Options mean you don't have to put your higher education on hold

  • Published
  • By Chris McCann
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  As any service member knows, education is highly valued in the U.S. military. From basic training on, service members learn. Programs like Community College of the Air Force and GoArmyEd provide opportunities to work on degrees - to improve education and leadership. The services have, for several years, provided tuition assistance to any service member pursuing their educational goals.

On March 11, that came to a very sudden - though perhaps temporary - stop due to sequestration.

Any classes service members were enrolled in by March 11 will still be honored, said Joe O'Neil, chief of education and training for the 673d Force Support Squadron.

When and if the tuition assistance program returns, there are no guarantees about eligibility or percentage of tuition that it will cover, he said in a briefing March 15.

However, that doesn't mean service members who are in classes or who want to take classes need to put their education on hold. There are options - some even better than the military TA programs - that can see a student safely through.

"There's been a bit of panicking," O'Neil said. "For a lot of people, it's the only program they've ever known, to fund their education, but they don't have to foot the bill."
"There are other funding sources, and we (at the education office) are committed to helping students - so they shouldn't put their education on hold."

Answer me these questions three
Schools and the military have long offered College Level Examination Program and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support tests.

These tests are free, and passing a test results in college credit - a great way to leverage things you've learned outside a classroom, or by studying from the study guides in the education center. The tests are an excellent way to bypass the 100-level or introductory courses and get the prerequisites out of the way.

The CCAF accepts both CLEP and DANTES tests, as do more than 3,000 colleges and universities around the country. In fact, students can test out of all general-education credits for the CCAF, and study materials are free for all 70 of the available subjects.
If you take a test and fail, you can study and re-attempt the test for about $97. By comparison, a college course can cost $500 or more, plus books.

Don't pay to take a class when you already know the subject matter. This will save time, as well as reduce your financial need.

Take the money and run
Take advantage of scholarships, O'Neil said. There are thousands of organizations giving away billions of dollars in scholarships, and often the money goes unclaimed, he said.

The advantage of scholarships is that generally, the money goes directly to the student, so students can use it for tuition or for housing, books, or materials. Many scholarships are based on military status, degree path, or other factors, and only require an essay to qualify.

There are books full of scholarships available, O'Neil said, but often the best way is online - a simple search can turn up thousands of options.

O'Neil cautioned service members about scholarship websites that require a fee, or personal information before applying.

"Use government and reliable non-profit resources," he urged. Even within those parameters, there is plenty of money being offered, and sometimes only one or two students apply for a given scholarship. Taking time to look at all the options available can result in a lot of money for just a little investment.

A FAFSA full of dollars
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid should be a given, O'Neil said. The Department of Education provides about $150 billion every year, and everyone is eligible. Have your previous year's tax information available, and fill it out at fafsa.gov.

Most traditional college students have an Expected Family Contribution, which can lower the amount of aid they receive, but service members are exempt - which means they're eligible for more grants, which don't have to be paid back.

A student's financial need takes into account not only tuition and books but also transportation to and from school, child care, and other expenses, so it's a valuable tool.
Once you submit the FAFSA - which can auto-fill tax information from the IRS if you've already submitted your tax return - students will receive a student aid report in three to five business days. If you've included the names of schools you're interested in attending, those schools will also get a copy of the report. The next step is to choose a school and tell them how much of the offer you want to use.

There's no obligation to accept any loan or grant offered, but it's a good way to start planning for your education.

Service members can even receive grants through the FAFSA that exceed what they would have received from the military in tuition assistance.

Use the Bill, Luke
Most service members who have served since Sept. 11, 2001, are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which is an even better deal than the previous GI Bill.
The new version provides not only tuition but allowances for books, and for full-time students who aren't on active duty, a stipend for housing - the Basic Allowance for Housing at the E-5 rate for that area.

Active-duty troops can add the "kicker" - an extra contribution - that results in a significantly higher payout when they decide to use the GI Bill benefits.
The older bill requires benefits be used within 10 years of the end of service; the Post-9/11 bill benefits must be used within 15 years of the end of active duty. If the benefit is passed to a child, they must use it by the age of 23.

For information on using your GI bill, visit http://gibill.va.gov

O'Neil recommended all service members considering taking classes fill out the FAFSA, even if they don't anticipate needing it.

These options mean losing the tuition assistance from the military doesn't even have to make a dent in your educational plans.

While it takes a little bit more work than simply submitting paperwork to the education office, there are many ways to get the same amount of financial aid - or even more.
For more information, contact your first sergeant or one of the education offices
on JBER.