*Tuition Assistance: While you are active duty there is the option to use Tuition Assistance to pay for your college courses. The military will cover a specific amount of your tuition each fiscal year. It is $250 per semester hour with a maximum of 16 semester hours per fiscal year. This averages 5 typical college classes a year. The TA program does not cover books or school fees. Those are out of pocket expenses for military students. While I can’t speak for other colleges, I’m currently attending Ashford University and am lucky enough that their military grant covers everything that my TA doesn’t. They are wonderful with military students, whether active duty or prior service, as well as with dependents.
*Apprentice Programs: The Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard have a USMAPS program. This program is a FREE way to log working hours to earn apprenticeship certificates that translate to the civilian world. As an administrative worker, I have options such as computer programmer and data input certification as well as legal clerk to earn if I choose. Each of these certificates is job specific. And did I mention this is a FREE program? There is no excuse for not enrolling in the USMAPS program if your branch offers it. All you have to do is log in weekly and log the hours you work under the skills you performed. Why not take advantage of a program that rewards you for just doing your job?
*The Montgomery GI Bill & Post 9/11 GI Bill: These are 2 different GI Bills and not everyone realizes this.
The Montgomery GI Bill requires active duty service members to enroll in the program (often done in boot camp) and pay out $100 a month for 12 months in order to receive the benefits. In order for an active duty member to use the MGIB they need to serve for 24 continuous months. Their benefits are paid right to them, not the school. The MGIB can be used for 36 months of schooling and have to be used within 10 years of service.
