An analysis of the Navy's voluntary education

Abstract

The Department of Defense funds advanced education through the Voluntary Education Program. This study explores the following questions: (1) What is the economic return on the Navyαs Voluntary Education Program (VOLED), especially Tuition Assistance (TA)? (2) What is the impact of TA on a sailorαs career? and (3) What does a review of the literature indicate about the effects of the VOLED program? Some of the potential benefits of VOLED on sailors include improving their ability to cross-rate, improving their chances of advancement in their current rating, lowering their demotion rates and, possibly, improving reenlistment. Higher retention benefits the Navy by reducing the replacement costs for new recruits. While there is debate about the impact of VOLED on retention, the VOLED program is a service that is actively sought out by sailors, which suggests that it improves sailor satisfaction with the Navy The study concludes that additional funding should be given to the VOLED program based on the potential benefits to the Navy and the likely increase of usage in the future. A study should be commissioned in the Navy to statistically assess the quantifiable effects of the Navyαs VOLED program.