The Mocha Manual to Military Life by Kimberly Seals-Allers

Author:Kimberly Seals-Allers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2009-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

DEGREE COMPLETION AND SPOUSE EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Money isn’t the only factor in spouses not completing education. As you might guess, relocation plays a big part in this area, too. Credits may not transfer or you have to leave midsemester; as you’re learning, anything can happen.

Now, there are programs that facilitate degree completion by military spouses. The Service members Opportunity Colleges (SOC) is a consortium of more than eighteen hundred colleges and universities that offer associate and bachelor’s degrees on or near army, navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard installations worldwide. This network of colleges, universities, and technical institutes has agreed to accept credits from each other, thereby helping soldiers and family members save time and money by not having to lose credits each time they move. They also offer distance learning courses for those who live in isolated areas. Visit www.soc.aascu.org or call 202-667-0079 for more information.

AER Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program (OSEAP) of the Army Emergency Relief Fund offers educational assistance to spouses who are living with service members overseas. Visit www.aerhq.org/education _spouse_Overseas.asp to apply. They also offer need-based financial help through the Stateside Spouse Scholarship Assistance Program. Visit www.aerhq.org/education_spouseeducation_StateSide.asp. For information on either overseas or stateside assistance, call 866-878-6378.

The Air Force Aid Society offers the Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) to spouses who will attend college while living overseas with the service member who is assigned there. Visit www.afas.org/Education/body_stap.cfm.

The Navy Marine Corps Relief Society offers the Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) to spouses who will attend college while living overseas with the service member who is assigned there. Visit www.nmcrs.org/stap.html. They also offer needs-based loans.

The Coast Guard Mutual Assistance program offers supplemental grants for expenses other than tuition to any family member as well as offers spouses the opportunity to take select tests, such as CLEP (College Level Examination Program) and DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) at no cost. The program can also cover study guides such as SAT (SAT Reasoning Test) and ASVAB (Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery). Finally, it offers various scholarships and numerous resources at www.uscg.mil/spouses.

The National Military Family Association provides countless scholarships and other resources to military spouses. In 2008, nearly 400 spouses received the Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship. About 180 spouses of service members who were injured or killed during the global war on terror also received scholarships through various programs. Visit the Education and Employment Resource Center at www.nmfa.org for additional information and to find out how to access the Military Spouse Education Resource Guide.

The Montgomery GI Bill is extended to family members. The MGIB was enacted by Congress in 1944 as an education benefits package to attract quality men and women into the armed forces. It’s been one of the biggest recruitment drivers, especially in our community, for years. With the rising costs of higher education, who can resist a free education on Uncle Sam’s dime? The package gave financial assistance to those on active duty who wanted to pursue education and training. For as long as I

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