Summer is on its way out, and its reprieve from education is fading just as quickly.
It’s time to start thinking about fall classes, and that means filing tuition-assistance vouchers. How that’s done varies to some degree depending on branch of service and one’s particular goals.
There are two education centers on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson; one for JBER-Richardson and one for JBER-Elmendorf. Each one handles their own respective branch of service exclusively.
“The tuition assistance we deal with is for active duty Air Force, and activated members of the Guard and Reserves,” said Darrin Kerschner, JBER-Elmendorf Education Technician. “They can use up to $4,500 a year for their education. Every October 1, that pot of money replenishes for them. We pay up to $250 per semester hour of credit; any costs or fees on top of that would be out-of-pocket expense.”
For Soldiers, it’s a bit different.
“The Army will pay up to 16 semester hours per fiscal year at $250 per hour – up to 130 hours for a bachelor’s degree and 39 semester hours for a graduate degree,” said Gregory D. Wilkie, JBER-Richardson education services specialist.
Service members may use their Montgomery GI bill toward additional costs through a separate program.
“It helps save the GI bill,” said Desiree Thomas, JBER-Elmendorf Education Specialist. “I always tell them, the GI bill is rainy-day money for after you separate. As long as the [military] maintains TA use that benefit first and save the GI bill as a last resort.”
Air Force personnel are encouraged to pursue a Community College of the Air Force associate degree using TA. TA may also cover certain prerequisites for commissioning programs; interested members should talk to an education specialist.
The CCAF is restricted to an individual’s Air Force Specialty Code, but TA is not, Kerschner said. Airmen can use TA toward a degree at a higher level of education as long as they have an approved education goal.
“Each branch has their own set of rules,” Kerschner said. “That’s why we have separate education offices.”
Soldiers must request TA no less than 60 days before the beginning of the semester and no later than five business days before the beginning of the semester, Wilkie said.
The Air Force has similar requirements, but they do vary.
“You have to apply no earlier than 45 days, and no later than seven days before the term starts,” Thomas said. “If you try to apply outside of that window, you’re not going to be able to and you’ll have to pay out of pocket.”
“Army personnel must have, by regulation, a minimum of 366 days’ service post-[Advanced Individual Training] before applying for TA,” Wilkie said.
Air Force personnel must have supervisor approval before enrolling in college courses.
Regardless of branch, establishing a good grade point average is critical.
“TA eligibility is based on GPA,” Thomas said. “For a master’s degree a member must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the system. For a Bachelor’s degree, a member must maintain a 2.0 GPA or their records will be locked.
“If that happens, the member must take a class out of pocket, or use other financial aid until their GPA is over the minimum.”
The clock’s ticking; file for TA today.