SIX PLUS TWO EQUALS STEM
A ROAD MAP TO SUCCESS
I am confident that pursuing a doctorate through ACS was the right decision for me; I would make the follow- ing recommendations to others who are interested:
• Start early. If you are currently in ACS or have recently completed your master’s degree, start thinking about whether you would want the termi- nal degree. The earlier you plan to incorporate this program into your professional timeline, the less constrained you will be by board dates or other requirements.
• Build your academic network. Reach out to the Army S&T community (DEVCOM, U.S. Army Engi- neer Research and Development Center, DARPA, etc.) and leverage the U.S. Military Academy. This can lead to connections with schools, projects and faculty members to simplify the process of getting into a good school and graduating. The academy sends several active-duty officers to Ph.D. programs every year under similar circumstances. DOD funds a number of faculty research groups, and they are often more open to accepting mili- tary officers as researchers. If you already have a master’s, reach out to your old group first. You will need them for letters of recommendation anyway, and usually they will want you back in their lab.
• Be proactive when reaching out to schools. Try to narrow your school search quickly. Then interact with the program administrators as quickly as possi- ble, as you will need them to meet all of the ACS document requirements. Many of these programs are trying to recruit graduate students, especially
those with a security clearance who come with their own funding. Try to attend the recruitment activities if possible. The normal window for acceptance for the fall is usually in late spring, beyond the Decem- ber ACS application deadline. If you have picked a program and faculty adviser before the selection board, you may be able to submit all the required documents without the official acceptance letter.
• Get your ACS packet ready early. Know all of the requirements from ACS and start gathering them as quickly as possible. Know who you are request- ing letters from in advance, have unofficial copies of your transcripts to share for an admissions decision, and get your application in as soon as you can.
• Know your professional timeline. This is a major commitment in time and effort that will change your trajectory as an Army officer. You are respon- sible to ensure that you are in the best position to meet all of your professional timeline require- ments. A number of new initiatives may help, but it is ultimately up to you to make these decisions. I recommend having an honest conversation with your supervisor and branch manager to discuss your professional timeline and determine if this opportunity is right for you. It is also important to remember that this opportunity comes with an active-duty service obligation of two years for each year of graduate school.
—MAJ. JOHN M. WILLIAMS II
My research is focused on developing novel biohybrid photovoltaic devices for expeditionary energy.
164 Army AL&T Magazine Winter 2021
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