MyCAA Helps Military Spouses Pay for Career Training

Military education benefits aren't just for servicemembers--they exist for spouses, too. The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program (MyCAA) is a joint program between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Labor that can help military spouses afford career training.

The DoD realizes that military spouses are frequently the backbone of military families, and these men and women experience difficulties completing their degrees due to frequent moves and relocations. MyCAA aims to help spouses overcome that obstacle.

MyCAA has been one of the most popular education benefit programs for military spouses. Although budget constraints have led to multiple restructurings of MyCAA benefits, the program remains a key way for military spouses to get career training.

MyCAA eligibility changes

The DoD began offering MyCAA education benefits in Novermber 2007 to help military spouses train for what the DoD termed "portable careers," to go with the frequent relocations of the military lifestyle. The program proved wildly popular. Too popular, in fact: By January 2010, MyCAA requests had skyrocketed to 70,000 per month. Unable to satisfy all requests with the assigned budget, the DOD canceled MyCAA in February 2010.

The cancellation of MyCAA sparked protests among military spouses, so the next month DoD reinstated benefits for already enrolled participants. In October 2010, the department announced stricter eligibility requirements for new enrollees in an effort to control costs.

According to the DoD, changes to the MyCAA program are designed to refocus the program on its original goal of assisting spouses of junior military personnel to take the first steps toward starting a new career and adjusting to a newly mobile military lifestyle.

Who is eligible for MyCAA military spouse education benefits?

New eligibility requirements for MyCAA went into effect on October 25, 2010. Among the major requirements of the program are the following:

• Eligible military spouses must be married to an active duty servicemember in pay grade E1 through E5, W1 or W2, or O1 or O2.
• Spouses receive up to $2,000 in MyCAA education benefits each year with a maximum of $4,000 throughout the program's duration.
• MyCAA education benefits can only be used to pay for licensures, certifications and associate degrees.
• Programs of study must be completed within three years of enrolling.

MyCAA funds cannot be used for school supplies or activity fees, exam fees, or non-credit courses such as internships or apprentice programs.

Spouses of National Guard and reserve servicemembers in eligible pay grades can apply for MyCAA benefits. Spouses of Coast Guard personnel are not eligible for MyCAA.

What type of career training is covered under MyCAA?

The goal of MyCAA is to help military spouses get training for specific jobs that they can perform wherever they are based, helping them build a career that travels with them from one military posting to another.

According to the Department of Labor and the DoD, portable careers possess the following attributes:

• High growth
• High demand
• Large number of employees
• Likely to have openings in military duty locations

A list of portable careers is available on the MyCAA website. Portable careers are available in industries from aerospace to animal services, and include a wide range of careers in growing sectors such as education, health care and financial services. Coursework must be approved by MyCAA prior to funds being disbursed.

Because MyCAA aims to fund career-oriented training, personal enrichment courses are not eligible. Likewise, eligible associate degree programs must provide specific career training in fields such as teaching or nursing. Associate degrees in general studies, liberal arts or interdisciplinary studies are not covered under MyCAA.

MyCAA also offers career counseling and employment referrals to all military spouses, regardless of eligibility for coursework funds.

MyCAA is contributing to the success of a number of military spouses, such as Annetta Killian. According to her school's website, Killian used MyCAA benefits to earn her graphic design certificate online at Sessions College with concentrations in print design and web design. She completed her coursework while moving around the country and even won an American Cancer Society design competition. Her portable graphic design career allows her to work wherever her husband, a Navy pilot, is stationed.

How to enroll in MyCAA

Military spouses interested in registering for MyCAA education benefits should first confirm that they and their school are eligible for the program. To be eligible for MyCAA, a school must be accredited and recognized by the DoD and the Department of Education. Some 3,000 schools already participate in the MyCAA program, but eligible schools can join if invited by a military sp ouse. The approval process for new schools can take several months, so students are advised to plan ahead if attending a new school.

Once a student has chosen a school, he or she must then submit an education and training plan to the MyCAA website for approval. Once the education and training plan has been approved, military spouses can request financial assistance for their coursework. MyCAA distributes funds directly to the school and does not reimburse students for tuition fees, so students may need to coordinate between their school and MyCAA to ensure tuition and enrollment deadlines are met.

Though the program has evolved over the years, MyCAA has a proven track record of helping individuals get career training and balance an education, a career and a military lifestyle--no small task for today's military spouses.