TA offers financial support

  • Published
  • By Sara Harr
  • 48th Force Support Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The 48th Force Support Squadron's Education Center offers financial aid to all active duty members through the Air Force Tuition Assistance program.

Active duty members are entitled up to $4,500 per fiscal year toward an Associate, Bachelor, or Master degree for nearly all degree programs. In addition, each active duty Air Force member seeking a certification or licensure is entitled to receive up to $9,000 per fiscal year. There are some restrictions on this, so it's important for personnel wanting to take advantage of this program to speak with a counselor at Education Services.

"Each person is entitled to receive the maximum financial benefit each year," said Vannessa Menefee, Education Services education counselor. "However, it's important to remember that TA does not cover the cost of book, audited courses, or recertification."

"This program is one of the most frequent reasons given for enlisting and re-enlisting in the Air Force," continued Ms. Menefee.

There are very specific requirements for TA. First, it is only available to active duty Air Force members, including reserves on active duty status. Additionally, the institution in which the active duty member is enrolled must be nationally, regionally, specialized, or distance learning accredited. In other words, the institution must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education.

In order to apply for the TA program, personnel must first speak with a counselor at the school of their choice. When a member decides on his degree program, he can apply for TA through the Air Force Portal link to the Air Force Virtual Education Center, or AFVEC. Applicants are required to bring their formal degree program paperwork after the first semester of classes.

"The application and approval process is very fast," Ms. Menefee said. "We process TA applications within 24 hours."

Once TA is approved, the classes for which the member is requesting TA must be the same classes on their degree program. If the classes do not match what is in the system for that specific degree program, TA will be refused.

Refusals will also be issued if:
- Degree plans are not current
- A student switches schools without notifying Education Services
- A student fails to mention a specific program
- The student has already received the maximum amount of TA for the fiscal year
- There's a failure to in-process at the gaining base

Ms. Menefee had some advice for avoiding refusals.

"Be sure you keep the Education Office updated with any changes," she said. The system is accessible Air Force wide, so it's very easy for us for keep your tuition assistance active."

"Tuition assistance is an entitlement," Ms Menefee stated. "It's to say 'thank you' and enables members to save their GI and Post 9-11 bills."

Dr. David Muhleman, Education Services chief, agreed.

"Tuition Assistance is one of the best benefits available to today's Airman," he said. "We are in a finite period of time where 100% tuition assistance is available. That hasn't always been the case, nor can we expect it to be in the future. The Airmen who take advantage of this now will be the lucky ones."

For more information on how to apply for the Air Force Tuition Assistance program or for any related questions, call 226-3851 or visit the Education Services Web page at www.48forcesupport.com to view a PowerPoint instruction list.