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Education benefits for active duty military spouses keeps getting better and better. The government recently announced it will expand the Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative to include the military spouses of all ranks, which will be a real boost for military spouse education training.
The pilot program began in January and provides military spouses at 18 select installations with Career Advancement Accounts (CAA) - funds which provide eligible military spouses with $3,000 for post-secondary education. And this funding is not to be confused with a loan program: this is a military spouse scholarship opportunity, which means spouses do not need to pay this money back.
The program originally was for spouses whose service member spouses were in grades E-1 through E-5 and O-1 through O-3. Now the program will be open to military spouses of all ranks, allowing more and more men and women to access career training.
The program has proved to be popular at the 18 pilot installations, with more than 900 spouses having started school and begun enjoying their military spouse benefits.
The expansion of the Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative will also allow spouses to receive money for remedial training and licensing courses, as well as being able to choose from a broader range of career training fields.
A host of federal efforts now, including last fall's Army Family Covenant, are aimed at reducing the stark unemployment numbers that face spouses in all service branches; in time, more well-trained spouses, should translate into more jobs for military spouses.
By helping military spouses with access and funding for career education, it's believed that military spouses can enjoy greater pay, career satisfaction and more stability. And in the end, as it's often been noted, the military family is the leading support system for many Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen.
Allied Schools, www.education4military.com
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Posted by Allied @ 10:14 AM •
People who spend time around military installations know that there is considerable concern about the availability of quality jobs for military spouses. A military family's move from one duty-station to another means the end of a spouse's job and the disruption of any ongoing military spouse education. Statistics bear this out, with military spouses suffering far greater unemployment than civilian spouses. And today, as the American economy continues to show weakness, aid for military spouses has become a real priority.
The federal government responded to this unacceptable situation by creating the Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative. The initiative began in January and provides military spouses at 18 select installations with Career Advancement Accounts (CAA) - these accounts provide eligible military spouses with $3,000 they can spend on post-secondary education. The pilot is scheduled to continue for a second year when it will be evaluated for possible expansion to more installations. Spouses should understand that the funds are not student loans for military spouses, but grants that spouses do not need to pay back.
A recent article in North County Times reported that 250 spouses at Camp Pendleton in Southern California have applied for CAA funds, with Camp Pendleton having no limits on how many spouses can be awarded grants.
An education specialist at Camp Pendleton stressed to military spouses that for the pilot program to be expanded to more installations across the country, completion rates for those using CAA funds must be high.
Military spouses using CAA funds to pay for career education - particularly those with young children - should consider enrolling in an online school; military distance learning classes allow military spouses to study while staying home with their children. Many military spouses cite the expense of childcare as a significant barrier to their career and educational goals. 100% online courses allow military spouses to study when and where it's convenient - like when a child is napping or asleep for the night.
Military spouses should contact their base Education Center to learn if their installation is participating in the pilot program. Military spouses who are not eligible for CAA funds shouldn't fret, because many schools offer military spouse financial aid for school, so that spouses can access affordable training programs. When military spouses speak with an admissions representative at a school, they should be sure to ask if the school offers any military spouses benefits such as no charge training or discounts.
Allied Schools, www.education4military.com
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Posted by Allied @ 3:59 PM •
Marines at Camp Pendleton facing their military to civilian transition received some squared-away advice from a senior enlisted Marine who retired in February. Sgt. Major Frank E. Pulley penned an article in the Feb. 28 edition of The Camp Pendleton Scout entitled the "Transition Starts Now."
Sgt. Major Pulley noted that he'd always been prepared as a Marine, but when facing retirement he realized he'd done little to prepare for his military career transition. Pulley notes that Marines need to make use of the Transition Assistance Management Program (TAMP), which is available to Marines as well as dependents and spouses. Pulley noted that Marine spouses should make a point of attending TAMP workshops; Marine spouses can ask about scholarships for military spouses, student loans for military spouses and jobs for military spouses.
The overarching theme of the Pulley's article is that Marines must take the initiative to prepare for their transition from military. "No one is going to do anything 'to' or 'for' you, but there is a lot to be done 'by you,'" he said.
Pulley identified five key resources for transitioning Marines:
-Mandatory Pre-Separation Counseling: this is great time for Marines to learn about their military education benefits and entitlements.
-Individual Transition Plan (ITP): This helps Marines look realistically at their experiences, skills and education. This is also a good time to see if you need more education, particularly distance education military.
-Employment Assistance: This is where you can get help putting together a resume, a cover letter as well as learning how to search for civilian employment.
-Mandatory Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Workshop: Department of Labor instructors will help you plan a job search.
-Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) - DDD Form 2586: This document can be found online and will help understand how your Marine training, schooling and experience are transferable to the civilian world.
Allied Schools, www.education4military.com
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Posted by Allied @ 3:13 PM •
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