Air Force TA changes coming soon

  • Published
  • By Air Force Staff Sgt. William Banton
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Changes to the Air Force's Military Tuition Assistance program will affect Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Airmen beginning Oct. 1.

The new changes to TA include changes to eligibility requirements, supervisory oversight and how TA is approved. Because of these changes, the application window for classes starting on or after Oct. 1, will start Sept. 9.

"Air Force leaders worked very hard to develop a TA program that provides the best opportunities for Airmen and meets Air Force needs," said Kimberly Yates, Air Force Voluntary Education chief in an Air Force news release. "Higher education continues to be a cornerstone of Airmen's development at all levels."

The modifications to the TA program are designed to guarantee that the limitations from a projected smaller Department of Defense budget will not affect TA benefits.

"First off, I think it's important to establish that TA [benefits] has not changed," said Joseph O'Neil, 673d Force Support Squadron chief of education and training. "It's still 100 percent [funded] up to $250 a semester hour [up to $4,500 annually]. What's changed is eligibility."

Military TA will now automatically be denied for Airmen with unfavorable information files, failed physical fitness tests, referral enlisted performance reports and officer performance reports or those who have been placed on a control roster.

"As of right now, if you were to apply for TA, as soon as you hit that submit button it would electronically come to us in the education office and we would have to approve it," O'Neil said. "That's going to change; it's going to be the supervisor now that the application is e-mailed to."

Airmen will still need to work with the education office to determine if the courses being taken are appropriate for the individual's degree plan.

According to guidance provided by the office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the intent of this change is to provide leaders opportunities to mentor Airmen and ensure their educational goals are being met without impacting the mission.

"Supervisors will have some parameters they will have to work in," O'Neil said. "The intent is not that they can arbitrarily say yes or no. They have to have some justification if they disapprove that TA request."

In order for a supervisor to deny a request, an Airman has to be in upgrade training, be going on a temporary duty assignment or permanent change of station during the academic term, be enrolled in a professional military education course or for any factors that would impede the Airman's ability to complete the course.

"If Airmen want to try to make this process go a lot smoother, I think it's important that they establish an understanding with their supervisor," O'Neil said.

O'Neil recommends Airmen take the time to talk to their superiors about their goals for furthering their education and to try to find out if the supervisor is aware of any issues, which would prevent them from meeting their educational goals.

For more information on the current TA policies and guidelines, contact the JBER-Elmendorf education office at 552-3164.