A Guide to Military Education- The Marine Corp, part 2.

Marine Corps Tuition Assistance

Marine Corps Tuition Assistance (TA): offers financial assistance to service members who elect to pursue Off-Duty or Voluntary Education. Not what your looking for? Try the Marine Corps Education Programs or Top Marine Corps Schools or return to Military Education Guide.

Payment
The Marine Corps maximum amount paid for tuition assistance: 100% Tuition and Fees  not to exceed:

• $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or
• $166 @ Quarter Credit Hour, and
• $4500 @ Fiscal Year

Application Process

• First-time students must complete a TA Orientation Class PRIOR to using TA.
• Marines at remote sites (non-Marine Corps installations) may access the course by clicking on the TA Orientation link below. All others: Please proceed to your local base Lifelong Learning or Education Office.
• Marines must apply for and receive written authorization for TA through the appropriate education office, PRIOR to enrollment. Use form NETPDTC 1560 at the Marine Corps Community Services Website.
• TA for remote Marines and those assigned to other service sites is processed at Camp Lejeune for those east of the Mississippi and Camp Pendleton for those west of the Mississippi. I-I duty Marines apply through MARFORRES, New Orleans. Recruiters apply via their recruiting district or region headquarters.

The Fine Print

• TA will fund up to 100% of institution charges for tuition, instructional fees, laboratory fees, computer fees and mandatory enrollment fees combined for postsecondary education, from vocational certification through graduate study.
• Once a Marine is enrolled with TA he or she must submit a degree plan before exceeding 12 semester hours.
• TA is not authorized for courses leading to a lateral or lower level degree than you already possess (i.e. second Associate's or Bachelor's degree).
• TA is not authorized for books.
• Officers using TA agree to remain on active duty for two (2) years following the completion of the TA funded course.

A Guide to Military Education- The Marine Corp, part 1.

Marine Corps Education Programs

 

Marine Deployed Education Programs:

The purpose of the Marine Deployed Education program is to provide undergraduate level courses to afloat Marines, MCB Camp Pendleton and MCAS Cherry Point developed MOUs with academic institutions. Qualified Marines with the proper units provide the instruction. Courses are provided by Park University and Central Texas College. The academic institutions identify and employ qualified marine instructors to teach courses. Marines receive instruction according to the deployment schedule and pay tuition according to the standard tuition assistance policy. Not what your looking for instead view information on Marine Corps Tuition Assistance or view Top Marine Corps Schools. Still not what your looking for? Return to Military Education Guide.

Marine Library Program
The mission of the Marine Corps General Library Program, a component of the Lifelong Learning Program, is to assemble, organize, preserve and make easily and freely available to all service personnel, balanced and unbiased collections of library materials (print and non-print), and accompanying library services. The Marine Corps General Library Program is specifically attuned to the interests and requirements of Marine Corps personnel and to the missions and tasks of commands.

Visit the Marine Corps Library Program for more information.

Military Academic Skills Programs (MASP)
The Military Academic Skills Programs was developed to improve the competencies of active duty enlisted personnel in the academic skills of reading, communication/writing, and mathematics.

Visit the Marine Academic Skills Program website for more information.

Tuition Assistance for the Marine Corps
If you are Active Duty, the Marine Corps will pay up to 100% of your college Tuition.

Visit Marine Corps Tuition Assistance for more information.

US MAP
The USMAP is the largest apprenticeship program sponsor registered with the United States Department of Labor. It provides 126 occupations. From program inception, nearly 20,000 Marines and Sailors have completed their Certificates of Apprenticeship.

Visit the US MAP website for more information.

SMART Transcripts
SMART is an official transcript endorsing and recommending college credit for military education and training and recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE). The Marine Corps and the Navy have developed SMART jointly. Marine Corps and Navy Personnel have an official document certifying military training and education for recommended college credit called the Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART).

For more information, visit the SMART Transcripts website.

SOCMAR
SOCMAR is the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) degree program for the Marines.

• SOCMAR consists of colleges that offer associate and bachelor's degree programs on or accessible to Navy and Marine installations worldwide.
• SOCMAR colleges form networks in which each college accepts credits from all the others.

SOCMAR guarantees that you and your adult family members can continue toward completion of your degrees even though the Marine Corps may transfer you several times. There are also degrees available by distance learning that require no classroom residency.

Visit the SOCMAR website for more information.

The Navy College-at-Sea Program (NCPACE)

NCPACE is a part of the Navy College Program. NCPACE gives you the opportunity to experience challenging education while on sea duty assignments preparing you for personal and professional growth. Both academic skills and college (undergraduate and graduate) courses are available through NCPACE. NCPACE college courses are provided by the following regionally accredited colleges and universities:

• Central Texas College
• Chapman University
• Coastline Community College
• Excelsior College
• The George Washington University
• Old Dominion University
• St Leo University
• St Josephs College of Main
• Troy State University
• University of Oklahoma
• Citrus College
• Dallas Community College
• ECPI College of Technology
• Empire State College
• Fort Hays State University

Other Marine Corps Education Benefits

The Marine Corps College Fund
If you complete an active duty contract of at least 48 months, you may become eligible for the Marine Corps College Fund. In combination with the Montgomery GI Bill, it provides almost all of the funding necessary for your college education. Recipients of the fund can get up to $50,000 for college

Navy (Marine Option) Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Scholarship
The NROTC Program was established to educate and train qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the Marine Corps Reserve.

• The four-year option covers full tuition at certain selected colleges and universities. The scholarship also includes the cost of educational fees, a stipend for textbooks, uniforms and a subsistence allowance for each academic month for which a student is enrolled.
• The two-year option covers costs of tuition, fees, textbooks, and uniforms for the final two years of college. This option is open to all college students having completed their sophomore year or third year of a five-year program. The students enrolled under the two-year option must complete eight years of military service, four of which must be in active duty.

The Navy Marine Corps Relief Society Sponsored Programs

The Admiral Mike Boorda Seaman-to-Admiral Educational Assistance Program
The Admiral Mike Boorda Seaman-to-Admiral Educational Assistance Program offers grants and/or interest-free loans of up to $2,000 a year to eligible active duty servicemembers accepted to the following programs:

1. Enlisted Commissioning Program
2. Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program
3. Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program

The Program is also open if you are a Midshipman who has been released from active duty for immediate assignment to the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Program. Application is made through the Commanding Officer of the NROTC Unit, or by contacting NMCRS Headquarters.

For more information visit the Adm. Boorda Education Program website. Or visit the website for the application.

Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP)
The Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) offers STAP to your spouse if you are an active duty servicemember stationed in an overseas (OCONUS) location. Your spouse may be a full or part-time student studying toward a vocational certificate or an undergraduate or graduate degree. 


For more information visit the STAP website and Spouse and Family Educational Assistance Programs.

A Guide to Military Education- The Coast Guard, part 2.

Coast Guard Tuition Assistance

Coast Guard Tuition Assistance assists eligible personnel - active duty, reserve and civilian employees - in their professional development by providing funding for off-duty voluntary education courses to broaden their academic or Coast Guard technical background. Not what your looking for? View our Coast Guard Education Programs page or Top Coast Guard Colleges instead or return to Military Education Guide.

Payment
The maximum amount paid for tuition assistance: 100% Tuition

Not to exceed:

• $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or
• $166 @ Quarter Credit Hour, and
• $4500 @ Fiscal Year

Application Process
The management of TA is centralized at the USCG Institute through a consolidated tuition assistance processing system managed by the U.S. Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center (NETPDTC) in Pensacola, Florida.

The Coast Guard Institute approves the TA Application (CG-4147) (PDF Format) , inputs data into the Navy's computer database, and issues the TA Authorization form (CGI-1560).

The applicant then takes the CGI-1560 to the academic institution during registration; the institution bills the Navy (NETPDTC) for payment of the government's share of tuition assistance.

The Fine Print

• Tuition assistance is not authorized for use to meet unit specific operational training requirements.
• There is no limitation on the use of TA when a member is receiving “financial aid” such as a student loan, Sallie Mae, Stafford loan, etc.
• All courses must be taken from a nationally or regionally accredited institution, resulting in college credit or accredited clock or contact hours.
• Eligibility and benefits are standardized service wide for Coast Guard active duty, civilian employees, select drilling reserve members (SELRES), and Public Health Service officers working with the Coast Guard.
• TA will be authorized "up-front" for traditional college coursework for courses less than 18 weeks in length. Courses may be resident or remote.
• TA is not authorized for reimbursement for books.
• Developmental courses may be authorized if required by the institution prior to taking a freshman level course. Many colleges require a developmental course in Math, English and reading if the applicant has been out of school for several years. Applicants should note that these courses (usually numbered starting with zero "0" as the first digit) are not transferable.

TA does not cover the following expenses:

• Application, entrance or enrollment fees
• Student activity fees/ Student ID
• Fees for flight time, flying lessons, or noncredit aviation classes
• Course registration fees
• Textbooks, manuals
• Record-maintenance fees
• Non-consumable materials
• Assembled items available commercially such as computers, televisions, robots
• Parking fee
• Cost of tools, protective or other equipment that becomes the property of the student
• Certification courses and tests, or licenses.

Additional Information

Enlisted Members

Must complete the TA authorized course(s) on or prior to RELAD, discharge, or retirement.

Note: If member is going to RELAD and provides documentation showing that he/she will be in the SELRES, then TA authorized course(s) may begin in active duty status and be completed in SELRES status.

Officers

Must complete one-year service upon completion of the course. Officers who use CG Tuition Assistance incur obligated service in exchange for their participation in the program. Specifically, officers agree not to request release, separation, retirement or termination off SELRES status for 12 months following the course completion date of the last course funded by TA. This service obligation is no different than that incurred for Advanced Education, Senior Service School, PCS Orders, Promotion, Aircraft Transition, etc.
SELRES members must maintain at least "minimum drill attendance", maintaining "satisfactory participation."

Civilian employees with at least 90 days of prior, continuous Coast Guard service agree to retain employment with the Coast Guard of at least one month for each credit hour upon completion of a course(s). "Temporary" civilian employees must have 12 months previous Coast Guard service and must have remaining contract with the Coast Guard for 1 month for each credit hour upon completion of a course(s). Non-appropriated funded personnel (NAFA) and contractors are not eligible for TA.

Expenses Covered 

Direct expenses for instruction such as laboratory, studio, and shop fees may be included in the computation of education expenses covered by the 100% limitation for off-duty education. Provided, these costs are based on specific fees or charges customarily levied by educational Institutions and are directly tied to the course for which the fee is required. TA will not cover the cost of tools, protective or other equipment, manuals or textbooks, which become the property of the student. In cases where flat fees are charged, which include non-consumable items, the Institution must furnish an itemized cost breakdown of the total cost of the course. Only that portion of the fee that meets the use and consumable criteria will be eligible for TA.

A Guide to Military Education- The Coast Guard, part 1.

Coast Guard Education Programs

The Coast Guard also offers its members great opportunities to get a college education generally referred to as Voluntary Education or Vol Ed. The Coast Guard Institute offers the following programs to help Coast Guardsmen reach their education goals.

If you are an Active Duty, Selective Reserve or Coast Guard federal employee, the Coast Guard will pay up to 100% of your college Tuition. View Coast Guard Tuition Assistance page.

SOCCOAST
SOCCOAST is the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) degree program for the Coast Guard.

1. SOCCOAST consists of colleges that offer associate and bachelor's degree programs on or accessible to Navy and Marine installations worldwide.
2. SOCCOAST colleges form networks in which each college accepts credits from all the others.

For more detailed information visit the SOCCOAST website.

SOCCOAST Afloat
SOCCOAST Afloat consists of SOCCOAST institutions that have degree programs where you can fulfill requirements with stand-alone CD-ROM Courses. This media is necessary aboard ships and cutters where there is limited Internet connectivity. The current, SOCCOAST Afloat is comprised of four institutions that have that capacity:

1. Coastline Community College
2. Excelsior College
3. Florida Community College at Jacksonville
4. Fort Hays State University

These institutions have a good reputation in providing courses afloat to other servicemembers. Other SOCCOAST institutions may join SOCCOAST Afloat as the concept is further developed and implemented.

Click on SOCCOAST Afloat for more information.

More Coast Guard Resources
The Coast Guard Foundation Grant If you are an active duty enlisted member the Coast Guard Foundation offers you an annual Education Grant. This grant program is open to active duty enlisted personnel in pay grades E-3 to E-9 with two or more years of Coast Guard service. This $350 grant may be used in conjunction with the Coast Guard Tuition Assistance Program, or other non-funded relevant education items.

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA)
CGMA offers a Supplemental Education Grant (SEG) of up to $160 per year. You can use this grant for any

Additional Education Assistance family member's education expenses. However it does not cover Tuition expenses. This grant can also be used to pay for ASVAB, CLEP, SAT, and other study guides. CGMA also offers several education related loans.

The Coast Guard also offers dependent spouses and Federal Coast Guard employees the opportunity to take CLEP, DANTES, and other tests at no cost.

Advanced Education Programs
There are many advanced education programs available for both enlistees and officers. These are currently announced by ALCOAST, ALCGENL, and other general distribution messages from Coast Guard Headquarters.

A Guide to Military Education- The Army, part 2.

Army Tuition Assistance

Army Tuition Assistance  or (TA) provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a soldier's professional and personal self-development goals. The program is open to nearly all soldiers (officers, warrant officers, enlisted) on active duty, and Army National Guard and Army Reserve on active duty.

Army Tuition Assistance
Army Tuition Assistance (TA) provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a soldier's professional and personal self-development goals. The program is open to nearly all soldiers (officers, warrant officers, enlisted) on active duty, and Army National Guard and Army Reserve on active duty.

There are some restrictions to who may use Army Tuition Assistance and what courses it can be used for.

Download AR 621-5 (Army Continuing Education System Regulations) to get further details.

Tip
The Army has launched a new online TA process. Be sure to register and get your username and password set up even if you don't intend to start classes right away.

Payment
The maximum amount paid for tuition assistance: 100% Tuition and Fees Not to exceed:

• $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or
• $166 @ Quarter Credit Hour, and
• $4500 @ Fiscal Year

The Army Continuing Education System has launched a new automated tuition assistance project. The TA automation will allow active duty soldiers to request TA and enroll in courses online. This will speed up the enrollment process and minimize wait times at Army Education Centers. Active Duty soldiers are now able to request TA online through GoArmyEd.

The New Online Application Process
The following key points and GoArmyEd procedures are now in effective:

• If you were enrolled in the eArmyU program and have maintained the minimum standard Army TA grade point average of 2.0 you will automatically have access to the new system.
• If you have received tuition assistance with a passing grade since 1 October, 2004 you will receive an invitation in your Army Knowledge Online email account to obtain a login/password for the new website.
• In order for you to obtain TA for classes starting 1 May, 2006 and beyond, you must register on the GoArmyEd website – register for a login/password as soon as possible.
• Obtaining a login/password does not obligate you to take eArmyU or any other college courses.
• You will choose your degree/certificate program and request TA online through www.GoArmyEd.com.
• TA eligibility checks will be automated. If TA is approved, a request for enrollment will be passed electronically to the school.
• If the TA request is disapproved, you will be notified about the steps you will need to take. Education Center personnel will be available to assist with resolving TA issues.
• If you are not in eArmyU, or you have not received an invitation through your AKO email, you must request a GoArmyEd login by choosing the “New Users” tab in the public view of GoArmyEd.com before requesting TA. The “New Users” tab will guide you through the processes necessary to obtain a login and establish an account.
• Your record of previous courses and degree plan will be accessible online.
• If you need to withdraw from class, the withdrawal must be done online through www.GoArmyEd.com. The withdrawal will be forwarded to the school.
• If you withdraw for personal reasons, the new system will initiate TA repayment procedures. Personal withdrawal reasons require you to repay the TA. Repayment will take place through an automated feed between the Army and Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).
• If you withdraw for military reasons, your Unit Commander information will be required with the military reason for withdrawal. The request is subject to verification. If the military reason is approved, TA repayment will be waived.
• Remember that fraudulent requests for military reasons are subject to disciplinary action or criminal charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
• You will need to get your Commander’s signature on a TA Statement of Understanding (SOU) each year. Sergeants First Class (SFC) and above may sign for themselves in place of the Commander. Each term you will need to recertify the TA SOU online.
• If you choose to attend a school that does not have any courses available in the new system, you need to pay tuition directly to the school and request reimbursement. Authorized TA reimbursement will be paid through DFAS directly to your bank account after receipt of successful grade.
• Listings of schools that provide upfront TA are listed on the GoArmyEd website under the “Earn a Degree” link. Click on “Schools and Programs”.

For general information about the Army's automated TA process, GoArmyEd.com.

A Guide to Military Education- The Army, part 1.

Army Education Programs

The powerful legacy of the United States Army is filled with heroism, victory and excellence. America’s gratitude runs deep for military men and women who served, or are serving, with devotion and diligence. Now, as in the past, America wants to repay a small measure of that service with generous Army education programs, known as Voluntary Education. These programs enable current and veteran Army service members, including reservists, to pursue a college education at little or no cost. Benefits may include tuition assistance, housing allowances, payoffs of previously-acquired student loans, connections with military-friendly colleges, disbursements of computers and printers, and more – depending upon individual eligibility.

If you served honorably in the U.S. Army, or are currently serving, do not miss out on these benefits – they belong to you. As a U.S. Army service member or veteran, you are part of an elite group that has earned major rewards for selfless sacrifices made on behalf of your country. So, enroll now in Army education programs to plan for the future and keep pace with a rapidly changing world.

Achieve Your Education Goals through Army Education Programs
Whether you are an enlisted soldier or officer, active-duty or reserve, or a veteran, the Army provides options for you to pursue your education goals. The Army Continuing Education System (ACES) is a great place to find the Voluntary Education (Vol Ed) program that best fits your needs.

* eArmyU
* GoArmyEd
* Tuition Assistance also known as (TA)
* Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOCAD)
* Other Army Education Resources

eArmyU
When traveling from duty station to duty station, either in the U.S. or abroad, there is no need for interruptions in college coursework or loss of college credit. With a focus on distance-learning, the eArmyU program makes the best use of the latest technology.

eArmyU offers online degree and certificate programs to active-duty soldiers through accredited, military-friendly colleges and universities. Army education students who qualify receive 100% tuition assistance. The Laptop Option, which offers applicable technology tools (including a new computer), is not available at this time. However, the popular program could be reinstated at a later date.

Remarkably, eArmyU students may earn online associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degrees from at least 50 countries around the world. Online certificate programs, which include technical and vocational specializations, are also available and often require fewer courses.

The eArmyU program has been so successful that approximately a quarter of participating soldiers either reenlists or extends military service to complete educational goals. The program helps to improve vital critical thinking and technical skills for a 21st century Army. It also continues to prepare soldiers for a professional career after completion of active-duty Army service.

GoArmyEd
GoArmyEd is the primary online gateway for active-duty and reserve soldiers to access army education information, request Army Tuition Assistance (TA), and complete paperwork for on-campus and online degree programs, certificates and classes. Information provided includes a broad selection of distance-learning programs offered through eArmyU.

Those who are eligible to use the services of GoArmyEd include:

* Active duty and reserve soldiers pursuing postsecondary educational goals.
* Army Education counselors who are providing educational guidance.
* Military-friendly colleges and universities offering higher education degrees, certificates and classes. These schools also report soldiers’ progress through GoArmyEd.

Army Tuition Assistance
As an active-duty or reserve Army service member, you may be eligible to receive 100% tuition assistance (TA) for college courses.

Basic eligibility requirements must be met. Some basic information is as follows:

* You must enroll in an approved college, university or other higher education institution.
* 100% tuition assistance will be paid up to a specified per unit cost and up to a maximum amount per year.
* Both undergraduate and graduate college coursework at approved on-campus and online schools are eligible.

Tuition assistance (TA) is fully automated, allowing Army service members to access relevant information, request TA, and fill out application and enrollment forms online. Soldiers may avoid or minimize waiting in long lines at Army Education Centers by taking advantage of the convenient, online services of GoArmyEd.

SOCAD
The Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) program is a network of approved military-friendly colleges that work together to serve the education needs of U.S. soldiers around the world.

SOCAD consists of accredited colleges and universities that offer traditional and online associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs. Soldiers may earn their college degrees while serving at Army installations all over the world.

The SOCAD schools are united in their mission to make it easier for service members to earn their college degrees. By interlinking in a way that enables colleges in the network to accept and transfer credits between one another, Army education students and their families are assured that transferring to new duty stations will not delay the achievement of educational goals.

SOCAD schools also offer college credit for military experience and training, based upon criteria established by the American Council on Education (ACE). Army education students may also receive credit for passing CLEP and DSST exams that are relevant to the specific degree program.

Online degree programs through SOCAD are particularly flexible and convenient; since online students are not assigned to campus locations for purposes of establishing academic residency. Army education students may study entirely online with the same college or university while earning their college diplomas, even as they move to new locations.

Please visit the SOCAD website for additional information.

Other Education Resources for the Army

Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SSEAP)
The Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SSEAP) is a scholarship program, based on need, for spouses, widows, and widowers of active duty or retired Army service members. Eligible applicants must reside in the United States and are required to use any monies they receive for education purposes.

Please visit the SSEAP for additional information.

The Army College Fund
The Army College Fund (ACF) is an enlistment incentive that adds additional monies on top of the Montgomery G.I. Bill (MGIB).

Eligibility for the ACF is only available for choosing from a narrow group of Military Occupational Specialties (MOS). A list of eligibility requirements for this benefit includes:

* Recruit must be a high school graduate.
* Recruit must have no prior military service.
* Recruit must score 50 or higher on the Armed Forces Qualification Test.
* At the time of enlistment, recruit must select a specific MOS designated as eligible for the ACF program.
* Recruit must enroll and take part in the MGIB.
* Recruit must include the ACF contract in the enlistment agreement.


The specific amount of the ACF education benefit is dependent upon length of enlistment, along with other calculations that include the amount of the MGIB education benefit. The ACF benefit plus the MGIB benefit will not exceed a specified maximum amount, currently $83,448, for those that meet top eligibility criteria.

Officers are generally not eligible for the ACF program; and enlisted men are no longer eligible to apply once they officially enter active-duty Army service.


College Loan Repayment Program (CLRP)
College students often struggle under hefty student loan debt. However, the Army is willing to pay off a huge chunk of it for those who meet specific enlistment criteria. Enlistees sign away their rights to Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits as a tradeoff for the CLRP.

Similar to the Army College Fund (ACF), the CLRP is only available to those who choose specific Military Occupational Specialties (MOS).

The Army will pay off up to $65,000 of student or parent loan debt for active-duty recruits who enlist for 3 years, or more, and up to $40,000 for Army Reserve recruits who enlist for 6 years.

Qualifications include:

* Recruit must decline enrollment in the Montgomery GI Bill in writing.
* Recruit must include the CLRP paperwork among the enlistment contracts.
* Recruit must not have prior military service.
* Recruit must have a high school diploma.
* Recruit must score at least 50 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).
* Recruit must select an eligible MOS from the recruiter’s current list.
* Recruit must have a higher education loan that was acquired prior to enlistment in active duty or reserve service. The loan must be insured or guaranteed under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Potential recruits should do their own research into Army Education Programs in order to avoid misunderstandings and disappointment once they have enlisted.

A Guide to Military Education- The Air Force, part 2.

Air Force Tuition Assistance (TA) is an important quality of life program that provides 100% tuition and fees for courses taken by active duty personnel. The program is one of the most frequent reasons given for enlisting and re-enlisting in the Air Force.

Payment
The maximum amount paid for Tuition Assistance: 100% Tuition and Fees

Not to exceed:

• $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or
• $166 @ Quarter Credit Hour, and
• $4500 @ Fiscal Year

Application Process
You must apply for Tuition Assistance online using the Air Force Virtual Education Center. This must be done through the Air Force Website.

The Fine Print
You will be unable to apply online for TA if the following applies to you:

• Missing grades over 60 days from course end date.
• Suspense dates that have expired.
• Missing personal data in the education record including: Phone, DOS, DOB, Unit, Office Symbol, Mailing Address, Email Address, base, and Education Level.
• Requesting TA for courses that start more than 30 days into the future.
• Requesting TA for courses that have already started.
• Requesting TA for lower level courses which are less than highest level awarded.
• No degree plan in records.
• TA will be provided for a Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) degree regardless of your current education level.
• TA will be provided for a civilian college associate degree even if you have a CCAF associate degree provided you do not possess a civilian associate or higher degree.
• You are no longer required to obtain your supervisor's signature on your TA form; however, you are expected to discuss your schedule with your supervisor to ensure that participation has his/her support.

TA is not authorized for courses leading to a lateral or lower level degree than you already possess (i.e. Second Associate's or Bachelor's degree).

Additional Information
After you have completed your tuition assistance form and registered for class, you may still drop/change courses without penalty as long as you notify both the base education center and the school. If you drop a course after the drop/ add period, you must still notify the base education center and the school but you are liable for the cost of tuition, unless you qualify for waiver of tuition assistance reimbursement.

If you receive a grade of incomplete from a school, you have as much time as the school allows you to clear the incomplete or 12 months from the end of the term, whichever comes first, to clear the incomplete. If you fail to provide a grade that clears the incomplete by that time, we are obligated to recover the tuition assistance. No Tuition Assistance for post-masters degree course work or degree.

A Guide to Military Education- The Air Force, part 1.

Air Force Education Programs 

Your mission is to do your best in everything, whether it is on your military job or on the economy living by the core values of the United States Air Force - Integrity First, Service before Self, and Excellence in All We Do. That desire for excellence is what ties you to other Air Force active-duty members and veterans. A college education is another step to help you achieve those goals. Both on-campus programs and online degrees are viable options to take you to where you want to go.

Fortunately, the Air Force is behind its service members with the support they need and deserve. A wealth of college programs and financial assistance is available to help military personnel and veterans earn college credits, college degrees and professional certificates.

Higher education resources include Voluntary Education (through the Department of Defense), which includes the Community College of the Air Force, Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, and other military education opportunities. Feel free to view education information about the other military branches as well. View our Air Force Tuition Assistance page for help with how to pay for college. And if you want to take a look at additional high-quality accredited colleges and universities, check out the Top Air Force Schools.

Military Tuition Assistance
As current or former military service members, you may qualify for one of several tuition reimbursement plans that pay up to 100% of your college tuition. Some plans also cover eligible spouses, sons or daughters and help alleviate the burden of paying for higher education.

The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)
CCAF offers enlisted men and women an exclusive right to attend the only degree-granting higher education institution dedicated solely to them. As an enlisted airman or NCO, you will find that the CCAF is an excellent place to earn your 2-year associate's degree. The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Commission on Colleges.

Check out the CCAF website to view more information.

Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC)
SOC address the unique situations that enlisted personnel encounter when attempting to earn a college diploma. It utilizes a network of over 1,900 colleges and universities. These schools are focused upon helping you achieve educational continuity during frequent transfers to new duty stations. SOC helps you and your family members to earn a traditional or online degree, with no penalty for relocating during a school term. There is also a great deal of flexibility in being able to take classes in off-duty hours either on or near the base - both in the U.S. or abroad, or through online degree programs.

View more information on SOC by visiting their website.

Other Air Force Education Resources

Student Loan Repayment Program (LRP)
This is another one of the great benefits of military service, if you are eligible. When you enlist, the Air Force will repay up to $10,000 of the student loans you already incurred from previous college-level coursework.

Find out more about the Loan Repayment Program by visiting the Air Force Website.

Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)

General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program
If you are the son, daughter or surviving spouse of an active duty, reserve, retired or deceased member of the Air Force, this program may help you pay for college. The Air Force Aid Society considers the General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program to be the flagship of their education opportunities. It provides $2,000 to each eligible recipient for undergraduate studies. So far, over 74,679 grants have been awarded to select sons and daughters of current or former Air Force personnel. This highly valuable and successful program began in the fall of 1988 and has continued to this day, with the award amount having been raised to reflect the high costs of attending colleges and universities.

Awardees must use the funds to pay for tuition, fees, books or other direct educational expenses.

Learn more about how to apply for the AFAS Grant.

General George S. Brown Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP)
Spouses of active duty airmen or officers have not been forgotten in their quest to obtain a college education. The Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) provides a portion of tuition for eligible spouses who travel overseas with Air Force military members. Eligible spouses must plan to enroll in an accredited college or university after relocation to the Air Force member's new duty station.

Find out whether you or your spouse is eligible for this benefit at the Air Force Aid Society website.

Which Military University or College to Pick

Here are the Top 30 military-friendly colleges:

1.American Military University
2.Central Texas College
3.Coastline Community College
4.Colorado Technical University
5. Excelsior College
6.Saint Leo University
7.Thomas Edison State College
8. University of Maryland
9. The University of Oklahoma
10.Webster University
11.American InterContinental University Online
12.Bellevue University
13.Capella University
14.Central Michigan University
15.Colorado State University-Pueblo
16.Columbia Southern University
17.Duquesne University School of Leadership
18.Florida Community College
19.Grantham University
20.Hawaii Pacific University
21.Jones International University
22.Kansas State University
23.National University
24.Olympic College
25.Southern Illinois University Carbondale
26.Strayer University
27.TUI University
28.University of Mary
29.The University of North Carolina at Pembroke
30.Western Governors University

GI Bill for the 21st Century

The congress revamped the GI Bill for military members (including active duty, Reserves, and National Guard), who have at least 90 days of active duty service after September 11, 2001. The new program called the "GI Bill for the 21st Century," offers substantial increases in monthly education benefits. The post 9/11 program goes into effect on August 1, 2009 and includes provisions to pay full tuition, $1,000 per year for books and supplies, and a monthly housing stipend.

The new bill took effect during the 2008/2009 school year, but Congress gave the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) until August 1, 2009 to publish the new rates (which depends on the state one is attending college in). However, veterans eligible for the new program, who were currently going to school under the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) will see their monthly rate increase to $1,321 ($200 per month more than the current GI Bill). When the VA determines the actual rates in August 2009, these veterans will receive a lump-sum payment for the difference. 

How to be Eligibile
To be eligible for the new program, you must have served a total of at least 90 days on active duty, after 9/11. If you have a total of 6 months or more of post 9/11 active duty service, time does not have to be continuous. Active duty service, for the purpose of this new bill, doesn't count active duty time spent in initial entry training (IET), meaning time in basic training, initial job training, service academies, OCS/OTS, and ROTC.

Under the MGIB, officers who received their commission through a service academy, or an ROTC scholarship were ineligible. There are no restrictions, Any officer who were previously ineligible, will be eligible for the new program, assuming they have at least 90 days of post 9/11 active duty service. Similarly, military members who previously declined the MGIB are eligible for the new program.

What are the New Rates
The new rates depends on the length of your post 9/11 active duty service, your state of residence, and the number of courses you take. The 21CGIB pays 36 months of full time education benefits just like the MGIB. So, if you go to school full-time, you'll receive the full benefit rates for 36 months. If you go to school 1/2 time, you'll receive half of your monthly entitlement for 72 months, etc. the 21CGIB pays up to 100 percent of the full tuition rate set by your state. Additionally, you will receive $1,000 per year for books and supplies, and you will receive a housing stipend equal to the Housing Allowance for an E-5 with Dependents. The average housing allowance for an E-5 with dependents is about $1,400 per month, but your actual rate will depend on where you live.

Your actual portion of the above rates depends on the number of months of your post 9/11 active duty service. You will receive:

100% - 36 or more total months 100% - 30 or more consecutive days with a disability-related discharge. 90% - 30 total months 80% - 24 total months 70% - 18 total months 60% - 12 total months 50% - 6 total months 40% - 90 or more consecutive days

Your tuition is paid directly to the school, while the book/supply entitlement and monthly housing allowance are paid directly to you. Veterans who are attending school through distance learning, and those going to school 1/2 time or less, do not receive the housing allowance.
Additionally, military members who use the benefit while still on active duty, do not receive the housing allowance, as their housing needs are already being taken care of by the military.

College Loan Repayment
Individuals who were previously ineligible for the MGIB because they elected the College Loan Repayment Program (CLRP), are eligible for the new GI Bill, but only active duty service performed after their initial active duty service obligation count toward the new benefits. In other words, if you initially enlisted for five years and received the CLRP, you would have to reenlist or extend your enlistment in order to take advantage of the new GI Bill.

 Contributions 
Unlike the MGIB and VEAP, the new MGIB does not require you to elect or decline, nor make monthly contributions. The downside is, if you've already contributed to your GI Bill, you won't get your money back, unless you use all of your new GI Bill entitlements. If you do, your $1,200 contribution to the MGIB (or a porportional amount, if you used any of your MGIB entitlement) will be added to your final new GI Bill education payment. If you're currently paying into the MGIB, you can stop now, and still be eligible for the new program, beginning in August 2009.

College Funds
If you're eligible for a "kicker," such as the Army or Navy College Fund, or a Reserve "Kicker," you will still receive the extra monthly benefit under the new GI bill. This monthly amount will be paid to you, not to the university.

Transferring Benefits to Dependents The new GI Bill allows a member to transfer part or all of his/her education benefits to a spouse or child(ren). To be eligible, a member must have at least six years of active duty or active reserve service, and agree to serve for an additional four years.

Expiration Date
The MGIB expires 10 years after your last discharge. The new GI Bill extends this by five years. The benefits expire 15 years after your last discharge.

*Note: Post 9/11 active duty service of 24 or more months includes IET active duty service (basic training and job training) for enlisted members. When computing active duty time for enlisted who have less than 24 months of post 9/11 active duty service, time in IET doesn't count. For officers, time spent in the service academies, ROTC, and OTS/OCS doesn't count. 

Active Duty MGIB for Guard and Reservists

Currently, members participating in the active duty GI Bill receive $800 or $985 per month for full-time training, depending on their length of service. But reserve-component members receive only $282 per month for full-time training, said Dennis Douglass, VA deputy director for education service.

Reserve-component personnel are now eligible for the greater active-duty benefit when their active-duty time is extended to 24 or more months, Douglas noted.
Douglass said the Montgomery GI Bill historically has been broken into two segments: the Montgomery GI Bill for active duty and the Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve, for the reserve components.

The Selected Reserve GI Bill is for members of the Selected Reserve of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard and the Army and Air National Guard providing education and training opportunities for eligible service members who have completed high school.

"The active-duty bill is a program designed for those who enlist in active military service for a period of two-plus years," Douglass noted. "If they only serve two years, they get a lesser benefit than an individual who signs up for three or more years."

He said the authors of the two GI Bill programs never imagined that reservists and Guardsmen would be called up to active duty for extended periods of time as they have been in Operation Iraqi Freedom. "I don't think that was envisioned in the original legislation," he added.
The Chapter 30 program, or the GI Bill program for active-duty service members and veterans, is currently paying $800 per month for full-time training for those who serve two years. Those who serve three years or more receive $985 per month. Douglass pointed out the $282 reserve-component members get per month is a "dramatic difference" in the level of benefits.

"Another interesting difference in the two programs is that in the Selective Reserve program, eligibility starts when the military tells us to start it," Douglas noted.

High school graduates are eligible for benefits after they've completed their initial period of active duty for training and have been assigned to a reserve or Guard component, he explained. However, eligibility for active-duty people, doesn't begin until after they've served for two years.

Douglass noted that reserve-component call-ups have been averaging nine to 12 months. He said it would be "a disservice" to Guardsmen and reservists to take their $100 per month for the GI Bill, as is done for active-duty personnel. "That's because at nine or 12 months, they have no hope of being eligible for the greater benefit of the (active-duty) Montgomery GI Bill."
However, Douglass said, some individuals have been activated for an initial period of 12 months and then extended for another 12 months. The Defense Department and the services are offering those individuals participation in the Montgomery GI Bill.

"(The military) would begin to deduct $100 per month from the service members' pay, just as they do for active-duty service members," he said. Upon release from active duty, those individuals would become eligible for the greater benefit, he added, assuming they'd completed their 24 months of active duty.

To be eligible for the same benefits active-duty personnel get, Guardsmen and reservists must have served for 24 months without a break in service. "So, if they serve nine months, go home for awhile, and then serve another 15 months, they can't add them together to come up with 24 months," Douglass noted.

An estimated 15,000 to 18,000 Guardsmen and reservists have been called to active duty and stayed active for a period of two years or longer, he said. Douglass also touched on the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program, an education benefit for spouses and children of seriously disabled or deceased veterans whose death or disability was service-connected. Douglass noted length of service has no bearing on this benefit.

Montgomery GI Bill benefits are normally not available to spouses and children of healthy veterans who contributed to the Montgomery GI Bill, but didn't use the benefits. The Air Force tested such a program as a retention tool for a limited time in 2003, but has since discontinued it.

The Active Duty Montgomery G.I. Bill

the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is not managed by the Department of Defense, nor any branch of the U.S. Military unlike what most people think. The Montgomery GI Bill is actually a "Veteran Benefit," and is managed by the Veterans Administration (VA), who administer the program based upon laws enacted by Congress.

In a summary, the Active Duty Montgomery G.I. Bill (ADMGIB) grants $47,556 worth of education benefits, in exchange for an enlistment period of at least three years in the United States Military, along with a reduction in pay of $1,200 ($100 per month) for the first year of service. The ADMGIB grants $38,628 worth of education benefits for those who enlist for less than three years (this is mostly the two-year enlistment option for the Army). This still requires a reduction of pay of $100 per month for the first 12 months of service.

One must elect whether or not to participate in the ADMGIB during basic training or time of enlistment onto active duty. If one declines the ADMGIB, they can't change their mind later. If one elects to participate and then changes their mind later, or if they are discharged before they become eligible to use the benefits, they don't get any of the money back that was taken out of their pay. This is because (the way the law is worded), it's a "reduction in pay," not a "contribution."
One can either use their ADMGIB benefits while on active duty, or after discharge/retirement (or one can use part of the benefits while on active duty, and then the remaining benefits after discharge/retirement). To use the ADMGIB while on active duty, one must first serve two continuous years of active duty before they can use any of the benefits. In any case, benefits automatically expire ten years after discharge or retirement. Because all of the services now offer 100 percent Tuition Assistance (TA) while on active duty, and because the ADMGIB pays more when going to school after military service than it does while on active duty (I'll explain this in a later section), most military members elect to use TA while on active duty, and save their ADMGIB benefits until after they leave the military.

Eligibility

It may surprise you to learn that not everyone who enters active duty is eligible to participate in the ADMGIB. You are not eligible to participate if:

• You declined the ADMGIB in writing upon entry to active duty.
• You were commissioned through a Service Academy (West Point, Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, Coast Guard Academy, etc.) Exception: If you qualified for the ADMGIB because of a previous term of enlistment, you don't lose it by graduating from a service academy.
• You were commissioned through an ROTC Scholarship and received more than $2,000 in ROTC scholarship funds in any one academic year (Note: This changed to $3,400 per year effective December 27, 2001). As with Service Academy commissions, if you fully qualified for the ADMGIB before being commissioned through an ROTC Scholarship, through a previous enlistment period, this doesn't apply.

To qualify to use your ADMGIB benefits after getting out of the military:

• You must have an HONORABLE discharge ("General, under Honorable Conditions" doesn't count).
• If you enlisted for a period of three or more years, you must serve for at least three years on active duty (there are some exceptions, explained below).
• If you enlisted for a period of less than three years, such as the two year enlistment option offered by the Army, you must serve at least two years on active duty (same exceptions, below, apply).

In addition to the above, before you can use any of your ADMGIB benefits (either while on active duty, or after separation), you must first have a high school diploma, a GED, or at least 12 college credits.

If You Separate Early

If you don’t complete the required period of service, you may still be eligible for MGIB if you were discharged early for one of the following reasons:

• Medical Disability
• Hardship
• Pre-existing Medical Condition
• A condition that interfered with performance of duty
• A reduction in force (RIF)—(Only certain RIFs qualify; check with your Education Service Officer.)
• Convenience of the Government.
  • Note: If the "Reason for Discharge" on your DD Form 214 (Record of Separation) is for this reason, you must have served at least 30 months if your enlistment contract was for three or more years, or at least 20 months if your enlistment contract was for less than three years.

Note:  
 *If you're discharged early, your ADMGIB benefit rates will be reduced accordingly. If you’re separated for one of these reasons, you'll receive one month of entitlement for each month of active duty (up to 36 months) after June 30, 1985. For example, if you're discharged after 19 months for hardship, and you meet the other eligibility requirements, you'll receive 19 months of ADMGIB benefits.

* Those who go onto active duty on or after August 9, 2009 will no longer be able to elect the ADMGIB. Instead, they will be automatically eligible for the new GI Bill.

*Congress has made significant enhancements to the GI Bill for military members (active duty, Guard, and Reserves) with post 9/11 active duty service. For details, see the article, Congress Revamps GI Bill.

The Benefits of Being in the United States Military

Educational Assistance and The G.I. Bill

There are various versions of the Montgomery G.I. Bill for active duty and reserves. Many of the reserve services and the active duty services offer Tuition Assistance (TA) to help finance for college courses while in the military.

Military Spouse Tuition Assistance
When Congress passed the 2009 Defense Authorization Act, they mandated that the Department of Defense set up such a program. The program is called the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program. Eligible military spouses are now able to receive up to $6,000 of tuition assistance that can help them pursue education, training, licenses, certificates and degrees leading to employment in in what the military calls "portable career fields. Portable careers are those that are likely to provide job opportunities in most locations where military Service members are stationed. These might include but are not limited to: business/management, construction trades, education, financial services, health services, homeland security, hospitality management, human resources, information technology, real estate, etc.

Who is Eligible
Spouses of Active Duty members of the Department of Defense and activated members of the National Guard and Reserve Components are eligible. The period of eligibility for spouses of Guard and Reserve members is from the date of the Alert or Warning Order for Military Recall or Mobilization, through activation and deployment until 180 days following De-Mobilization. The programs isn't limited to spouses of the severely injured, ill, wounded or killed in actions well.

Who is Ineligible
Military spouses who are legally separated by state law or court order are ineligible. Spouses who are active duty members or activated Guard or Reserve members themselves are ineligible. Unfortunately, because the Coast Guard is not part of the Department of Defense, their spouses are not eligible (Congress limited eligibility to DOD active duty spouses when they wrote the law, perhaps they will clear up this oversight in future legislation.

What the Program Pays For
Up to $6,000 (in a lifetime) for expenses such as education and training programs, tuition, licensing and credentialing fees. This includes degree programs (e.g. associates, bachelors, masters, doctoral and post doctoral), continuing education classes (including those offered through professional associations), Bar, CPA and other similar exams, state certifications for teachers, medical professionals and other licensed professionals.

What the Program Will Not Pay For
MyCAA does not pay for computers, school application fees, graduation or membership fees, student activity cards, child care, parking, transportation, or medical services. NOTE: If the cost of a course includes books, supplies or other necessary equipment, MyCAA will cover that cost. Payments are made directly to schools using the MyCAA’s electronic payment system. Referrals are made to federally funded English As A Second Language (ESL) Classes and GED Classes and Testing Programs.

Eligible Schools
To use the program, your school must be approved and accepted for the program by DOD. Schools which are currently approved can be viewed online at: https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/User/Spouse/FindInstitution.aspx.


How to Sign Up

Open a MyCAA at: https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/default.aspx.
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