Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS) educates selected Regular Army officers toward an advanced degree to meet the educational requirements of US Army positions. The Advanced Civil Schooling fully funded graduate program provides Army officers the best academic education in the timeliest and most cost effective manner so that they may advance their careers into positions that require graduate degrees and better meet the needs of the Army.

Active Duty Officers in a Regular Army or Voluntary Indefinite Status at the time of application and selection into the program are eligible if they also meet additional selection criteria.

Many officer positions require graduate degrees as a prerequisite for assignment. The Advanced Civil Schooling program is designed to ensure that officers meet the educational requirements for placement into these positions. The Advanced Civil Schooling program educates selected officers through recommended civilian universities on a full-time, fully funded basis in their basic branch, functional area, or specialty.

Active duty Officers must meet the following eligibility requirements for Advanced Civil Schooling:

• Officer in a Regular Army or Voluntary Indefinite status at time of application and selection
• Not more than a total of 17 years Active Federal Service upon entry into Advanced Civil Schooling Program [Warrant officers have different Advanced Civil Schooling criteria (See AR 621-1 para 6—1d(1) and (2)
  • Time in Service Waiver can be requested
• Undergraduate degree in an appropriate discipline
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 (AR 621-1, 6-4f)
• • GPA Waiver can be requested
• The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is only required if the university or college requires it (with the exception of the Defense Comptrollership Program). Neither are a requirement of the ACS program. (AR 621-1, 6-4f)
• Acceptance into a graduate program requiring no more than 6 credit hours of prerequisites
  • Advanced Civil Schooling does not fund prerequisite courses or non-degree requirement electives. Prerequisite tuition assistance is available in accordance with AR 621-5. ACS will not fund courses that are taken as a prerequisite or taken as a non-degree requirement elective.
  • Degree programs must be full time, traditional classroom-setting programs. Weekend programs, On-line courses or attendance at "satellite campus" are not supported (IAW AR 621-1).
• Demonstrated potential for continued service (not at risk for promotion to next higher grade)
• Secret clearance (TS SCI for NDIC MSSI program)
• Fully qualified at current grade
• Career timeline allows for schooling and an immediate follow-on utilization assignment for a minimum of two years (many agencies require initial three-year utilization)

Selection to the program is competitive, based both on performance evaluations as an officer as well as academic achievement. The Human Resources Command provides fully funded resources to educate officers who not only exhibit strong military potential, but also possess a strong academic background and the potential to achieve a graduate level education.

Upon completion of the program, the officer is obligated to a utilization tour in an assignment requiring the academic qualifications. These ADSOs are served consecutively to all other ADSOs. See AR350-100 (Officer Active Duty Service Obligations) for more information.

Further, Officers incur an Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) of three days for every one day in school.

Training agencies select Advanced Civil Schooling candidates for their designated openings. Training Divisions represent Branch and Functional Area Proponents, as well as agencies such as the Corps of Engineers and US Military Academy. Career Divisions (Operations Division (OD)), Operations Support Division (OSD) and Force Sustainment Division (FSD)) screen nominees to ensure they meet eligibility requirements and to determine potential. The Chief of Advanced Education Programs Branch, Force Alignment and Development Division (FADD), Force Shaping Directorate, Human Resources Command reviews candidate information for final approval.

Simultaneous to the Advanced Civil Schooling selection process, the officer applies to the desired civilian institutions, unless otherwise directed by Human Resources Command. After the officer has been accepted by a university and their nomination packet has been processed by the Development Branch and approved by Chief of Advanced Education Programs Branch, FADD, the officer's Assignment Officer will issue assignment instructions through the appropriate PSB.

A DA Form 2125 (Report to Training Agency) is required with all application packets laying out the proposed program of study. Additionally, the officer willsubmit a DA 2125) to the ACS section after arrival at school and at the end of each semester/quarter, include grade information. Students should be reminded that IAW AR 621-1, they are required to maintain a "B" in every course. Email the DA 2125 to usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.opmd-army-acs@army.mil

The DA 2125 is tied to the funding requirement and without a DA 2125 payment of tuition will be delayed.

Application Process:

1. Discuss the option of graduate education with your branch or functional area. Gain their endorsement of your request, to include the appropriate cost of schooling. Officers should work with their career managers throughout the process

2. Decide where to apply (apply to U.S. accredited schools IAW Branch/FA requirements/direction)

3. Take appropriate admissions tests (e.g., the GMAT or GRE), if required

4. Secure letters of recommendation for civilian schools (Not an ACS requirement)

5. Apply to schools (ACS applicants must only apply to academic institutions accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign school attendance is not authorized. Applicants must apply to three schools within the tuition/fees cost category assigned by their Branch/FA. These three schools must be listed on DA Form 1618 which is required as part of the ACS application process)

6. Receive conditional acceptance letter

7. Receive movers message from ATS Management Board

8. Prepare Advanced Civilian Schooling application
https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Advanced%20Civil%20Schooling%20Programs%20General%20Information

9. Submit packet (ACS packet must be submitted Branch, FA or their PSB for processing (loading into Tool Kit for review, Branch/FA signatures and routing to ACS Tech for processing)

10. Receive results (ACS will notify Branch/FA/PSB of packet’s approval or disapproval)

11. Branch, FA or PSB will cut RFO for those approved to attend school via ACS after notification of approval

12. Attend school

For more information, (these pages will direct you to enter a CAC or DS Logon and password):

HRC Officer Advanced Education Programs:
https://www.hrc.army.mil/Officer/Officer%20Advanced%20Education%20Programs

HRC Advanced Civil Schooling Programs General Information:
https://www.hrc.army.mil/Officer/Advanced%20Civil%20Schooling%20Programs%20General%20Information

AR 621-1:
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN6351_AR621-1_Web_FINAL.pdf

Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS):
https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/programs/advanced-civil-schooling/

Fully Funded Graduate Programs FY23 Standing Policies and Procedures (28 June 2022):
https://www.hrc.army.mil/asset/26082