What do you know about military tuition assistance?

  • Published
  • By Education and Training Center staff
  • 341 Force Support Squadron
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  What is Tuition Assistance or TA? TA is privileged funds provided to eligible active-duty Air Force personnel attending post secondary institutions accredited by a national, regional or specialized body recognized by the Department of Education.

Each military member has a fiscal cap of $4,500, which may be used for academic education. Tuition is paid up to $250 per semester hour or $166 per quarter hour. Military members are also allowed one lifetime professional certification of up to $9,000 ($4,500 over a two year span). Unfortunately, TA will not cover books.

TA is not authorized for courses leading to a lateral or lower level degree than you already possess (i.e. second associate's or bachelor's degree). However, there are exceptions for CCAF degrees.

TA may be provided for enlisted military members seeking a CCAF degree regardless of their current education level. Likewise, it may also be provided for another associate's degree even if the member has a CCAF degree, provided they do not already possess another associate's degree (or higher).

TA will pay for 12 semester hours of undergraduate course work towards a master's degree. These credits must be approved by the Education Office before tuition assistance can be submitted.

Members must apply for TA online using the Air Force Virtual Education Center, or AFVEC. This must be done through the Air Force Portal at https://www.my.af.mil/. Members will not be able to apply for TA if the classes have already begun. Those who have never used TA before are required to attend the College 101 briefing, held every Tuesday and Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Education Center. This briefing will cover attending college, using TA, how to apply for TA online and more.

AFVEC has recently improved. Students are now able to view Education Center events.

Members can explore their CCAF degree progress report, order CCAF transcripts and look at the CCAF course conversion table. Students can observe their scheduled PME tests. They can also view their enrollments and grades (if they have been provided). And, of course, they can apply for their TA through AFVEC.

Everything but the CCAF actions can be accomplished at home as long as the member knows their Air Force Portal ID (first name.middle intial.last name) and their password. Members must be on a government computer to access the CCAF actions.

TA is a great program to help military members with the expense of college education. Military members must remember that tuition assistance is not a right; it is a benefit that depends upon congressional funds available.

For anyone who has trouble applying for TA, the Education Office has a presentation available demonstrating the process. For more information, call 731-3531 Monday-Friday.




                                                             CCAF Graduation

CCAF graduation takes place Oct. 23 starting at 1 p.m. at the Grizzly Bend Club. Approximately 60 Malmstrom Airmen will be receiving their Associate of Applied Science degrees. Graduates will receive a detailed letter and e-mail with information regarding the graduation ceremony. Questions should be directed to Melissa Laferriere at 731-4222.