Graduate Education plus Teaching (GET) FAQs

Back to Officer Faculty Opportunities

What’s the OPTEMPO like?

Working hours are generally 0730–1600. This time is comprised of 9–12 hours per week in the classroom, plus office hours, watch officer duties, and collateral duties. Depending on your collateral duties and student involvement there will likely be evening and weekend obligations (mentoring, student clubs, and sporting events).

How many classes will I teach?

This will vary by department, however it is typical to teach a total of three sections (possibly with additional lab periods) of initially one course and eventually two courses. This typically amounts to 9–12 hours a week in the classroom teaching a total of 40–75 students.

What courses will I teach?

Military rotational instructors typically teach the core class(es) in their department.

Will I stand watch?

Yes. O-3s stand duty officer for the academic division under which their department falls. All division duty officers have similar responsibilities of local cognizance of all division buildings/facilities and being available for any situation that arises. You are required to be on campus while the academic buildings are open to students, faculty, and staff. Additional watches such as Funeral Honor Detail, Ushering Special Events (commissioning, awards ceremonies, hosting special guests or foreign dignitaries, etc.) also arise periodically.

What type of collateral duties will I have?

There is a wide variety of duties you may be assigned at the department, division, or school-wide level. Some examples include faculty/officer representative for extra-curricular activities or sports teams; recruiting for service assignment into your community (SWO, SWO-N, SUBs, Aviation, etc.); student mentorship opportunities; research projects; and department/command collateral duties (CFL, safety officer, purchase card manager, classroom coordinator, department funds manager, participating on committees, organizing conferences or award ceremonies, courts-martial duty, supporting academic accreditation of USNA’s academic programs, etc.).

What will I do during the summer?

The Academy’s summer is broken up into three 4-week summer training blocks. Rotational military instructors typically lead training, teach summer school, prepare for semester classes, and take leave. Specific examples of summer training include serving as OIC for sailing or YP cruises, teaching in the Powered Flight Program, acting as Midshipman Liaison for Midshipman training in Fleet Concentration areas, and managing summer internships. There are many opportunities. Plan on committing at least one block to a direct midshipman engagement activity, one block for other academy-related work, and one block for leave. Some departments have specific guidelines for scheduling.

What is the service obligation for accepting a GET billet?

Every year of graduate studies obligates you to two years of service, which can be completed concurrently with other service obligations. You also are required to teach at USNA for two years as part of the GET program agreement.

How do I complete my Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) requirement?

You can complete JPME on-site at the USNA through the USNWC Fleet Seminar Program or online via the USNWC College of Distance Education.

For more information, please visit: https://usnwc.edu/college-of-distance-education.html