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EDUCATION AND TRAININGAir Force Tuition Assistance Program
The Air Force Tuition Assistance (TA) program is an important quality of life program that provides up to 75% tuition and fees for college courses taken by active duty personnel during off-duty hours. TA is capped at $187.50 per semester hour (or $125 per quarter hour) and is restricted to a maximum of $3500 per fiscal year. The program is one of the most frequent reasons given for enlisting and re-enlisting in the Air Force. For an Alphabetical Listing of Air Force Education Centers contact your local Education Center. The Montgomery GI Bill attract high quality men and women into the Armed Forces. The MGIB program provides up to 36 months or $28,000 in education benefits to eligible persons enrolled in degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship, on-the-job training and correspondence courses approved for veteran’s training. The program is administered the Department of Veterans Affairs. An on-line MGIB pamphlet provides more detailed information. Tuition Assistance Top-Up On October 30, 2000, the President signed into law an amendment to the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty education program that permits VA to pay a Tuition Assistance Top-up benefit. The amount of the benefit can be equal to the difference between the total cost of a college course and the amount of Tuition Assistance that is paid by the military for the course. To be eligible for the Top-up benefit, the person must be approved for federal Tuition Assistance by a military department and be eligible for MGIB-Active Duty benefits. To be eligible for MGIB benefits, the person must be an MGIB – Active Duty participant and must have served at least 2 full years on Active Duty. The amount of the benefit is limited to the amount that the person would receive for the same course if regular MGIB benefits were being paid. In no case can the amount paid by the military combined with the amount paid by VA be more than the total cost of the course. If a person receives the Top-up benefit, his or her regular MGIB benefits will be reduced. The amount of entitlement charged for Top-up payments is determined by dividing the amount of the payment by the claimant’s full-time monthly rate. The benefit is available for all courses that began on or after October 30, 2000. A copy of the Tuition Assistance Authorization form for the course that has been signed by an authorized military official will be required. People who have not requested MGIB benefits before should submit a VA Form 22-1990 to establish eligibility. The application and other evidence should be sent to one of the VA’s four education processing offices in Atlanta, Buffalo, Muskogee (OK), or St. Louis. The application form and the addresses of the offices are available on the Internet at www.gibill.va.gov National Guard State College Tuition Assistance Programs Contact your Education Officer for further information about your State’s College Tuition Assistance Program.
The VEAP Program (Post-Vietnam Veteran’s Educational Assistance Program) The Post-Vietnam Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program, also known as VEAP, was enacted by Congress to attract high quality men and women into the all-voluntary Armed Forces. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship and on-the-job training and correspondence courses approved for veteran’s training. The program is administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. An on-line VEAP pamphlet provides more detailed information. The Air National Guard provides access to all DANTES credit-by-examination programs, Community College of the Air Force Associate Degree programs, federal tuition assistance for AGR members, state education benefits for all members, and the Student Loan Repayment Program, which will repay up to $10,000 in student loans for enlisted members and up to $20,000 for medical officers. The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) serve the US Air Force and Department of Defense by helping enlisted personnel obtain an accredited Associate in Applied Science degree. More information can be obtained at http://www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/index.htm. EDUCATION TESTS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS OR SPOUSES
Spouse and Civilian Testing Program Spouses of Air National Guard members and federal civilian employees are eligible to take CLEP general and subject examinations and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests free of charge at Reserve Component DANTES Test Centers (there is a minimal registration fee).
For additional information on Air National Guard Voluntary Education Programs contact CMSgt Art Hafner, 3500 Fetchet Avenue, Andrews AFB, Maryland 20762-5157; DSN 278-8677, commercial 301-836-8677; e-mail: [email protected]. Alternate POC is MSgt Karen Peters, XXX-8672, e-mail: [email protected].
Further information about Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Programs for U.S. Reserve Forces can be found at:
College Level Examination Program The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is designed to help Service members earn college-level credit in such courses as English, Math, Science and many other subject areas. Most major colleges and universities accept these tests for credit based on minimum scores required (varies by university). For further information contact your Education Center.
High School Equivalency Examinations Service members can earn a high school equivalency credential by passing an examination designed for adults who have not completed a formal high school education.
Admission Examinations Admission examinations are sometimes required for undergraduate, graduate, and officer accession programs. The examinations most often required are available through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES). For further information contact your Education Center. Certification Examinations Professional certification examinations are a valuable way to demonstrate a high level of professional training and experience. Many certification examinations are available through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES). INFORMATION ON COLLEGE CREDIT FOR MILITARY JOB SKILLS Educational Reference Publications Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) distributes educational reference publications for use by Education Services personnel in counseling Military Service members. Many of these publications are acquired from the civilian education publishing community. DANTES also develops and prints publications to support other DANTES and service education programs. American Council on Education The American Council on Education (ACE), founded in 1918, is dedicated to the belief that equal educational opportunity and a strong higher education system are essential cornerstones of a democratic society. The Military Evaluations Program of ACE makes it possible for service members to receive college credit for service school courses and most enlisted occupations. The credit recommendations for evaluation of service school courses and occupations are published in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services commonly referred to as the ACE Guide.
CAREER IN EDUCATION FOR SERVICE MEMBERS NEARING RETIREMENT OR ETS Troops to Teachers primary function of Troops to Teachers https://www.guardfamily.org/?line=8794 and http://www.jobs2teach.doded.mil is to provide referral service-to-service personnel to assist them in their pursuit of teaching as a second career. This successful program also helps in the placement of these individuals in areas of the greatest need. Troops to Teachers is a U.S. Department of Education and Department of Defense program that helps eligible military personnel begin a new career as teachers in public schools where their skills, knowledge and experience are most needed. Click here for the Troops To Teachers Home Page Click here to enter the Troops To Teachers Job Referral Site. Civilian Employee Training opportunities can be found at http://www.afcrossroads.com/employment/sitemap_refresh.cfm?page=gov_af. |
