eLearners.com Home Page
Online Degrees Online Programs Online Courses Online Colleges Campus Programs eLearners Advisor Articles & Resources Blogs & Forums
 

Tuition Assistance (TA) Information for Reservists

Site Navigation
Home Page
Student Resources

TA Information for Reserve Service Members


Student Resources
About Online Education:
Prospective Students:
Current Students:
Links & Organizations:


 

Armed Forces Tuition Assistance (TA) Program

Reserve Personnel Tuition Assistance
Each service branch - Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard - offers a Tuition Assistance (TA) Program that helps defray the cost of education for Active Duty or Reserve personnel. TA Programs are not the GI Bill and there is a distinction. For some ranks, MOS and pay grades, an additional service commitment is required. Please check with your base education officer for more details.
New Education Incentives For Traditional Reservists

The Air Force Reserve has implemented two new education incentives; the GI Bill "Kicker" program and an enhanced tuition assistance program. The kicker program is designed to work in conjunction with the Montgomery GI Bill, and will provide up to $350.00/month to qualifying full-time students. The kicker program is offered to enlisted unit reservists who meet the following criteria: enlist for 6 years in a critical skill, actively drawing the Montgomery GI Bill benefits, actively participating in the unit program, completed basic training, and have a high diploma.

The tuition assistance program is a significant enhancement to the previous DANTES distant learning program. The new program offers 75% tuition reimbursement not to exceed $187.00/semester hour for a maximum of $2,500.00/year. To be eligible for the tuition assistance, reservists must have 24 months remaining on their commitment, actively participating in the unit program, and have a high school diploma.

Civilian Tuition Assistance Program (CTAP)

  • Eligible Employees: all current Permanent Civil Service employees. Career Program covered employees must go through their respective Career Program first. If denied by their Career Program, they may apply for local reimbursement.
  • Funding: 5% of the Annual Training Budget
  • Reimbursement: will not be greater than 75% of costs for tuition
  • Limit: will be $3,500 per employee for each Fiscal Year. This includes reimbursement from the Career Programs and only two courses per employee may be approved for each Fiscal Year

TA Application Form

Simply fill out an AF Form 1227, Authority for Tuition Assistance – Education Services Program form (.PDF), and bring it to your Education Services Office, along with your degree plan.

Army Reserve Voluntary Education Program
 

The Army Reserve offers opportunities for selected reserve soldiers to pursue their education on a voluntary basis. Voluntary education plays a vital role in a reservist's career because it enhances promotional opportunities and paves the way for a smoother transition to the civilian sector when one's military tenure is completed.

Voluntary education differs from military education and training which is required for MOS/AOC. If you are interested in participating, voluntary education must be completed on personal time with financial assistance provided by the Army Reserve. You are strongly encouraged to become familiar with and utilize all available education benefits and programs.

Voluntary Education Programs

Tuition Assistance

Currently no programs unless activated under Title 10. See Active Duty TA for more information.
Currently no programs unless activated under Title 10. See Active Duty TA for more information.

The TA program is designed to assist eligible personnel in their professional development by providing funding for off-duty voluntary education courses to broaden their academic or Coast Guard technical background.

  • Tuition assistance is not authorized for use to meet unit specific operational training requirements.
  • 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. Courses of 18 weeks or more in duration (distance learning, etc.) will be reimbursed upon successful completion of the course.
  • All courses must be taken from a nationally or regionally accredited institution, resulting in college credit or accredited clock or contact hours.

Expenses Covered

Direct expenses for instruction, covered by the 100% limitation for off-duty education, provided these costs are based on specific fees or charges customarily levied by educational institutions laboratory, studio, shop fee, consumable supplies flat fee, internet fee, technology fee).

Expenses/Fees NOT Covered

Expenses not covered include: application, entrance or enrollment fees; record-maintenance fees; student activity fees/ student id; course registration fees; textbooks, manuals; non-consumable materials; assembled items available commercially such as computers, televisions, robots; fees for flight time, flying lessons, or noncredit aviation classes; parking fee; cost of tools, protective or other equipment that becomes the property of the student

Eligibility

  • Enlisted members do not incur a service duty obligation, but must complete the course of instruction prior to RELAD, discharge, retirement or termination of selected reserve status.
  • Officers agree not to request RELAD, separation, retirement, or termination of selected reserve status for 12 months after completing a course(s). 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.

TA Application Form

All users of the TA program are reminded that prompt submission of a properly completed application for off-duty assistance form, Application for Coast Guard Tuition Assistance, CG Form-4147 (.PDF), is required prior to class registration. Applicants should plan and submit the request in order to allow for receipt of the authorization form prior to the start of class registration.

 
Search Online Colleges

Begin Your Search Here:

Online Associate's Degrees
Online Bachelor's Degrees
Online Master's Degrees
Online Doctoral Degrees
Online Certificate Programs


GI Bill Resources
Additional Resources

bullet GI Bill Web Site - Information about educational benefits afforded by the GI Bill.

bullet Veterans Upward Bound Program - Designed to help veterans refresh their academic skills so that they can successfully complete the post-secondary school of their choosing.

bullet DANTES - Their mission is to support the off-duty, voluntary education programs of the Department of Defense.

bullet Military Skills Translator - Find detailed descriptions and requirements for positions held in the Armed Forces for use in your resume.


Interested in Penn Foster College and want to know what a current student has to say? Meet Terry.

This 42-year-old recent career changer is currently working on an associate's degree in marketing from Penn Foster College.

Read Terry's blog: My Penn Foster College Experience.


Statistics on Online Learning in the U.S.

Slightly more than 1.6 million students took at least one online course at U.S. degree-granting institutions in Fall 2002. In 2003, that number jumped to 1.9 million students. In 2004, more than 2.3 million students enrolled in an online course.

Last year, Fall 2005, the number of online learners climbed to nearly 3.2 million students.

Source: Making the Grade: Online Education in the United States, 2006, Sloan Consortium


Scholarships for Working Mothers

Project Working Mom

Project Working Mom is giving away $2 million in scholarships to working moms to earn an online degree.

Start your new future today by applying for a full ride scholarship at www.projectworkingmom.com.


eLearners Advisor

Assess your readiness for an online degree program!

Get tips on success as an online student!


TRUSTe