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YUMA, Ariz. - Funding for Tuition Assistance for active duty military personnel, a topic highly discussed, has been reinstated for the fiscal year.
Congress passed a bill reinstating tuition assistance March 19, preventing the termination of the program used by active duty members for educational benefits.
Senators Jim Inhofe and Kay Hagan fought to keep the program after protests from military members, veterans and lawmakers. The legislation was first introduced as Amendment 72 to the Senate’s Continuing Resolution.
The legislation passed on a bipartisan 318-109 as a massive spending bill was cleared by the House on March 21, restoring the tuition assistance program for the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps.
Although the program has been saved and the bill will limit the program’s funds from being cut, the new amendment states that funding must be found elsewhere to keep this program alive.
It is expected to be signed into law by the president in the coming weeks.
Headquarters Marine Corps Public Affairs office released guidance which states, "The legislation is still pending until the budget is signed by the President. A Marine Administrative Message (MARADMIN) with further guidance on the Tuition Assistance (TA) will be published, which will include an effective date. Until that time, TA requests will not be processed."
In the meantime, Marines are continually encouraged to find other means of funding tuition while waiting for the new MARADMIN to be published and take effect.
“We suggest they complete a FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov to see if they qualify for Pell Grant money, which is aid from the federal government,” said Cindy Harris, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma education services officer. “We also suggest they check with their school to see if they have scholarship opportunities for them.”
For Marines who don’t qualify for Pell Grant or any other federal aid there are other alternatives to continue their education.
“The Education Center also provides a financial aid packet, which lists scholarship information from various organizations,” said Harris. “Activating the Montgomery GI Bill or Post 9/11 GI Bill is also an option for many service members, but it takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks for the Veteran Affair's office to process an application, so the application should be completed as soon as possible for summer and fall classes.”
The Education Center, along with Arizona Western College, is offered a Financial Aid class and a GI Bill class on April 8 from 1330-1530 in building 598. Those who would like to know more about the brief can call (982)269-5614.
Harris said in case of any more possible updates or changes Marines who are reapplying for tuition assistance or are applying for the first time should wait for the new TA MARADMIN before going online to process their Tuition Assistance application.
Those not familiar with the education office but who are interested in using some of the programs and benefits offered to reach their educational goals can take the mandatory College 101 Orientation class to get started.
The hour-long College 101 Orientation brief discuses how to start taking college classes. The brief is offered every Friday at 1 p.m. in Bldg. 598 on a walk-in basis.
Two scholarship websites that help assist in finding local, state and national scholarships are www.scholarships.com and www.fastweb.com.
| Date Taken: | 04.09.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 04.09.2013 16:44 |
| Story ID: | 104899 |
| Location: | YUMA, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 186 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Military TA for School Saved from Sequestration, by PFC Reba James, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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