1. Military Enrollment Training #3 Ottawa University
Roll call
Before we get started, does anyone have questions over the information we covered during the last training?
May 8, 2014
Lisa Turner-Hernandez

2. Training Agenda Benefits for Active Servicemembers
Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits
Other Misc. Benefits
Financial Aid & the Military
The information that I will share today may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but it will get easier as you start talking to these students.
I would like to revisit a few key points that become very important as we start looking at military benefits:
Do not guess! If you do not know the answer, say “I will find out for you” instead of giving the wrong information.
If you are not comfortable with military jargon, do not use it.
Details are very important.
Most importantly, do not let the benefit that a student is using define their current military affiliation or vice versa. A student may be active and using VA benefits, and not understanding this will cause a lot of unnecessary confusion.
The benefit a student is using does not define the student.

3. Military Benefits: Active Service Members
Active Service Members include: Active Duty, Reserves & National Guard
These are the students who are eligible to receive the $250/credit hour undergraduate tuition rate

4. Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)
Most popular benefit among active service members
Offered by branches, although eligibility, application processes & funding limits vary by branch
Pays $250/semester credit hour up to $4,500/year
Based on the DoD Fiscal Year: Oct. 1-Sept. 30
At OU, Fall 2 is the first term in the new fiscal year
Recently several branches have lowered the funding &/or increased eligibility requirements
Students must submit a new application each term
Receive a TA Authorization Form if/when approved
Funds are paid directly to the school
A/R is now managing all the invoicing for TA
Most branches only allow for 1 credential per level

5. FTA Details by Branch Branch Who’s Eligible? How to Apply Misc. Info
Army
Active Duty
Reservists
National Guard
GoArmyEd Portal:
Must serve 1 year
16 SH limit/FY
Grad students must have 10 years of service
Air Force
AF Virtual Ed Center:
Air NG not eligible
Marine Corps & Navy
Navy College Program:
New USMC applicants must complete College 101 before applying
Coast Guard
Active Duty (E6 & below)
Navy Knowledge Online:
wwwa.nko.navy.mil
Only pay 75% of tuition cost not to exceed $187.50/SH
There are a variety of application requirements and payment details that vary by branch, I will get the specifics of this out to everyone within in the week.
Note: these guidelines are constantly changing, so always confirm the information you are sharing with students.

6. State Tuition Assistance
State Tuition Assistance programs are developed and regulated by each individual state
No Consistency in Guidelines or Eligibility Requirements among State Programs
Most State TA Programs are only available to students attending public, in-state institutions
Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance Program
Available to members of a Kansas Air/Army National Guard unit
Provides up to 100% of tuition and fees toward a certificate, diploma or degree
School must be approved by the Kansas Board of Regents

7. Tuition Assistance Top-Up
Education program permitting the VA to pay for tuition cost not covered by FTA
Eligibility Requirements:
Student must be using FTA to pay for the class
Must be eligible for MGIB-Active Duty or Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits
Tuition cost for the course must exceed the amount covered by FTA
Students can use MGIB-Active Duty or Post 9/11 GI Bill
MGIB-Active Duty: funds are sent to the student
Post 9/11 GI Bill: funds are sent directly to the school
Application Process
Apply for FTA through service branch
New GI Bill applicants – complete VA Form or VA Form for returning users
Submit signed FTA approval form to the VA Regional Processing Office

8. Military Benefits: Department of Veterans Affairs
Don’t think of these benefits as only available to Veterans, simply think of them as benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs

9. Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)
Provides up to 36 months of education benefits
Benefits are payable for up to 10 years following separation from active duty
Must meet the requirements of 1 of the 4 MGIB Eligibility Categories to use this benefit
A Monthly benefit is paid directly to the student based on the type of training, training time, and length of service
Training Time:
Undergraduate: 1 class/term = ¾ time, 2 classes/term = full time
Graduate: 1 class/term = ¾ time, 2 classes/term = full time
Application Process: complete VA Form or
Students will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the mail once their application has been processes & approved
Note: the training time is based on credit hours, so for classes that are worth only 1 or 2 credits do not fall under these rules.

10. Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab)
Eligibility is determined by the Voc Rehab Counselor
Must have received a discharge other than dishonorable
Must have a VA service-connected disability rating of at least 10%
The first step for students who meet the eligibility requirement is to meet with a Voc Rehab Counselor
12 year basic eligibility period
If eligible for Ch. 31, the payment is sent directly to the school
Students will provide the school with a Form

11. Chapter 32: Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
Rare program with a limited number of eligible veterans nation-wide
10 years from release of active duty to use the benefit
Must have contributed to this benefit to be eligible
Monthly payments are sent directly to the student
Application Process: complete VA Form or

12. Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill
Provides up to 36 months of education benefits
Benefits payable up to 15 years following separation from active duty
Rate of Pursuit for Graduate and Undergraduates:
1 class/term = 70%, 2 classes/term = full time
To apply, complete VA Form or
Students will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the mail once their application has been processes & approved
Ch. 33 Benefit
Payment Sent to:
Payment Calculations
Tuition & Fees
School
Tuition Cost x Eligibility %
Book Stipend
Student
Eligibility % & Credit Hours
Housing Allowance
Eligibility %, Rate of Pursuit & Campus

13. Chapter 33: How Eligibility is Determined
Aggregate Active Duty Service Time after 9/10/2001:
Percentage of Maximum Benefit Payable
At least 36 months
100%
At least 30 continuous days & discharged due to a service-connected disability
At least 30 months < 36 months
90%
At least 24 months < 30 months
80%
At least 18 months < 24 months
70%
At least 12 months < 18 months
60%
At least 6 months < 12 months
50%
At least 90 days < 6 months
40%

14. Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP)
The maximum Tuition & Fee Reimbursement the VA will pay to Private Schools per academic year is:
$19, for the 2013 Academic Year (8/1/ /31/2014)
The YRP allows institutions to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition and fees that exceed the amount the VA will pay for students who are 100% eligible for Chapter 33 benefits
The institution can contribute up to 50% of the expenses and the VA will match that amount.
Active Duty service members and their spouses are not eligible for the YRP
APOS Undergraduates: 5,000 student maximum & a $3,000 per student per year limit
All Graduate Students: 24,999 student maximum & a $3,000 per student per year limit

15. Chapter 33: Transfer of Education Benefits to Dependents
Service Members who meet the following criteria may transfer their Chapter 33 benefits to dependents:
Have unused entitlement to the Post 9/11 GI Bill
Currently serving in the Armed Forces
Served at least 6 years in any branch of the Armed Forces
Commit to 4 additional years of service
Eligible dependents include spouse and children (including step children)
Application Process:
Service Member Completes DoD Transferability of Education Benefits Application
Once approved, the dependent will complete VA Form e and then the dependent will receive the COE letter

16. Chapter 35: Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)
Provides up to 81months of education benefits to eligible dependents of certain veterans
A Monthly benefit is paid directly to the student based on the type of training and training time
Period of Eligibility varies depending on the circumstance of eligibility and type of dependent
Application Process: complete VA Form
Students will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the mail once their application has been processes & approved

17. Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill -Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
Available to members of the Selected Reserve:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps & Coast Guard Reserves
Army National Guard & Air National Guard
Eligibility generally Provides up to 36 months of education benefits
Ends on the day you leave the Selected Reserve
A Monthly benefit is paid directly to the student based on the type of training and training time
Training Time:
Undergraduate: 1 class/term = ¾ time, 2 classes/term = full time
Graduate: 1 class/term = ¾ time, 2 classes/term = full time
Application Process: complete VA Form or
Students will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the mail once their application has been processes & approved

18. Chapter 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
Benefit for Reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after 9/11/2001
Provides up to 36 months of education benefits
Benefits are payable for up to 10 years following separation from active duty
A Monthly benefit is paid directly to the student based on the type of training, training time, and length of service
Training Time:
Undergraduate: 1 class/term = ¾ time, 2 classes/term = full time
Graduate: 1 class/term = ¾ time, 2 classes/term = full time
Application Process: complete VA Form or
Students will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the mail once their application has been processes & approved

19. Other Misc. Benefits

20. Other Misc. Benefits VRAP (Veterans Retraining Assistance Program):
These funds cannot be used at Ottawa.
Only funds education programs offered by a community college or technical school (not a 4-year University).
MyCAA:
This is a program for spouses of active service members.
Only pays the tuition cost for courses and exams leading to an Associate's Degree, license, or certification.

21. Financial Aid & The Military

22. Financial Aid & the Military
Service Members and Veterans are encouraged to use Pell Grants in addition to their military benefits.
Service Members may have a Student Loan Repayment benefit that was included with their enlistment contract.

23. Questions?