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Tuition assistance programs aid degree quest

  • Published
  • By Airman Viola Hernandez
  • 433rd Airlift Wing
A new education program called the Air University Associate to Baccalaureate
Cooperative, or AU-ABC, started in June. The program offers members of the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard the opportunity to transfer all Community
College of the Air Force credits towards the pursuit a Baccalaureate degree at participating universities.
After earning an associates degree in Applied Science from the CCAF, the participating college or university will credit the degree toward a program
in which the student would then complete no more than 60 credit hours to complete a Bachelor's degree.
The program currently has 13 participating
universities to choose from. Each school has a distance learning program for military members.
"The schools involved have agreed to accept 100 percent of all CCAF credits earned during military service, however, the student is required to sign a contract agreeing to accomplish all needed credit hours with the same institution," said Tino Gonzales, a military education programs specialist with the 433rd Airlift Wing.
The tuition costs can range from $207 to $250 per credit hour according
to various participating institution website. All of the schools involved are offering military students a discount
on tuition.
Along with the new AU-ABC program, there are many local schools who accept CCAF and military education
credits and will apply them towards
a degree. To help pay the tuition for this and other such programs each Air Force Reservist has several tuition assistance options available.
One option is the Reserve Education
Assistance Program. Signed into law in October 2004, REAP provides over $28,000 worth of GI Bill benefits for activated Reservists. The program is available to Reservists who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 in support of a contingency operation and served at least 90 consecutive days. 

According to the Veteran's Administration website, va.gov, the benefit amounts will vary according to the length of time served on continuous active duty. For Reservists who served at least 90 days, but less than one year, the amount available for full-time students per credit hour is $430. Reservists who served at least one year, but less than two years, are eligible for $645 per credit hour, and those who served two years or more can receive up to $860 per credit hour. 

REAP benefits can not be used in conjunction with other VA educational benefits and the decision to use REAP is final. So those who decide use their REAP benefits must continue to use them until the benefit is exhausted or they have earned their degree.
Reservists interested in using their REAP benefits can apply using VA form 22-1990 available on the VA website. 

Another option available to Reservists is the Air Force Reserve Command
Tuition Assistance program. Eligibility requirements are simply to be a participating member in pay and points in good standing. The member's retainability must extend past the course end date and the member must be eligible and intend to re-enlist.
One hundred percent tuition assistance is offered for undergraduate degree programs. The amount is not to exceed $250 per semester hour or $4,500 annually.
Reservists participating in graduate programs can receive 75 percent tuition assistance using this program. The limitation for graduate studies is $187.50 per hour and annually it is not to exceed $3,500. 

One other financial benefit for education assistance is the Hazelwood
Act. This benefit is available to Texas veterans who have completed at least 181 days of military service, not counting training, and their dependants. Members must have entered the military while residing in Texas. 

The Hazelwood Act entitles eligible veteran's to a waiver of tuition and some fees at state colleges and universities. To check on Hazelwood Act eligibility go to the Texas Department of Veteran's Affairs web site at www.tvc.state.tx.us/Hazlewood_Act.htm
Reservists interested in using available educational benefits should see the VA advisor at their college or the 433rd Airlift Wing Education Office.