The army recognizes the importance of education and therefore runs various educational programs and tuition assistance. In fact many of the youngsters, who join the army, wish to continue with their college education. The Army provides educational assistance to these youngsters via the military colleges and service academies, the ROTC program and the credit and tuition support programs.
All military recruits are offered four main tuition support programs by the army. The main support programs are within the tuition assistance and comprise of the Montgomery G.I bill, Loan Repayment program and the College Fund programs. The tuition support program was created with the intention of helping service personnel with the rising cost of higher education.
Tuition Assistance program: This is one of the best support programs that the army offers to its recruits. The program pays 100% of the tuition expenses, which sums up to $250 per semester, hour credit and a personal maximum of $4,500 per year for one student, the year being a fiscal year. However, only full-time duty members can avail of this program. The program is also extended to selected military reserves and the National Guards unit, though the benefits vary from unit to unit.
The Montgomery G.I Bill: This is another good support program that provides full-time duty members up to $37,224 for tuition, for a three-year commitment. Here, the service members have to contribute $100 a month, for a year and in return they receive $1,034 per month, for three years. However considering the amount of investment, the returns are handsome. The best part of the G.I Bill is that it can not only be used for college degree programs, but also for certificate programs, correspondence courses, apprenticeship or on-the-job training and flight training programs. Reserve members and National Guard members can also avail of the program at reduced rates.
College Fund Program or the Montgomery G.I Bill Kicker: Enlistees, upon honorable discharge from the services, receive $70,000 for college tuition fees along with the Montgomery G.I Bill. Marine Corps or Coast Guard enlistees receive additional funds, along with the total college tuition fee and that makes up for a significant or the total of the required funds.
Loan Repayment Programs: This particular army program was created to assist army service personnel in paying off their debts. On duty service men can get 1/3 of their loan paid every year, for each year of full time duty served, up to a maximum of $70,000. And all those soldiers who avail of educational loans can also enjoy a pay-back, provided they attend the schools approved by Perkins, Stafford or any other Department of Education guaranteed Student Loan.
In addition to the army, the other armed forces also help recruits by offering various educational programs. Full-time naval recruits are entitled to a $65,000 Loan Repayment Program and the qualifications do not include prior military service, but they do need a high school diploma and a loan guaranteed under the Higher Education Act, 1965. Similarly, the Air force provides its recruits a College Loan Repayment program or CLRP for all those full-time service men enrolled into college and in debt. The servicemen signed under CLRP get a repayment of up to $10,000, per recruit.
The Mayor's College Fair brings together a variety of programs available for the Washington D.C. schools and their students preparing for college tuition costs. This event takes place on September 15, 2006 and provides information about a variety of college tuition assistantship programs. Students in the Washington D.C. schools are encouraged to attend the Mayor's College Fair in order to learn more about the special programs open to them as Washington D.C. students.
The Mayor's College Fair is being held for the first time this year as part of the Washington D.C. schools' effort to coordinate the various assistantships available to graduating seniors as well as provide a public forum for discussing and disseminating this information. Hopefully, this will become an annual event at the beginning of each school year as a new class of seniors looks forward to the joys and burdens of financing a college education. This meeting will hopefully provide a structure for students in Washington D.C. schools seeking guidance about financial aid programs and packages available for Washington D.C. students.
The D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program
One program that has promised great potential in aiding Washington D.C. school graduates pay for college is the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program (DCTAGP). This program has been going on since 2000 and provided over $100 million towards the education costs of DC residents attending college. This program covers the difference between instate and out of state tuition, up to $10,000 per year for qualified applicants. The grant can be extended over six years at any public college or university nationwide. In addition, there are limited funds available for students attending private colleges in the Washington D.C. area as well as two year community colleges nationwide.
The D.C. Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program
The D.C. Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program (DCLEAP) provides $1500 annually to those Washington D.C. school residents who show financial need. This award can be used at any accredited university nationwide. These funds are intended to be used to fill the gaps in a student's financial aid package and cover many of the costs other than tuition that many students face when paying for books, housing, etc. This program is designed to help Washington D.C. school residents to find the extra help that they need to make ends meet while in college.
The D.C. Adoption Scholarship Program
The DC Adoption Scholarship (DCAS) provides up to $10,000 a year for post-high school education and training of District of Columbia children who were adopted through DC's Child and Family Services Agency, and/or children who lost one or both parents in the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. These funds are meant to help lower the financial burden to those who lost their parents due to the terrorist attacks and now must take the burden of paying for college on themselves. The grants are targeted toward those members of the community most affected by the attacks as well as keeping community awareness high about the continued impact that the attacks have had on the United States.
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