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Military Education News And Info

Stay up-to-date with news and information about your military education. You can get the information you need to make informed decisions about your online and military correspondence programs. Learn what's going on with military education and how you can make a smooth military transition. Your civilian career awaits you!

Military Spouses and Online Education

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Military spouses have recently been getting wider recognition for the sacrifices they make supporting America's men and women in uniform. The national spotlight on the repeated deployments of service members to Iraq and Afghanistan, and its effect on military families, has helped raise awareness of the unique pressures that spouses face each day.

More attention is now focused on the fact that military spouses have, in general, higher rates of unemployment than their civilian counterparts. Studies have also shown that one of the common obstacles to employment is access to military spouse education opportunities. This awareness has lead many universities and vocation schools - both online and traditional classroom schools - to offer military spouse scholarships. It is hoped that these efforts will lead to more jobs for military spouses.

Many military spouses have difficulty commuting to school because of childcare commitments, the high cost of gasoline or they are simply too far from the nearest campus. All of these factors make distance (online) education a real aid for military spouses. Many distance education schools offer scholarships for military spouses with career training programs with real military spouse benefits.

When investigating online schools, military spouses should look for few key items when evaluation schools:

Accreditation - Make sure the school is an accredited member of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
Live Student Support - When you have a question about the course you want to talk to a person, not a machine; ask the school how many dedicated support staff they have
History - You want a school that has been enrolling student for years; ask how many students they have enrolled over the years
Job Assistance - No school can "place" you in a career, but good schools can coach you in how to create a quality resume or prepare you to succeed in a job interview
Discounts for Spouses - Many schools now have education benefits for active duty military spouses

Military spouses can qualify for a military spouse scholarship when their spouse enrolls at Allied Schools using Tuition Assistance (TA). Under Allied's Military Family Scholarship Program, a military spouse's tuition for one career training program is waived when their service member spouse uses TA to enroll at Allied.

Allied Schools is an accredited member of the DETC and offers distance education courses in medical transcription, dental office assistant, medical billing, medical coding and real estate sales, to name just a few. Online education allows military spouses to maintain their daily commitments while training for a new career.

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Posted by Allied @ 7:39 AM • 0 comments

Military Tax Breaks and Military Benefits

Thursday, June 19, 2008

President Bush recently signed a bill into law that will help provide tax relief for military personnel and their families. The bill is entitled the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008, and it includes a clause that allows military family members to receive their $600 economic stimulus check, even if a military spouse doesn't have a Social Security number. This new law, along with a number of military benefits, military scholarships and military dependent scholarships from schools and government agencies are welcome resources for the military family.

The new bill contains a number of other important provisions, including one that allows Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers who've been activated, to take money out of retirement accounts without incurring a tax penalty. Another important part of the new law forbids the Social Security Administration from using combat-related pay to disqualify military families from applying for a variety of benefits, including health care aid.

These tax savings will allow military families to use more money for items like housing, bills or military spouse education. When there is uncertainty in the economy, many people take the time to shore up their educational credentials. Military spouses, in particular, can take advantage of scholarships for military spouses, along with their new tax savings, to train for a new career. And during this time of rising gasoline prices, distance education military options like online or correspondence courses are a great way to train for a new career without paying the price at the pump. Allied Schools, www.education4military.com

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Posted by Allied @ 3:27 PM • 0 comments

Army Spouse Honored - Military Schools Doing their Part to Support Military Spouses

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Army spouse Renee Garcia was recently honored with the first inaugural Military Motherhood Award for her dedicated work as mother, army spouse and volunteer. The award ceremony was held on Capitol Hill and was part of a series of events associated with Military Spouse Day on May 9. In addition to recognition from the Government and private organizations, military schools have also been offering military spouse scholarships and discounts for military spouses.

Operation Homefront chose Garcia over 400 candidates; a military chaplain nominated Garcia after observing her loving care for her daughter Kennedy, who was born with Down syndrome and then diagnosed last year with leukemia. Garcia, who has three other young children, managed to care for her sick daughter and volunteer at a Ft. Campbell family readiness group all while her husband was deployed in Afghanistan.

It's often said that military spouses are the backbone of the military, allowing service members to focus on their military careers with the peace of mind that their families are well cared for at home. Scholarships for military spouses are a way that schools can reward military spouses for their selfless dedication and support during a time when Americans are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Military spouses with high school-age children should know that some schools also have military dependent scholarships, which offers the children of military personnel discounted tuition on career education. Allied Schools, www.education4military.com

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Posted by Allied @ 10:36 AM • 0 comments

Scholarships for Military Spouses - A Fitting Honor

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Twenty-four years ago, President Ronald Reagan set aside May 9 as Military Spouse Day to honor the achievements and sacrifices that military spouses make each and every day. And to highlight the importance of the day, President George Bush recently recognized six current military spouses for their extraordinary efforts and volunteer work. And this recognition by the Commander-in-Chief comes along with a host of private and governmental efforts to reward and honor military spouses with such things as scholarships for military spouses, child care assistance and career training programs.

Securing jobs for military spouses has become an important goal for the military and one of the best ways to do that is by giving spouses access to job training and education. These days there is a host of aid for military spouses, including military spouse financial aid for school, student loans for military spouse and military spouse college benefits.

One of the best examples of these efforts is the government's Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative, which offers military spouses at 18 select military installations education funds for school. Eligible spouses qualify for up to $3,000 a year for education and can renew for a second year of schooling; this is a two-year pilot program that may be extended after the government evaluates student enrollment and completion rates.

The good news is that military spouse education is now in the forefront of people's mind, and along with official recognition from the President and other officials, it's just a matter of time before more Americans come to appreciate and consider the sacrifices that these citizens make for the country as a whole.

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Posted by Allied @ 10:34 AM • 0 comments

Military Benefits for the Army Reserve Family

Thursday, May 1, 2008

There is little doubt that the Army Reserve family is the foundation that strengthens Reserve Soldiers as they face multiple deployments and high operational tempos. Army Reserve families have made numerous sacrifices while supporting Soldiers on deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and many other places around the globe - and they deserve many things, among them Army spouse education.

There have been a number of efforts by both the Army and the Department of Defense over the past year to help ease the burden on the military family. Much of this effort has been focused on improving the education and career prospects of military spouses by emphasizing tuition relief and scholarships. And it's not just the government that has stepped in, vocational schools and colleges are now offering military spouse discounts and scholarships to help out with accredited military education options - important military benefits for the whole family.

Allied Schools - which offers 100% online distance education military courses - has created a program that allows both Reserve Soldiers and their spouse or a dependent to receive career training at no charge. To take advantage of the opportunity, Reserve Soldiers must first enroll at Allied Schools using 100% US Military Tuition Assistance (TA).

Click here to learn more about Army Reserve Tuition Assistance.

Reserve Soldiers on active-drilling status should know that TA benefits pay up to 100% of the cost of tuition for military distance learning courses - that means Soldiers pay nothing out-of-pocket. And this is a benefit that Reserve Soldiers have earned through their faithful service to the country.

After Reserve Soldiers have completed one course or module at Allied Schools, their spouse or dependent can enroll in a military distance learning course at no charge. Army Reserve spouses can choose from career-training programs like medical transcription, real estate salesperson and small business management, which are well-suited to the military lifestyle.

Army Reserve spouses benefit from 100% online courses because they can maintain their family and community commitments while still training for a career. And as more and more families are affected by both the rising cost of gasoline and busier schedules, distance education becomes a real way to save both time and money.

By Robert Fay, Allied Schools, www.education4military.com

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Posted by Allied @ 3:45 PM • 0 comments

Aid for Military Spouses Expands

Thursday, April 24, 2008

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 • 0 comments

Career Advancement Accounts (CAA): Scholarships for Military Spouses

Thursday, April 10, 2008

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.

Learn more about Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts.

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 Centerto 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.

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Posted by Allied @ 3:59 PM • 0 comments

Military Family Readiness Strategy Part of New Defense Act

Thursday, March 27, 2008

The Department of Defense is now tasked with preparing a new family readiness plan - and it must get input from not only the services, but military family members as well.

The move is an attempt by lawmakers to create a comprehensive military family support policy that is consistent across the service branches. The mandate is part of the 2008 Defense Authorization Act, which President Bush made law with his signature in January.

The panel looking into creating a stronger military family support program will include top officials and experts, but also senior enlisted personnel or a military spouse of a senior enlisted person from each military branch.

Military spouse and military family organizations such as the National Military Family Association and CincHouse.com spoke in favor of the new initiative.

These days while the military is on a war-footing, military spouses and the military family have had to adapt to the challenges of multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the Global War on Terror.

It's long been known that military spouses have significant obstacles in place when pursuing career and education goals. Military spouses often site inadequate childcare resources, duty-station changes and a lack of career training options as a serious concern.

Many schools have been stepping up to the plate and offering military spouse scholarships, discounts and even no-cost military spouse education. Military spouse can take advantage of military distance learning programs when their service member spouse enrolls at schools using US military tuition assistance. Concern about the cost of military spouse tuition shouldn't deter spouses from their education goals - many schools offer tuition assistance for military spouses. By Robert Fay, Allied Schools, www.education4military.com

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Posted by Allied @ 9:07 AM • 0 comments

NMFA Scholarship Application Available for Military Spouses

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Military spouses looking for scholarship money to help fund their educational goals should consider applying for the National Military Family Association's (NMFA) "Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship." The military spouses of active-duty military personnel (including National Guard and Reserve) are eligible.

Applications for this military spouse education programs are available online at NMFA's website and the deadline is March 15. Scholarship money ranges from $500 to $1,000 and the number of awards depends on current funding. According to NMFA's website, the scholarship money must be used "for accredited vocation or technical programs, ESL classes, associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees and graduate programs," as well as distance learning programs.

Online programs are an excellent resource for military spouses, because spouses don't need to worry about in-state/out-of-state tuition rates. Military spouses can use their scholarship funds to train for high-growth careers like medical transcription and medical coding. In some cases, military spouses are eligible for military spouse education programs at many schools. This tuition assistance for military spouses will help supplement scholarship funds for tuition, fees and textbooks.

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Posted by Allied @ 2:46 PM • 0 comments

What Marines Can Look for in 2008

It's a new year and there is a lot that Marines can look forward to in 2008. Marine Corps Times recently assembled their "must-know list" for Marines. We'll take a look at a few of the highlights:

More Leathernecks - The Corps is committed to a force of 202,000 Marines by 2011. With that goal in mind, 5,000 Marines are expected to be added this year.

Resigning Bonuses - Details aren't available, but the Marine Corps is looking to retain qualified men and women with competitive bonuses.

Appearance Counts - A great PFT won't cut it anymore! You now have to look like a Marine, which means that your body fat percentage better be ship-shape.

The Osprey - Expect to meet the MV-22 Osprey if you deploy this year. The goal in Iraq is to eventually replace the CH-46E and the CH-53D.

Running Suit - Your sea bag may contain the new green running suit by the end of the year. Enjoy!

In the area of military education benefits in 2008, Marines can continue to take advantage of 100% Federal Tuition Assistance (TA), which pays up to 100% of tuition and fees for military distance learning courses. When leathernecks begin preparing for their military to civilian transition, civilian education courses will prove invaluable. Marines can also earn bonus points for promotion as part of this marine program education.

In addition, married Marines can now help their husbands or wives when they use Marine Spouse Scholarships at Allied Schools. When they enroll, their Marine spouses can enroll in a select course at no charge. This is military spouse education at its best. Tuition assistance for military spouses allows marine spouses to get career training that will pay dividends when they're hunting for a civilian job.

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Posted by Allied @ 2:41 PM • 0 comments

Scholarship Money for Military Spouse Education

Several years ago the Rand Group surveyed military spouses from four service branches concerning their employment and education opportunities.

In general, the study's findings were disappointing. Among other things, the 2004 study noted that Army spouses were three times more likely than civilian spouses to be unemployed, while 25% of Marine Corps spouses actively seeking work could not locate a job.

Military spouse noted that three major obstacles stopped them from getting career training, and ultimately getting a job: lack of affordable/available childcare, limited education offerings on base at the military distance learning centers and frequent reassignments to new duty-stations, often out of state. The military and the Department of Defense are aware of these issues and have implemented programs to address these needs, for they understand that unhappy military spouses often influence whether an active-duty spouse decides to reenlist.

Click here to learn more about Military Spouse Education and Scholarships



One of the keys to addressing the career woes of military spouses is to make Internet service and computers more available to spouses, opening up the option of military distance learning (online) education, where military spouses can train for a civilian career regardless of where their family is stationed.

One way to help with tuition for online courses is with scholarships from local and national military spouses' clubs. Most bases have a local spouses' club that offers scholarships to dependants and military spouses of service members stationed at their base. Many have websites with deadlines and application information.

Several national organizations also offer scholarships, grants or military education loans; a few examples are included below:

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
Army Emergency Relief
Air Force Aid Society
Coast Guard Mutual Aid

Military spouses can use their scholarship money to take military distance learning classes at accredited online schools. Some schools offer military spouse education discounts, so military spouses should be sure to identify themselves when registering for courses.

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Posted by Allied @ 1:04 PM • 0 comments

Military Spouses Build Nationwide Career with Medical Training

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Military spouses have the opportunity to build a solid career and support their families nationwide with medical career training programs.

Enrolling in an online course provides them with a flexible and rewarding way to prepare for a long-term career in a medical office or at home. With the medical field projected to grow at a steady rate, they have the ability to build a career anywhere in the nation with skills they can take with them wherever they go.

Distance education schools are creating programs tailored to the growing needs of military spouses. These schools recognize the need to provide flexible career training to help these individuals build a career and contribute to the family income. Online courses provide military spouses with the opportunity to learn from the comfort of their home, on their own schedule and at their own pace. They can train anywhere in the world while maintaining the responsibilities of family life. Course discounts can make starting a career affordable and easy.

"We know that the life of a military spouse includes living on a flexible schedule and learning to quickly adapt to change," said George Achenbach, president of Allied Schools. "Online medical training programs help them provide for their families and reach their own career goals while their partners are on duty."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the medical industry will have the strongest employment growth of any industry within the next decade. Continued advances in technology, as well as a growing and aging population, are expected to spur this growth and create opportunities for well-trained individuals.

Distance education schools are tailoring their course offerings to meet this growth by offering career training in areas with high career potential, including medical billing, medical coding, medical transcription, medical administrative assistant, and more. These careers provide military spouses with options when it comes to building a career - they can join a medical office team or work from the convenience of home. There are opportunities in doctors' offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and more.

When choosing a distance education school, military spouses should look for live personalized support that is available throughout the duration of their program. It is important that they can reach staff members via phone, e-mail and fax to help at every stage of their training and receive one-on-one support. Job assistance programs can give them the skills to start their new career. From preparing an effective resume and cover letter to conducting a successful interview, they can make a smooth transition into the workplace. Click here to learn more about military spouse scholarships.

"Education providers have a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of military spouses," said Achenbach."It should be the school's goal to make the process as smooth as possible and provide them with all of the resources they need to benefit their families."

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Posted by Heather @ 9:33 AM • 0 comments

Allied Schools Provides Military Spouses with an Advantage

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Laguna Hills, CA, April 5, 2007 - Allied Schools is working with the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) and the military to provide accredited career training programs to military spouses to help them build their own careers and support their families worldwide. A high-income career is within reach with flexible and convenient distance education courses.

Since 2006, Allied has cultivated courses and developed relationships in the industry to create specialized military spouse programs. The school offers an education that is nationally accredited by DETC, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; and works directly with the U.S. military to make military spouse programs readily available abroad and at home.

"We know that the life of a military spouse includes living on a flexible schedule and learning to quickly adapt to change," said George Achenbach, president of Allied Schools. "Allied wants to help them provide for their families while their partners are on duty and reach their own career goals."

Distance education allows military spouses to train anywhere in the world while maintaining the responsibilities of family life. Online and traditional correspondence courses let them learn from home, on their own schedule and at their own pace. Course discounts make starting a career affordable and easy. If military spouses reside in the same household as someone serving in the military, they can take advantage of exclusive discounts only available to them.

There are 25+ career training courses designed to help them succeed outside of a traditional classroom. There is comprehensive training in the areas of real estate, medical and business. They can use CD-ROMs, videos, DVDs, textbooks and study guides to learn or complete assignments and tests 100% online.

Military spouses have access to live personalized support throughout the duration of their program when they enroll at Allied. The staff is available via phone, e-mail and fax to help at every stage - military spouses are never alone. Job assistance is also available to help with their job search. From preparing an effective resume and cover letter to conducting a successful interview, they will get the skills to make a smooth transition into the workplace.

"Allied has a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of military spouses," said Achenbach. "We want to make the process as smooth as possible and provide them with all of the resources they need to benefit their families."

About Allied Schools
Allied Schools, Inc., established in 1992, is the nationwide leader when it comes to distance education. It has provided quality instruction to more than 750,000 students in the last 14 years. Students can further their career with career training courses in the areas of real estate, medical and business, or enroll in a high school diploma program to get a solid foundation. Over 50 educational support and student services staff members are on hand to assist students with all of their educational needs.

To learn more about Allied Schools' military education, please visit http://www.education4military.com/ or call (888) 501-5221 to speak with an Admissions Representative.

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Posted by Heather @ 10:22 AM • 0 comments