrees on their own, officers who obtained their degrees prior to entry on active duty, and officers who obtained their degree from a funded program and have completed one 24-month AERS utilization tour. b . Obligated Army Educational Requirement System assets. Officers who have obtained advanced civil- ian education degrees or TWI under the provisions of this regulation (Army sponsored, fully or partially- funded) and have not completed a 24-month utilization tour.
Civilian schooling program Covers all programs discussed in this regulation, to include ACS, EGSP, DCP, CDP, TWI, HQDA SBS Program, and short course training.
Excepted positions Positions that must be filled by officers who hold a graduate degree as a requisite for commissioning; for example, law degree for JAGC officers. These positions will not be requested under the provisions of this regulation. However, if these excepted positions require additional graduate training, for example, Master of Laws for JAGC, they will be requested in accordance with this regulation.
Fully-funded While pursuing a graduate degree, the military officer receives full pay and allowances, with the majority of the tuition and other schooling costs being assumed or paid by the U.S. Government or by another or- ganization. The officer attends school instead of performing usual military duties.
Interim validation Temporary validation of a request (see para 2 – 4).
Long course instruction Training of 20 weeks or more.
Partially-funded In accordance with DoDI 1322.10, while pursuing a graduate degree, the military officer receives full pay and allowances with the majority of tuition and other schooling costs paid by the officer from personal funds and/or benefits to which the military officer was entitled. The officer attends school instead of per- forming usual military duties.
Permissive temporary duty A period of authorized absence not chargeable as leave by which a member is excused from the perfor- mance of official duties to participate for personal reasons in a quasi-official activity or function from which the Army will derive benefits.
Proponent Member of the AERS who reviews requests for validation submitted by the field and conducts an analysis of the force structure, organizational mission, and officer professional development patterns.
Short course instruction Training of less than 20 weeks.
Stabilized A state of health or disease from which little if any immediate change is expected.
Training with Industry A nondegree producing program designed to provide training or to develop skills in best business proce- dures and practices not available through existing military or ACS programs for identifiable DoD require- ments. The private sector hosts are for-profit companies or organizations. DoD continues to pay normal salaries and allowances to the individual while assigned outside DoD.
Training with Industry Program sponsor The Army staff office or organizational headquarters that is the technical expert for a given branch or functional area and serves as the liaison between the U.S. Army and the respective participating industry.
Validated positions Specific positions that are reviewed by the proponent and validated by the ACOMACOMArmy service component command, ASCCASCCArmy service component commander, DRUDRUDirect reporting unit, agency, or activity and approved by the DCSDCSDeputy Chief of Staff, G–3/5/7, G – 3/5/7. Pursuant to DoDI 1322.10, positions in which individuals possessing qualifications that normally may be acquired only through graduate education in a relevant field or study optimally perform the primary duties. The two types of validated positions are those in which the officer must possess graduate education to–– a . Conduct effective staff planning, coordination, command, and/or advisory functions. b . Manage or exert direct technical supervision over military and/or civilian personnel who are required to possess professional technical qualifications that may include graduate education.
