Posted on 03/08/2013 3:09:26 PM PST by Marie
WIESBADEN, Germany — The Army announced Friday it is suspending its tuition assistance program for soldiers newly enrolling in classes due to sequestration and other budgetary pressures.
“This suspension is necessary given the significant budget execution challenges caused by the combined effects of a possible year-long continuing resolution and sequestration,” Paul Prince, an army personnel spokesman at the Pentagon, wrote in an email to Stars and Stripes. “The Army understands the impacts of this action and will re-evaluate should the budgetary situation improve.”
The Army’s announcement follows a similar move by the Marine Corps.
The Army’s tuition assistance program was available for troops to complete a high school diploma, certificate program or college or master’s degree. Under the program, the Army paid 100 percent of the tuition and authorized fees charged by a school up to established limits of $250 per semester hour or credit hour or up to $4,500 per fiscal year.
“The Secretary of the Army has approved the suspension of Tuition Assistance effective 5 p.m. (Eastern Time) on March 8, 2013. Soldiers will no longer be permitted to submit new requests for Tuition Assistance,” read a statement posted Friday on the GoArmyEd.com website. “However, Soldiers currently enrolled in courses approved for Tuition Assistance are not affected, and will be allowed to complete current course enrollment(s).
“This change in the Army Tuition Assistance program applies to all Soldiers, including the Army National Guard and Army Reserves,” the statement read.
Student Veterans of America on Friday blasted the decision, saying the move could hurt troops’ post military careers and leave them in debt.
(Excerpt) Read more at stripes.com ...
Like there is NO OTHER PLACE where the military can save money.... right.
Now if we were illegals, we could get all sorts of help!
Tuition Break for Illegal Immigrants Clears First Hurdle ( Colorado )
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2982404/posts
Oregon House passes illegal immigrant tuition bill
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2990354/posts
Hopefully the uninformed voter will see what a scumbag zer0 is.
(Though I have little faith of that)
Yup. Just like when you local school board wants to jack up your taxes, the first thing to go is high school football.
Any so-called public servant who dares propose a-holerly like this should be fired. Then maybe we’ll see some creative problem-solving. But of course Obama wants pain, not problem-solving.
Possibly, but I’ll bet they don’t if they’re DoD employees.
For Veterans, The Wait For Disability Claims Grows Longer
http://www.npr.org/2012/12/27/168069322/for-veterans-the-wait-for-disability-claims-grows-longer
I'm unaware of any such program. Can you point me to the details?
There is not an across-the-board civil service tuition assistance program like the AF has (and I’m assuming the Army program is similar - as long as you are enrolled in a degreee program from an accredited school, you can get it)
DOD civil service has some education opportunities on an apply/compete basis, but that’s all I know about.
USAF (ret) 2010
DOD cvil service since then
Does anyone know if the college ROTC program take a cut, too?
Most DoD employees don’t get tuition assistance; there are some rare exceptions I’m aware of in the Air Force, but that’s about it. However, the Coast Guard does provide tuition assistance for its employees, but that comes out of the DHS budget, not the Pentagon’s.
Two more points: first, it’s ironic the the Department of the Navy (which controls the Navy and the Marine Corps) cut tuition assistance for Marines, but not sailors (surprise, surprise).
Secondly, it’s also worth remembering that TA is budget dust in Pentagon terms, about $600 million a year. But the services benefit from the investment, because the military member takes classes (and many earn degrees) while in uniform. By comparison, the Post 9-11 GI Bill now costs taxpayers $15 billion a year, far above original projections (what a shock); the military gets nothing in return, and over 80% of all vets who become full-time students flunk out or quit without ever getting their degree.
Tuition Assistance has always delivered more bang for the taxpayer dollar, and naturally, it gets cut.
I've had a relatively routine claim in since early December 2011.
These useless MF-ers! They, this regime, will do anything to hurt the people, especially the military! Taking up arms is becoming more than just something to say!
Well, tbank God they at least haven’t pulled the funding on the robotic squirrel project!
You’re partially correct: service members who have been court-martialed and are serving their sentences in military brigs can use their GI Bill benefits while incarcerated, as long as they had at least one term of honorable service.
In the words of the late Jack Paar, “I kid you not.”
I was referencing federal employees in general (Forestry, DHS, Labor, etc.) not specifically DoD civilians, but thanks for the helpful info.
November 2011 here. Not a peep.
I didn't think so...
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