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Navy Tuition Assistance Eligibility Requirements

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

In support of continued education for its service members, The Navy a number of programs to help them work towards a desired degree or certification, including 100 percent Tuition Assistance (TA) for college courses taken on their own time.

    Here is a brief summary of the procedures for using Navy TA:


  • Contact your Navy College Office to arrange for educational counseling. This can be done in person, by phone, or via e-mail. With the help of your Navy College Counselor, determine which courses will be requested for TA funding.

  • Next, complete a TA Application form. Check with your particular institution to confirm that the courses and fees you list on the application are accurate. Fees that are authorized for funding under TA are:

    • Fees that are directly required to sign up for a class may be combined with tuition. The Navy will cover the fees that are published, mandatory, and charged for course enrollment.

    • Mandatory, non-reimbursable fees that meet the above criteria may be paid for with TA. However, if a course is canceled, allowing for the refund of tuition, the student is held liable for payment of the non-reimbursable fee.

    • Sailors who ask for payment of fees with tuition when applying for TA are responsible for providing correct fee information to their Navy College Office.



  • After you have carefully read the second page of the TA Application and the TA Application Agreement carefully, fill in all of the requested information at the bottom of the page. By signing this form, you are indicating that you know the rules relating to TA funding. Finally, you will need to obtain command approval signature for course enrollment.

  • Take your command approved TA application to your Navy College Office (or Marine Corps Education Center) for processing.


    The Navy Tuition Assistance Form:

  • Once your application is received and authorized, your supporting office or center will prepare a TA Authorization Voucher which you will provide to the school you are attending. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.

  • TA participants may submit a copy of a grade report which is obtainable through their student account. If you send the report by e-mail (SFLY_TA.NAVY@NAVY.MIL) which is the easiest, wait seven days and then log on to smart.navy.mil to verify that the grade has been received and processed. You can also fax a copy of your grade.

  • If you should receive a failing grade (F or N), or an Incomplete (I), you will be asked to repay TA Accounting for the TA funded portion of the course. Or, if you fail to submit your grade(s) within 60 days following the completion of a course, your command will receive a letter stating that unless the grade is faxed, payment will be required for the funded portion. Payment must be in the form of a cashier’s check or money order, made out to the U.S. Treasury.


For more information, or to obtain a Navy Tuition Assistance Request form, log on to: www.navycollege.navy.mil.

*This article is based on publicly-accessible information and has not been reviewed or approved by any military branch.

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Posted by Allied Blogger Admin @ 2:12 PM • 0 comments

Tips on Using Active-Duty GI Bill Benefits

Friday, November 13, 2009

The Montgomery GI Bill provides eligible members of the Military an opportunity to receive financial assistance to help pay expenses associated with education and training. Here's a brief rundown of the program:



GI Bill benefits are used to pay for a variety of programs, including college, business, technical and vocational courses, distance learning, flight training, certification tests, and apprenticeship/job training. The Bill is estimated to be worth over $47,556. This amount is based on the 2008-2009 monthly full-time student payment rate of $1,321, multiplied by the 36-month limit.

Each October, the payment rate automatically goes up. The increase affects all participants, regardless of when the service member became eligible or began using the assistance.

Who is eligible?
    To qualify, you must:

  • Contribute $100 per month for the first 12 months of active duty, or qualify under VEAP conversion.

  • Complete high school or receive your equivalency certificate before applying for benefits

  • Have served a minimum of two years on active duty



How much will you receive?

There are two factors taken into consideration to establish your monthly payment rate: your student status (i.e. full-time, part-time) and duty status. Generally, if you are taking 12 or more credits per semester, you are considered a full-time student.

If you are on active duty, the GI Bill will only reimburse you for the actual tuition and expenses. Once you are off active duty, the Bill will pay the full rate ($1,321), no matter how much the tuition costs.

When Can I Use the GI Bill?

While you are allowed to start using your benefit after two years of service, it may not be the best idea to use it while still on active duty, as the VA administers the Bill differently for active duty and veterans.

For example, a veteran is charged one month of benefits for each $1,321 in benefits used. So, if a veteran receives $5,285 and you divide that amount by the current payment rate of $1,321, you will see that he or she will be charged for four of the 36 months of education benefits. However, someone on active duty who attends school for four months will be charged four months of benefits even if the tuition costs as little as $1,000.

In light of this, it would seem to make sense to use your GI Bill while on active duty only if your tuition costs are high or you use your "GI Bill Top-up" benefit.

What is the Top-Up Program?

The "Top-Up" program assists active-duty members of the National Guard in paying for the part of their tuition and fees not covered by tuition assistance. As an example, if you tuition costs $6,000 per semester, you will receive $4,400 from FTA. The GI Top-Up benefit may be used to cover the remaining balance of $1,600.

Time Limit

After leaving the service, you have up to ten years to use benefits. The remainder will be lost and you will also lose your initial contribution.

Finally, it is recommended that service members consult with their Education Service Officers prior to enrolling in courses or using benefits. They are trained to provide valuable knowledge and guidance that will prevent you from wasting time or resources.

For complete details concerning Tuition Assistance benefits and procedures, please visit your base education office and speak with a counselor.

*This article is based on publicly-accessible information and has not been reviewed or approved by any military branch.

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Posted by Allied Blogger Admin @ 9:46 AM • 0 comments

What is the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account?

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

One of the benefits military spouses can use for the purpose of working toward their educational and career goals is assistance from the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts Program (MyCAA). Those who are eligible for the program can receive $6,000 of financial assistance per year to pursue college degrees, credentials, and skills which will prepare them for attaining employment in Portable Career Fields.



Here's a basic overview of the program:

Eligibility

Spouses of Department of Defense Active Duty members and activated members of the National Guard and Reserve Components qualify for MyCAA assistance. For spouses of Guard and Reserve members, the period of eligibility is from the date of the Alert or Warning Order for Military Recall or Mobilization, through activation and deployment until a total of 180 days following De-Mobilization.

Click to view Military Spouse Career Advancement Account?

Any military spouse who is legally separated, by state law or court order, does not qualify. Also, spouses who are Active Duty or activated Guard or Reserve members themselves are not eligible, as they have their own programs for assistance. (Unfortunately, under Public Law 110-417 Sec 582, spouses of Coast Guard members are not allowed to receive education benefits from MyCAA.)

Expenses Covered

MyCAA Financial Assistance (FA) pays for education and training programs, tuition costs, and licensing/credential fees. Basically, this encompasses degree programs (i.e. associates, bachelors, masters, doctoral), continuing education classes (including those offered through professional associations), Bar, CPA and similar exams, and state certifications for licensed occupations such as medical professionals and teachers.

If the cost includes books, supplies and special equipment essential for certain jobs, such as cosmetology or masonry, MyCAA will pay these expenses if included on the bill. The program also covers High School Completion courses, GED exams, and English as a Second Language (ESL).

MyCAA will not pay the costs for:

- Computers (including laptops)
- Applicant, graduation or membership fees
- Student activity cards
- Child care
- Parking/transportation
- Medical services

If a student enrolls in a course without an approved MyCAA Financial Assistance document, he or she will be held responsible for paying all the costs. Keep in mind that MyCAA doesn't offer reimbursements of any type.

How MyCAA Financial Assistance Works

A military spouse can request financial assistance from MyCAA for all approved courses listed on his or her Career and Training Plan. This plan includes the spouse's Portable Career Field, name of school, and all course information. If information provided is not accurate, the request will be denied during the school invoicing process and the spouse will be responsible for payment.

It's crucial that the spouse input correct information to prevent any billing problems. Before putting in a request for MyCAA financial assistance, it's a good idea to have the information confirmed by school officials.

Since schools may have different rules for adding/dropping a class, it's advantageous for students to be aware of these policies.

*This article is based on publicly-accessible information and has not been reviewed or approved by any military branch.

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Posted by Allied Blogger Admin @ 3:41 PM • 0 comments