Active-duty, Reserve and National Guard soldiers who want to continue higher education will now need to adhere to a new set of guidelines in order to gain access money to offset the costs. The Army unveiled plans to boost the amount of tuition assistance by $500, is increasing the number of semester hours from 16 to 18, and hiking the annual cap to $4,500 (up from $4,000), but instituted decreases in other key areas.
“The changes we are making to these programs will help ensure their long-term sustainability, and will bring the Army into closer alignment with how other services execute voluntary educations and will preserve the benefits for soldiers who need them the most,” said Christine Traugott, who manages soldier education and transition under the service’s office of manpower and reserve affairs.
Phase 1 changes:
Tuition Assistance
Increase annual cap from $4,000 to $4,500
Increase semester hours from 16 to 18
Require Soldiers who are first time users of TA to take ArmyIgnitED training prior to requesting TA
Require Soldiers to use the decision support tool prior to requesting TA.
Credentialing Assistance
Decrease the annual cap from $4,000 to $2,000
Limit Soldiers to one credential a year and a max of three in 10 years
Require Soldiers to take associated credential exam or recoup the cost of the course work/training
Limit Aviation credentials to $1,000 per year for all Army components.
Require Soldiers who are first time users of CA to take ArmyIgnitED training prior to requesting CA
Require Soldiers to use the decision support tool prior to requesting CA.
Phase 2 changes:
Suspend CA and TA for Soldiers with two recoupments (TA and CA combined) in a year
Preclude commissioned officers from using CA.
Require command approval for TA and CA requests.
The new rules bring the Army in line with assistance offered by both the Navy and Air Force. Soldiers who take advantage of either form of assistance will not incur any additional service obligation.
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