Distance-learning: first CAS3 class outcomes

Military Review, Sept-Oct, 2003 by Walter R. Schumm, David E. Turek

The most important recommendation gleaned from the research is that the U.S. Army Reserve Command and the National Guard Bureau must consider appropriate ways to provide and regulate compensation for students who participate in military DL courses. A uniform policy for RC students is needed, as indicated by results that between 50 percent and 100 percent of DL CAS3 students were not paid, depending on the region they were from.

If a workable, uniform policy is not published, the entire DL program might come to be seen as another case of being asked to do more with less. This might be perceived as giving with one hand (reducing travel time away from home) while taking back with the other (increased class time for staying on-line, being absent emotionally though physically at home).

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of 150 CAS3 phase
2 students in the first survey

                         DL students   Traditonal students
Characteristics              (%)               (%)

Female students              20                16
Married students             76                70
Students with children       68                68
under 18 at home
Moved to a different          4                 6
state since start
of CAS3

Table 2. Demographic characteristics of 115 CAS3 phase
2 students in the second survey

Characteristics                          (%)

Gender
  Female                                 18
  Male                                   82
Component membership
  Army National Guard                    59
  Reserve Component                      38
  Active/Guard Reserve                    2
  Active Component                        2
Type of class taken for phase 1 CAS3
  8 2 (weekend)                          87.5
  2 2 (2 weeks active duty)               3.5
  Distance learning                       8.8

Table 3. Time-usage comparisons for distance learning and
traditional approaches to CAS3

                             Traditional   DL staff
                             staff group     group      Statistically
Time                         (hours in)    (hours in)   significant

Travel time                      2.93          0.36     Yes (p<0.001)
Computer work                    1.96          1.48     No
Classroom activity              17.73         19.52     Yes (p<0.01)
Study/preparation                9.34         10.72     No
Overall time                    31.96         32.08     No
Overall civilian job hours     194.24        176.67     No (p<0.09)
Overall military job hours      35.54         27.27     Yes (p<0.05)
Total hours                    261.53        233.43     Yes (p<0.03)
(CAS3   military  
civilian)

Table 4. Differences in compensation for distance learning
and traditional CAS3 classes

                                        Traditional   DL staff group
                                        staff group      (% paid)
Compensation                             (% paid)

No pay at all                                7              50
Retirement points only                       8              18
Drill pay                                   46               9
ADAs                                        13              18
(sometimes, in addition to drill pay)
Travel pay                                   9               5
RPA man-days                                16               0
(some w/travel pay)
Totals                                      99             100