Air Force brings major changes to tuition assistance

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristin High
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Fiscal year 2014 will bring major changes to tuition assistance throughout the Air Force. Application and eligibility changes will begin on or after Oct. 1.

The fundamental financial benefits of TA are unchanged. Airmen who are approved TA may receive up to $4,500 per fiscal year and a maximum of $250 per semester hour, including tuition and allowable fees.

"The biggest change includes mandatory supervisor approval of TA requests," said Darlene Linton, Base Training and Education Services chief. "It allows an opportunity for mentoring and professional growth, while also making sure education goals can be reached without impacting the mission."

Airmen will also be responsible for keeping their supervisor's email address updated in the Air Force Virtual Education Center. Supervisors will have the ability to confirm or deny supervisory responsibility of that particular Airman.

Additionally, approvals for Community College of the Air Force degrees and certifications will remain with staff at the Education Center, but will still be routed through the Airman's supervisor.

Some changes that were implemented for FY14 are already in effect.

Requests for TA for foreign language courses will only be approved if they are part of a degree or are on the approved language shortage list. TA will not be approved for Airmen seeking a degree at the same level as they currently hold, with a few exceptions in support of certain graduate foreign language affairs programs, cyber law master's degrees and multiple CCAF degrees for Airmen who hold multiple enlisted Air Force specialty codes.

"All of the changes have modified the application process in AFVEC," said Linton. "Airmen will now be responsible for creating and loading an initial degree plan, which must be approved by the Education and Training Center staff."

Also, individuals can only take six hours using an initial degree plan, and then they must provide an evaluated degree plan, she added. All airmen utilizing TA will be required to provide an E-degree plan by Oct. 14.

Failing to meet Air Force standards will impact an Airman's eligibility. TA requests from Airmen who have unfavorable information files, failed/overdue physical fitness testing, received referral performance reports, or if Airmen are on a control roster they will automatically be denied.

"This information flows automatically from military systems, such as MilPDS, and will not allow the associated Airman to apply," said Linton. "It's important to note that these denials cannot be waived, however, once the situation improves and documentation is in the appropriate database, TA usage may resume."

Supervisors may also deny TA based on any information that could hinder the Airman's performance, such as pending deployment, Temporary Duty, Professional Military Education attendance or personal factors such as financial debt.

"Some avenues for Airmen that are ineligible for TA but would still like to continue higher education include using their GI bill, applying for scholarships, FAFSA or they could pay out of pocket," said Linton.

For more information on changes in TA, email the Barksdale Education and Training Center at EducationServices@us.af.mil.

(Information for article was provided courtesy of Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs)