One of the newest programs for military spouses offers up to $6,000 to military spouses for education. The My Career Advancement Account Program provides financial assistance for spouses pursuing degree programs, licenses or professional certifications enabling them to apply for portable careers. This program was designed to assist with spouses, continuously moving to different locations, find a career that can move with them. MyCAA is a great source of funding for any military spouse who would like to redirect their career goals into a suitable portable career. Spouses of active duty members are eligible for the MyCAA program. Find out more information about this program on Military.com and on MilitaryOneSource.com. The program was halted in February 2010 by the Department of Defense to review its overall program. However, reinstatement of the program is already under way.
As a military spouse, you can also qualify for the Department of Education federal financial aid programs, the same as any other student applying for college funding. The DoE gives out billions of dollars in financial aid every year to qualified candidates. Ed.gov is a government website run by the DoE. You can find information regarding loans, grants and work-study programs by clicking on the "Find Aid" link. Military spouses should not overlook these opportunities when researching ways to fund their education, whether you're planning on finishing a degree or pursuing an additional degree.
The original Montgomery GI Bill has changed for the better. The new Post 9/11 GI Bill is only available to those active duty members with at least 90 days of service after Sept. 11, 2009, or discharged after 30 days with a service-related injury. Qualified active duty members in this program can transfer their benefits to either their children or their spouse. To find out if you qualify for this transfer of educational benefits, you can fill out the pre-qualifying form on its website at www.gibill.va.gov.
Every branch of the military offers an additional assistance program for dependents. Contact your education office and family center to find out about the specific assistance programs available through your spouse's particular branch of service. In addition, each branch offers assistance for those family members living with their active duty service member overseas. Go to www.military.com to explore more information on these and other education assistance programs specific to your military branch.