Coast Guard Voluntary Education Support Programs

Tuition Assistance Top-Up

If a Coast Guard member is taking classes with tuition and expenses that are greater than what is provided by tuition assistance, he or she may have to cover the difference out of pocket. However, for servicemembers who are eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty or the Post-9/11 GI Bill, fortunately there is another option. For members of the Coast Guard, voluntary education support programs exist, like the Tuition Assistance Top-Up program. This particular program makes it possible to draw from GI Bill benefits to cover the difference. While this provides less total monetary benefits in the long run than using the GI Bill after leaving the military, it can provide very timely assistance when it is needed.

Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserves

Members of the Coast Guard Reserves who enrolled in the Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserves option when enlisting may draw on this in order to pay for college courses while they are serving on an active drilling status. This benefit can't be used after being discharged from the Reserves, so it's important to use opportunities to take courses so that the benefit is not lost.

Maritime Law Enforcement Academy Voluntary Education Degree Plan

The Maritime Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA), an academic institution that provides professional education to Coast Guard personnel, offers a voluntary education degree plan that allows Coast Guard members to take courses online and via distance learning that count toward a degree from the MLEA. This allows Coast Guard personnel to keep working on a higher degree in a variety of disciplines even if they don't have the opportunity to physically attend the MLEA.

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Programs

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, a program dedicated to providing support of all kinds for Coast Guard personnel and their families, offers several programs that are geared toward helping servicemembers and their dependents pursue an education. These programs include:

• Stafford/PLUS loan fee reimbursement
• Supplemental Educational Grants (SEGs) to offset the extra cost of high-tech education
• Vocational and Technical Training Student Loan Program
• Supplemental Student Loan Program which offers loans to help supplement tuition assistance

Coast Guard Foundation Education Grant

The Coast Guard Foundation Education Grant is a monetary grant that is available to qualified Coast Guard personnel in the grades of E-3 to E-9 who are either on active duty or in the Reserves--but on active duty orders for at least a year. The grant provides up to $350 per year to help cover certain education-related expenses that are not otherwise covered by educational assistance, such as books and supplies.

Servicemember Opportunity College Coast Guard (SOCCOAST)

Being in the military means moving around a lot, which means for those Coast Guard members pursuing degrees, they may have to transfer between schools before finishing a full degree program. This is where the Servicemember Opportunity College Coast Guard (SOCCOAST) comes in. It is an agreement between the Coast Guard, various colleges, and the student that allows military students to graduate with a reduced residency requirement and guaranteed transfer of credits from other SOCCOAST member colleges.

Coast Guard voluntary education support programs make put a higher education within reach for active duty members of the Coast Guard. With so many incentives, there's no reason not to take advantage of the opportunities available.