Military Education Benefits

The primary military-wide education benefits and programs include:

• Post 9/11 GI Bill
• Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)
• Montgomery GI Bill Buy-Up
• Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
• Veterans Upward Bound (VUB)
• Loan Repayment Program (LRP)
• Tuition Assistance Top-Up (TATU)

Military Education Benefits by Branch

Many military education programs are similar regardless of service branch, but a few are branch-specific. The following guide can help shed light on the programs that are available for specific branches of the military:

U.S Army Education Benefits

The Army believes one of the most important benefits one can receive as an Army servicemember is financial assistance to earn an education or pay off student loans. The Army makes it a priority to encourage soldiers to attend post-secondary schools and colleges, and to further that mission, it established several programs and benefits. In addition, the Army Emergency Relief (AER), the Army's own emergency financial assistance organization, provides additional education benefits. Programs and assistance for Army servicemembers include:

• Tuition Assistance (TA). The Army provides tuition assistance for approved courses. 100 percent of course costs are covered, up to $250 per credit with a maximum of $4,500 per academic year. Tuition assistance can be applied toward undergraduate and graduate courses taken traditionally or through online programs.
• Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Army Degree (SOCAD). SOCAD is system of colleges and universities for Army soldiers and their qualifying adult family members. The network of approximately 1,800 accredited universities and colleges agrees to accept the credits earned at each other's schools, allowing students to transfer easily. SOCAD-2 is the associate's degree network, and SOCAD-4 is the bachelor's degree network.
• College Loan Repayment Program (CLRP). The Army CLRP makes it easier to pay off student loans. Active duty soldiers who enlist full-time for three or more years can receive up to $65,000 to put toward their loans. Army Reserve soldiers who enlist for six years can receive up to $40,000.
• MG James Ursano Scholarship Program. Established by AER, the MG James Ursano Scholarship Program helps Army servicemembers pay for the undergraduate college expenses of their dependent children. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academics, and leadership or achievement.
• Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program (OSEAP). Another AER grant program, OSEAP is for spouses of active-duty soldiers stationed overseas. Financial assistance is awarded in an amount that is up to half the cost of tuition per term based on financial need, with a maximum of $2,500 per academic year.
• Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SSEAP). SSEAP is an AER need-based grant program that's designed to provide spouses/widows(ers) of active duty or retired soldiers residing in the U.S. with financial assistance for continuing education.

U.S. Air Force Education Benefits

The U.S. Air Force makes its position on continuing education clear: "Education is more than career training--it's the essential framework of your success in the Air Force." To help its members achieve success, the Air Force offers a variety of programs to promote education. Additional benefits have been established through the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS), which supports the Air Force mission by sponsoring education assistance programs, among other benefits. The following military education benefits are offered to Air Force servicemembers:

• Tuition Assistance (TA). The Air Force tuition assistance program is similar to that of the Army; covering up to $250 per credit, with a maximum of $4,500 per academic year for approved courses. Courses and programs may be academic or vocational, and can be on base, off base or through distance learning programs.
• The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF). The CCAF is America's largest community college, and it's dedicated entirely to Air Force servicemembers. CCAF provides associate's degree programs in aircraft and missile maintenance, electronics and telecommunications, allied health, logistics and resources, and public and support services. CCAF partners with 82 education service offices, 90 affiliated Air Force schools, and more than 1,500 civilian academic institutions.
• College Loan Repayment Program (CLRP). Those who have college loan debt before enlisting can sign up for the CLRP when signing his or her enlistment contract. A maximum of $10,000 can be granted to put toward the servicemember's student loans.
• General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant. This need-based grant from the AFAS provides $2,000 grants to selected children and spouses for their undergraduate coursework.
• General George S. Brown Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP). STAP is an AFAS program that pays 50 percent of tuition costs not met by other forms of assistance. The program is for spouses who accompany servicemembers overseas and offers a maximum of $1,500 per academic year.

U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Education Benefits

Like the Army and the Air Force, the Navy and Marine Corps know the value of education for their servicemembers. A number of programs are in place to help servicemembers further their educations. Additionally, organizations like the Navy-Marine Corp Relief Society (NMCRS) provide need-based education programs to help eligible Navy and Marine Corps servicemembers and their families reach their academic goals. Benefits for Navy and Marine Corps servicemembers include:

• Tuition Assistance (TA). The tuition assistance program pays up to 100 percent of the cost of courses taken at accredited institutions while off-duty, with a $4,500 per academic year maximum.
• Navy College Program (NCP). NCP gives Navy servicemembers academic credit for the training they receive, and for the work they perform while serving on active duty. This might include courses completed through distance learning or a class taught on ship while underway.
• Loan Repayment Program. Navy servicemembers serving their first enlistment can receive up to $65,000 to use toward paying off qualifying student loans. The Marine Corp awards new officers up to $30,000 for student loan repayment if they are willing to extend their service.
• Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC). The SOC is a consortium of schools that make it easy for servicemembers and their families to transfer credits and complete a degree program. The SOC member organization coordinates military education programs specific to each branch--SOCMAR and SOCNAV are for Marine and Navy families, respectively.
• Vice Admiral E.P. Travers Loan Program. The Travers Program is a NMCRS program that awards interest-free loans to eligible children (under 23 years of age) and spouses of active-duty and retired Navy and Marine Corp servicemembers. Loans are from $500 to $3,000 per academic year.
• Admiral Mike Boorda Seaman to Admiral Program. The Boorda Program, also administered by NMCRS, provides loans from $500 to $3,000 per academic year to active-duty students enrolled in the following commissioning programs: Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP), Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECP), and Marine Meritorious Commissioning Program (MCP).
• Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP). STAP is a NMCRS, need-based loan available to spouses residing with their active-duty servicemembers while stationed overseas. STAP offers no-interest loans of up to $3,000 per year.
• Anchor Scholarship. The Navy awards more than 40 scholarships of $500 to dependents and spouses of Navy servicemembers through the Anchor Scholarship program. The scholarship is awarded based on academic proficiency, extracurricular activities, character, and financial need.
• Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation awards $3,000 scholarships to children of active duty or retired Marines. Children of a Marine killed during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, or children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen killed in combat since September 11, 2001 can receive a $30,000 scholarship to fund their educations.

U.S. Coast Guard Military Education Benefits

The U.S. Coast Guard is under the Department of Homeland Security, rather than the Department of Defense, so there are some differences in how educational benefits are administered. Similar to the other branches, members of the Coast Guard still have a variety of programs to help further their educations, including assistance from the Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports Coast Guard members. Military education benefits for those serving in the Coast Guard include the following:

• Tuition Assistance (TA). Tuition assistance pays 100 percent of tuition (up to $250 per credit and $4,500 per academic year) for courses taken during off duty time periods.
• Coast Guard Foundation Education Grant (CGFEG). Administered by the Coast Guard Foundation, the CGFEG program provides up to $350 in reimbursement for text books and miscellaneous educational expenses for active duty E-3 to E-9 and reserve E-3 to E-9 servicemembers that are currently serving on active duty orders of at least one year.
• Vander Putten Education Grant (VPEG). This grant provides additional assistance once the CGFEG limit is reached. Grants of up to $500 are awarded to pay for remaining education expenses.
• Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC). The Coast Guard has its own designation within the SOC network. Universities and college programs in the network are designated as SOCCOAST-2 (associate's degree) or SOCCOAST-4 (bachelor's degree). Servicemembers, their spouses, and children can take courses through SOCCOAST with the assurance that the courses can transfer to other schools and no residency requirements need to be met.

Paying for Education with Officer Training

College educations are expensive, but a career as a military officer can help foot the bill. One of the most common training programs is attending a military academy such as West Point, the Citadel, and the U.S. Military Academy. Students study in a military setting and degree programs are directly applicable to the military branches.

Another training program is the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). In ROTC, individuals study at civilian universities and attend military training throughout the year. This training includes classes, leadership labs, physical training, and field training exercises. In the ROTC program, individuals may choose to study any degree program offered by the university he or she is attending.

Tuition and Education Benefits for Family Members

There are additional spouse and child education programs, created to help families accomplish their educational goals. Programs include:

• Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA). Spouses of active-duty servicemembers in pay grades E1-E5, W1-W2, and O1-O2 can receive up to $4,000 of educational assistance to pursue associate's degrees, certifications, and licensures in eligible career fields. MyCAA program funds can be used to pay tuition and other education expenses.
• Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship. The National Military Family Association offers the Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship to spouses and widow(ers) of servicemembers. The programs pays for education expenses including tuition, fees, and school room and board for GED or ESL, vocational training, professional certification, post-secondary school, and graduate school. Coursework can be on-site or online, either full- or part-time.
• Scholarships for Military Children Program. The Fisher House sponsors scholarships for children of servicemembers with its Scholarships for Military Children Program. The $1,500 scholarships can be used to pay for tuition and other education-related expenses.
• Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer. If eligibility requirements are met, a servicemember can transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to his or her spouse or child.

Veteran Education: Top Career Choices for After Graduation

When one decides to leave the military, his or her military education benefits and leadership skills can open the door to a second career. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the following careers will be some of the fastest growing occupations through 2018. Median annual wages are listed for each profession.

1. Biomedical engineers, $82,550
2. Network systems and data communications analysts, $76,560
3. Health care aides, $21,620
4. Financial examiners, $79,070
5. Medical scientists, $84,760
6. Physician assistants, $84,830
7. Skin care specialists, $31,990
8. Biochemists and biophysicists, $88,550
9. Athletic trainers, $44,020
10. Physical therapist aides, $24,990
11. Dental hygienists, $67,860
12. Veterinary technologists and technicians, $30,580
13. Dental assistants, $34,000
14. Computer software engineers (applications) $90,170
15. Medical assistants, $29,450

Servicemembers are entitled to numerous military education benefits to help them (as well as their spouses and children) pursue an education. Often, members of the military find that their military experience combined with a solid education make them invaluable to prospective employers. It's advised that members of the military understand the programs and benefits available to them, and then select a path that fits their education and career goals.