Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts
The Career Advancement Accounts program provides assistance to military spouses seeking to gain the skills and credentials necessary to begin or advance their career. Career Advancement Accounts cover the costs of training and education, enabling participants to earn a degree or credential in in-demand, portable fields in almost any community across the country. CAA can be used to pay up to $3,000 in fees for one year, and may be renewed for one additional year, for a total two-year account amount of up to $6,000 per spouse.
Click here to learn more about the Career Advancement Accounts program.
Is Nursing A Good Career For A Military Spouse
Most diploma and associate nursing programs usually take about two years to complete, making nursing a popular occupation among military spouses. The shorter education requirements typically allow a spouse to complete his or her studies before relocating, earning a highly respected and portable degree.
Scholarships From Other Organizations
The community scholarships below are not affiliated with Pierce College and are posted here as a resource for students seeking additional funding. If you have any questions about these scholarships, please follow the links to visit the corresponding websites. Pierce College and Pierce College Financial Aid staff do not have any additional information regarding these scholarships.
For Servicemembers
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Can Military Spouses Get A Va Loan
Surviving spouses of active military veterans can also apply for a VA home loan.
You’ll need to be an un-remarried spouse of a veteran who died while in service or from a service-connected disability.
They’ll also want to make sure you can pay your mortgage and have enough income to pay your other bills..
Online Learning Benefits For Military Spouses
Online college for military spouses makes higher education affordable and accessible. Learners graduate ready to advance their careers. Online learning provides flexibility since students can complete coursework from anywhere.
Military education assistance for spouses includes dedicated scholarships. Colleges and private organizations offer these scholarships. Military branches also award scholarships and grants. Application requirements may include having a military spouse who entered the armed forces after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
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Does The Army Forgive Student Loans
One overlooked program is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Under this program, members of the military who have been employed by the military or a qualifying public service job for the last 10 years may have their federal student loans FULLY discharged. Not all student loans are eligible for consolidation.
The Army Emergency Relief Scholarships
Spouses and children of soldiers, who are on active duty, retired, or active on Title 10 orders for the entire academic year, are eligible to apply for their corresponding scholarship programs: the Spouse Education Assistance Program and the MG James Ursano Scholarship Program for dependent children. Both scholarships provide financial assistance for students who are pursuing their first undergraduate degree.
Scholarship applications are available on the Army Emergency Relief website and are accepted January 1 through April 1 for the following academic year unless the deadline falls on a weekend, in which case the due date will be the following Monday.
The Army Emergency Relief Scholarship program was established in 1976 as a secondary mission when the Army Relief Society disbanded. The Scholarship program provides funding for undergraduate college expenses to Army Spouses and children.
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The Air Force Aid Society Education Grant Program
The General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant program is the centerpiece of the Air Force Aid Societys education support program. It awards competitive, need-based education grants to eligible Air Force dependents.
The application process serves as the platform to access other important AFAS scholarships. Since launching in 1988, nearly $167 million in Arnold Education Grants have been awarded to 109,499 hopeful scholars.
Educational Scholarship And Grant Programs For Coast Guard Families
The Coast Guard Foundation Spouse Education Grant
This grant is administered by the non-profit Coast Guard Foundation. They offer up to $500 per calendar year to help pay for school costs not covered by other programs. Books, transportation expenses, and school fees may be paid using this grant.
The funds are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. They should be seeking degrees by taking approved undergraduate or graduate courses or obtaining certificates and licensing.
Spouses of Coast Guard active duty enlisted members between the grades of E3 and E6 may apply. Spouses of Coast Guard Reservists may also qualify when the service member has been on any type of active duty orders for at least one year in duration according to the official site. Learn more or apply online.
Coast Guard Foundation Scholarship for Children of Enlisted Coast Guard Members and Veterans
Qualifying dependent children of active duty, retired, or active reserve Coast Guard members may apply for this scholarship. Their scholarship cycles pay between $1,000 and $5,000 per approved applicant.
Eligible students are unmarried children of enlisted Coast Guard members on active duty, retired, or deceased. Children of Coast Guard Reserve members may qualify if the military member has been on extended active duty of 180 days or longer.
Ineligible students include, but may not be limited to:
The Coast Guard Foundation Delta Dental Spouse Scholarship
Coast Guard Reserve Families
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
CFPBs Office of Servicemember Affairs works to help military families overcome unique financial challenges by providing educational resources, monitoring complaints, and working with other agencies to solve problems faced by servicemembers.
To learn more, visit
The Coast Guard Foundation Scholarships
The Coast Guard Foundation offers scholarship programs for enlisted Coast Guard members, children of enlisted coast guard members, children of fallen coast guard heroes, spouses of enlisted coast guard members, Coast Guard reserve families, and qualified active-duty Coast Guard civil service employees or their immediate families.
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Spouse Education And Career Opportunities Program
Establish an account with MySECO which is the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities Program. SECO provides career counseling services six days a week through specialty consultations with masters level subject matter experts. They also ensure military spouses have 24-7 access to online education and career information, resources, tools, and assessments. Using the tools and assessments, spouses can begin to explore their interests, skills, passions and personality types to determine the best fit for education and career choices.
The Military Spouse Preference Program
Perhaps the most difficult task for military wives and husbands is being able to land good-paying, stable employment through all the moves and relocations required by service in the Armed Forces.
Fortunately, the Department of Defense takes military spouse employment seriously, and it created the Military Spouse Preference Program to help military spouses get hired to fill vacant DOD civilian positions.
The program helps military spouses secure positions throughout the world, as its coverage includes both state-side, as well as to all U.S. territories, possessions and overseas areas.
Theres some restrictive criteria that determines when the MSP benefit kicks in, so for an explanation on just how this program works, please be sure to visit my page on the Military Spouse Preference Program.
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Other Financial Assistance Options For Veterans
For service members who dont meet eligibility requirements, each branch of the armed forces has related “aid” or “relief” societies, which are non-profit organizations dedicated to providing assistance to military members and their dependents. Quite often, these agencies offer college scholarships, grants, or interest-free loans for dependent college education.
Each of the service-related societies has its own unique programs, eligibility requirements, program parameters, scholarship application forms, and decision processes.
How Long Do I Have To Be In The Military To Get Free College
The Montgomery GI Bill extends educational benefits to any active duty member of the military who served for at least 2 years of active duty. This also extends to veterans of any branch of the military. You receive up to $1,857 each month for educational expenses, as long as youre enrolled full-time.
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The Coast Guard Foundation
Like other military relief societies, the Coast Guard Foundation provides a scholarship program specifically for military spouses. The Lisa Cook Reed Spouse Education Scholarship was created to help civilian spouses of military members between the ranks of E3 and E6 who want to enroll in a nationally or regionally accredited institution.
The scholarship will help with expenses including books, school fees, transportation, and child care costs. This program is not open-ended. There is an application period, the dates of which are subject to change from year to year.
Check the Coast Guard Foundation official site to see when the open application period for the current year begins and ends.
Survivors And Dependents Educational Assistance Program Chapter 35
This program provides financial aid for the education of dependent sons, daughters, and spouses of:
- Veterans who died or are permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.
- Veterans who died from any causes while such service-connected disability was in existence.
- Servicepersons missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force.
- Servicepersons forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
If you are eligible for Chapter 35 Benefits you may be entitled to receive up to 45 months of education benefits. Generally speaking, for a son or daughter must be between the ages of 18 and 26 to receive benefits for attending school. Marriage of a child does not prohibit this benefit. A young person eligible for training may not enroll while in the Armed Forces. For a spouse, benefits end 10 years from the date VA finds you eligible or from the date of death of the veteran.
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Educational Scholarship And Grant Programs For Us Navy And Us Marine Corps Families
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society offers qualifying Marine and Navy spouses a need-based program of grants and loans under its Education Assistance Program. These funds are available for two and four-year degrees, technical and vocational programs, and other approved educational opportunities.
The program is intended for spouses and children of active duty, retired, or deceased Navy/Marine Corps members. Eligibility requirements include, but are not limited to the following:
- A child under age 23 as of May 1, 2020 of an active duty, retired or deceased Sailor or Marine OR
- The spouse of an active duty or retired Sailor or Marine OR
- A Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program student.
You may apply for this program if you meet the criteria above, are registered in DEERS , and are either enrolled or intend to enroll as a full-time student for the entire academic year.
The following eligible types of degree programs include undergraduate degrees, vo/tech classes, and other approved programs that are located in the United States. They are accredited by an approved agency and participate in the U.S. Department of Education Title IV Financial Aid Programs.
All applicants must have a 2.0 GPA or better and be able to demonstrate financial need. These grants and loans may range from between $500 and $3000 per academic year. They may only be used to pay for tuition, books, fees, and housing.
Learn more or apply at the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society official site.
The Military Spouse Employment Partnership
The MSEP was formed to help military spouses tackle the problems they face in finding reliable employment opportunities.
Facing a 26% unemployed rate and a 25% wage gap compared to their civilian counterparts, 77% of unemployed military spouses want or need work, but have difficulty securing it due to frequent relocations.
The MSEP program serves as a targeted recruitment tool for companies and an employment solution for military spouses, providing Fortune 500 Plus companies with ALL military services, and military spouses with human resource managers, as well as training and assistance to help make them more competitive, job ready applicants.
For details about the specific benefits available from MSEP, please visit my page on the Military Spouse Employment Partnership.
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Ways Military Families Can Get Help Paying For College
Editors note: This article was contributed by Sarah Landrum of Corporate Gray. The content may be edited for clarity, style and length. Find more at .
A secondary education is expensive, theres no question about it. Many decide against pursuing a college degree for this very reason. But even if you believe that you cant afford to go to college, you shouldnt write off the possibility.
Believe it or not, military spouses and family members can receive nearly as much help as active-duty service members.
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Heres a quick guide to the military education benefits that military families can take advantage of:
1. The Post-9/11 GI Bill
The GI Bill was modified after 9/11 to include some substantial benefits for military families. Not only does it strengthen the education benefits for military personnel, it also includes a provision that allows service members to share their benefits with immediate family members. There are some limitations, of course, but the benefit can be extremely valuable.
Scholarships For Military Dependents
Military dependents include children and spouses of personnel serving on active duty, in the reserves, or in the National Guard. Children of active-duty personnel often change schools frequently as they grow up. According to the USO, some military dependents attend 6-9 schools from kindergarten to high school graduation.
Scholarships for military dependents help students pay for their college education and reduce some of the barriers to higher education.
- Amount: Varies
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Survivors’ And Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program
The VA’s Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program assists military spouses and children. Eligibility requirements include the military spouse either dying in combat or having a combat-related permanent disability. Dependents aged 18-26 can participate in the program. Spouses may use the benefit within 10 years of their military spouse’s death or disability.
As of Nov. 2021, DEA provides a $1,298 monthly rate for full-time students. This rate changes yearly on Oct. 1.
Spouse Tuition Assistance Program
Joining the United States military earns you important benefits including the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the enhancements to it via the Forever GI Bill act that was passed to further enhance education benefits for both veterans and family members.
Those who bring families with them into military life soon learn that military spouse tuition assistance programs are available to help spouses pay for education both at home and when stationed with the service member overseas.
At one time, military spouse tuition assistance was known as exactly that each branch of the military has at one time or another offered a program that either embodied Spouse Tuition Assistance guidelines or were created to offer something similar.
Military spouses looking for financial aid should definitely explore the options open to them based on the branch of service they are affiliated with thanks to the service member.
In some cases you may or may not have to be directly associated with the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard if you are married to a military member from one branch of service who is assigned to a based operated by a different branch. Dont assume that your options are restricted in such cases, it always pays to ask.
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Fafsa For Military: 4 Things To Know
Did you know there’s FAFSA for military families and veterans? If you still need help and are looking for financial aid to help you pay for college, it’s important that you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
The good news? The FAFSA is simpler than ever!
Did you know that, on average, it only takes 21 minutes to complete the FAFSA? That’s less time than it takes to watch an episode of your favorite TV show, so no excuses about not having the time. Stream the TV show later, apply for education money now.
The FAFSA becomes available each year on Oct. 1. You can fill it out for free on the official government site, and you can even get FASFA on your phone.
To speed up the FAFSA for military process for veterans, service members, military spouses or military kids, get prepared early. Here is what you’ll need to fill out the FAFSA:
Mycaa For Military Spouses
Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts, MyCAA, for military spouses is a program, run by the Department of Defense that offers up to $4,000 to eligible military spouses for career training.
Tidewater Community College is approved to provide education and training through the this program. Course materials, national exam fees, and career development assistance are all included.
TCC offers MyCAA approved flexible career programs that fit the military lifestyle. You can prepare to earn licenses, certificates, certifications or associate degrees leading to gainful employment opportunities in high demand, high growth portable career fields like medical, health care, and business.
Before enrolling in this program, we encourage you to visit TCCs Center for Military and Veterans Education . Our representatives will walk you through the sign-up process and provide assistance with career planning, enrollment, and financial aid.
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Dependents Education Assistance Program
The Dependents’ Educational Assistance program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 36 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship and on-the-job training. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Learn more about the Dependents Education Assistance Program.