Tuition Assistance (TA) Information for Reservists

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.

Voluntary Education Programs

• Army Continuing Education System (ACES)
• Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support (DANTES)

Tuition Assistance

• Independent Study Assistance
  View independent study tuition assistance information and procedures
   
• College and University Assistance
  Tuition assistance for attendance at local colleges and universities is now available to selected reserve soldiers. Contact your Regional Support Education Services Specialist.
   
• Army Reserve Tuition Assistance
  To apply for Army Reserve tuition assistance, you must use the DA Form 2171-E, Request for Tuition Assistance - Army Continuing Education System (.PDF). You may either complete this form online or download a .PDF version of the form. The online method is the preferred method. The downloadable form should only be used in cases where you are unable to access the online application. Completing the form online can speed your tuition assistance processing by both generating the form for your signature and automatically submitting your tuition assistance request to your education specialist.
Apply for Army Reserve tuition assistance now!
(Note: you must login using your AKO username and password)
 
• Montgomery GI Bill
  View Montgomery GI Bill information and eligibility requirements

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.