FORT EUSTIS, Va –
The Army's Tuition Assistance (TA) program will change effective Jan. 1, 2014 to support the program's mission of providing financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education in support of Soldiers' professional and personal self-development goals within a constrained budget environment.
The new policy will allow Soldiers to use TA after graduating Advanced Individual Training, Officer Candidate School or Basic Officer Leadership Course, and upon successful completion of their first year of service, according to Jovito Aboc, Herb Bateman Army Education Center senior education services specialist.
Soldiers are eligible for benefits covering up to 16 semester hours per year, and can use TA for a graduate degree after completion of 10 years of service.
The 10-year requirement only applies if TA was used to pay for any portion of the undergraduate coursework, and the advancement is from a bachelor's to a master's degree.
Soldiers will not be able to use TA for a second equivalent degree, such as a second bachelor's or master's degree, and all courses must be part of an approved degree plan. Tuition assistance cannot be used for first professional degrees, such as a philosophy, medical or juris doctorate.
Staff members at the Bateman education center are doing what they can to ensure Soldiers are aware of the change, and receive proper assistance.
"We have a staff of three counselors here to help Soldiers find the fastest way to earn their degree and maximize the use of tuition assistance without jeopardizing the mission of the Army," said Aboc.
Soldiers will continue to receive up to $250 per semester hour. The current policy limit of 130 semester hours for completion of a bachelor's degree and up to 39 semester hours for a master's degree remains in effect.
The center will continue their policy to deny TA for Soldiers identified under an administrative or disciplinary program, such as the Drug Abuse Adverse Action, Army Physical Fitness Test and Army Weight Control Programs.
According to Aboc, the Army will honor requests for payment of approved TA requests until Dec. 31. However, no further TA-funded enrollments will be authorized unless Soldiers meet the new eligibility requirements.
"If the Soldier is currently enrolled in a class, they can continue that class without interruption," said Aboc. "If they already have an approved class in the [Army Portal], they can take those and will be honored."
For additional information, contact a counselor at the Army Education Center at 878-2083, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday 1 to 5 p.m.