E D U C A T I O N A N D I N C E N T I V E S N E W S L E T T E R

(1)

U R G E N T A N N O U N C E M E N T S :

I N T H I S I S S U E :

E D U C A T I O N A N D

I N C E N T I V E S N E W S L E T T E R

S E C T I O N

S T A F F

C P T D A V I S E D U C A T I O N S E R V I C E S O F F I C E R S F C C O C C H I A R E L L A I N C E N T I V E S N C O I C S F C A N T H O N Y E D U C A T I O N N C O I C W O 1 F A L N E S S E D U C A T I O N C O U N S E L O R S G T R A S M U S S E N G I B I L L M A N A G E R M S . M A N K E F T A M A N A G E R M S . L A U R I E L I L L I S T A T E I N C E N T I V E S L E A D M S . E M I L Y W E I S S S T A T E I N C E N T I V E S A S S I S T A N T

If you have ideas on how to make this newsletter better,

email us at:

ng.mn.mnarng.mbx.assets-education@mail.mil



Page 2 — DOD Virtual Education Fair—November 19, 2015



Page 3-4 — Minnesota ARNG Programs and Services



Page 5 — Updating Your Civilian Education/GoArmyEd VIA Tool



Page 6 — How to Report Unfair Business Practices



Page 7 — Reenlistment Incentives Comparison Chart



Page 8-9 — Weighing School Options?



Page 10 — Federal Bonuses and Student Loan Repayment—Did you

know?



Certification and Licensure Reimbursement Program is suspended as of

30 October 2015



American Education Week is 17-21 November 2015



Follow us on Facebook at the link below:

(2)

Page 2

E D U C A T I O N A N D I N C E N T I V E S N E W S L E T T E R

DoD Virtual Education Fair

Thursday, 19 November 2015

www.DoDEducationFair.com

On Thursday, 19 November 2015, from 0700-1700 CST, the Department of Defense

Voluntary Education Program will host its first Virtual Education Fair. You will be able

to participate from anywhere in the world and get the information you need to help

you reach your education goals.

During this fair, education counselors from the Army, USAR and ARNG will be

available via live chat to provide information and answer your questions. The fair

offers an informative, pressure-free experience, where you can learn about the

following:



Tuition Assistance (TA) and other financial aid options to help pay

for the cost of your education



GI Bill benefits



Degree and certificate programs available



Schools working with the Department of Defense to provide a quality

education to service members and military spouses

During and after the fair, you'll be able to access the following Department of Defense

Voluntary Education Program prerecorded sessions.



Top high-growth career fields and degrees



Resources for choosing a school



Bridging education and credentialing

Attend the Department of Defense's Voluntary Education Virtual Education Fair, and

begin making informed choices about your postsecondary education and your future.

(3)

Below is a summary of Minnesota ARNG Education Programs and Services available.

M I N N E S O T A A R N G P R O G R A M S A N D S E R V I C E S

Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)



Available to currently serving Army National Guard Soldiers



Soldiers become eligible after completing one-year of service after AIT/BOLC



Pays tuition costs up to $250 per semester hour, up to 16 semester hours per fiscal year



Apply through GoArmyEd:

www.goarmyed.com

and click on “New User” to begin

State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)



Available to currently serving Army and Air National Guard Service Members



Eligible after the completion of BCT



Pays tuition costs up to $470.77/$1,320.34 (undergrad/graduate) per semester hour



Apply through your unit. Obligation and payment request forms can be found at:

http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/education/

Minnesota GI Bill



Veterans who have served honorably in any branch are eligible or non-veterans who have

served honorably for a total of 5 years or more cumulatively as a member of the MNARNG



Full-time undergraduate or graduate students may be eligible to receive up to $1,000 per

se-mester and part-time students may be eligible to receive up to $500 per sese-mester per term.



Must complete FAFSA:

https://fafsa.ed.gov/



Apply through

http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=1803

Registered Apprenticeship and On-the-Job Training Programs



Employer-sponsored Registered Apprenticeship (RA) and On-the-Job training programs

provide a unique opportunity to earn full-time wages, college GI Bill benefits, and attain

a nationally recognized credential in over 1,100 officially recognized occupations.



Key RA industries include: aerospace, biotechnology, construction, energy, geospatial,

health care, information and communications technology, manufacturing, transportation

and logistics.



To identify RA training programs approved for the use of GI Bill benefits, visit:

www.inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub/buildSearchInstitutionCriteria.do



To identify RA training programs sponsored by nearly 16,000 employers nationwide,

visit:

www.mynextmove.org/vets

(4)

M I N N E S O T A A R N G P R O G R A M S A N D S E R V I C E S ,

C O N T .

Page 4

E D U C A T I O N A N D I N C E N T I V E S N E W S L E T T E R

GI Bill Programs

:

Multiple programs available depending on your military service.

MGIB-SR/Chapter 1606



$368/month for members of the Selected Reserve



Must complete BCT/AIT



Must sign a six-year contract

REAP/Chapter 1607



80% Rate: $1,431.20 for two years or more of consecutive active duty



60% Rate: $1,073.40 for one-two years of consecutive active duty



40% Rate: $715.60 for 90 days - one year of consecutive active duty

MGIB-AD/Chapter 30



$1,789/month for three or more years of active duty



$1,454/month for two-three years of consecutive active duty

Post-9/11 GI Bill/Chapter 33



Payments based on qualifying active duty served/tier percentage



Pays up to 100% tuition and fees at public schools



Pays up to $21,084.89 per academic year at for private/foreign schools



Pays a housing stipend equal to BAH at E-5 rate with dependent



Pays a book and supply stipend up to $1,000 per academic year

Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB)



Option to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to dependents



Must have served six years and agree to serve four more years

GI Bill Kicker



Supplements your GI Bill payments



Must sign a six-year contract and meet criteria in current kicker policy



$200 Enlisted Kicker and $350 Officer Commissioning Kicker

(5)

Your civilian education brings value to the organization and it is important for you

to update your level to reflect accurately in your military records. Many of your

benefits are based on the level of education you have attained; updating your records will ensure you are

getting the correct benefits to avoid a potential recoupment.

How?

1) If you are a commissioned officer, a copy of your

official

transcripts

MUST be sent directly to

G1 OPM from your school at the following address:

G1 OPM, Attn: SSG Wahlberg, 20 W 12th

Street, Saint Paul, MN 55155

. G1 OPM will also accept official digital copies directly from the

school and can be sent to SSG Wahlberg at

kaelyn.m.wahlberg.mil@mail.mil

.

2) If you are an enlisted Soldier, you can submit a copy of your transcripts to your unit admin NCO. You

do not need to wait until your degree is completed to submit your transcripts. Upon receipt, your unit

admin will forward to be iPERM’d and processed.

U P D A T I N G Y O U R C I V I L I A N E D U C A T I O N I N

Y O U R M I L I T A R Y R E C O R D S



VIA is launching in GoArmyEd on

December 12th, 2015

.



VIA is a decision support tool that helps Soldiers research and

choose a long-term civilian career goal, a degree that prepares them

for their career goal and a “best fit/best value” school.



All Soldiers requesting a TA Eligible Role or requesting to change their

(6)

Page 6

Q U A R T E R 1 , F Y 1 6

Scammed? Duped? Swindled? Tricked? Bamboozled? Screwed?

Cheated? Ripped Off? Suckered? Fleeced?

Various media organizations have highlighted educational institutions which have targeted

Soldiers solely for their GI Bill and federal tuition assistance funding. These schools often

exhaust education benefits, leave veterans with mountains of student loan debt, and provide

marginal employability in the workforce.

If you believe you have been taken advantage of by your school you MUST REPORT IT. Not only

does this increase the chances of a favorable resolution for you, it allows federal agencies to

investigate schools and suspend future federal funds when warranted. All schools receiving

funding from DoD education programs sign an agreement called the DoD MOU which lays out

the rules that schools must follow to be eligible for veterans benefits. A violation of these rules

can lead to suspension. Without formal complaints a school can continue to operate this way

for years before being shut down.

HOW TO REPORT UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES:

All students attending MN Schools: Work with your local Higher Education Veterans Program representative.

They are a liaison between you and the school and work for the Minnesota

Department of Veteran Affairs. Often they can offer the fastest resolution.

http://www.mnveteranservice.org/

documents/Veterans_Coordinators.html

GI Bill Recipients: Contact the VA through the GI Bill Feedback System and lodge your anonymous complaint

after logging in.

http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/feedback.asp

Federal Tuition Assistance Recipients: GoArmyEd users should file complaints through the DoD Postsecondary

Education Complaint Intake System.

https://afaems.langley.af.mil/pecs/DoDPECS.aspx

Federal Student Loan Recipients: All federal student loan recipients may file complaints through the Department

of Education. Email the DOE at:

compliancecomplaints@ed.gov

Private Student Loan Recipients: Private loan complaints may be filed through the Consumer Financial

Protection Bureau.

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/#student-loan

(7)

Criteria

State Reenlistment

Bonus

Federal

Reenlistment Bonus

Student Loan

Repayment Program

(SLRP)

Position

Requirement

DMOSQ as a

primary position holder

Same grade or one

down as position

All units eligible

DMOSQ as a

primary position

holder

In an MTOE or

Medical TDA unit

DMOSQ as a

primary position holder

In an MTOE or

Medical TDA unit

Rank

Requirements

None

E7 or below

Time in

Service (TIS)

Less than 13 years

on ETS date

Less than 13 years

on ETS date

Less than 13 years

on ETS date

Incentive

Amount

3 yr: $6,000

6 yr: $15,000

2yr : $4,000

6 yr: $12,000

6 yr: Up to $50,000

Incentive

Payments

3 yr: $2,500 at the end

of each good year

6 yr: $2,500 at the end

of each good year

2 yr: Lump Sum at

contract Start

6 yr: 50% at contract

start and 50% at year

4 anniversary date

Annual

payment

15% or $500,

whichever is greater

Yearly max $7,500

Interested in reenlisting? You could be eligible for a

State

or

Federal

bonus

OR

Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP).

Contact your unit full-time staff to determine your eligibility.

Use the chart below to compare the differences between the

State/Federal Bonus and SLRP!

(8)

Page 8

Q U A R T E R 1 , F Y 1 6

Three major Minnesota schools have been placed on probation from the federal tuition assistance program over the past year. Students need to be aware that some schools do not offer the best education despite being authorized to receive tuition assistance or other funds. This article will help you know what to look for when picking a school.

Accreditation:

One of the most misunderstood aspects of higher education is accreditation. Some “diploma mills” have created fraudulent accreditation agencies which are not recognized by any legitimate organization. These programs are not eligible for any state, federal or veteran benefits and are likely scams! To find out if your program is properly accredited visit http://inquiry.vba.va.gov/

weamspub/buildSearchInstitutionCriteria.door http://

ope.ed.gov/accreditation/

 A regionally accredited school usually guarantees that a student’s diploma will be recognized for transfer between educational institutions and acceptance by organizations which require licensing for employment. Regionally accredited schools make up the majority of accredited schools across the nation and are generally less expensive than nationally accredited schools.

 Nationally accredited schools are generally focused on providing an education based on preparing students for a specific profession and usually do not have a high emphasis on liberal education. These schools are better known than regionally accredited programs for offering online training.

Nationally accredited credits usually WILL NOT transfer to any other program. This often means bachelor degrees will not meet pre-requisites for regionally accredited graduate programs. If you start training in a nationally accredited program you must complete the degree at that school to avoid losing the credits you have earned already.

Graduation Rates:

An important point of consideration is graduation rates. Graduation rates will provide a good indicator of how likely you are to complete your degree once you start an education pro-gram. Many MNARNG Soldiers are attending schools with graduation rates lower than 20 percent and don’t even know it! While a disciplined Soldier will likely have more drive and motivation than a civilian student, the nature of constant deployments and training obligations can interfere with successful completion of college. Research your school’s graduation rate by using the VA School Comparison Tool at:

http://department-of-veterans-affairs.github.io/gi-bill-comparison-tool/#

Cost of Attendance:

The cost of higher education can vary greatly. Annual tuition for a full time student can be as low as $2,000 per year or as expensive as $50,000 or more! Never start a program you cannot afford. It is also important to consider your expected income after graduating vs. the resulting student debt. You won’t be able to pay $100,000 in student loans back on a $25,000 annual salary. This does not mean you should disregard an expensive school. Many institutions offer discounts, scholarships, and grants for veteran students.

Weighing School Options?

(9)

High Pressure Recruiting Tactics:

Some colleges will use high pressure sales tactics to get you to sign up for classes. Recruiters have made exaggerated claims regarding job placement and expected salary in these pitches. Some Soldiers have complained of getting daily calls at all hours from recruiters for these schools. If you are being bombarded with recruiting pitches, stop and remember you hold the power. Choosing a school is an important choice which should not be taken lightly. It is better to take time to research a program rather than diving into the wrong school for you. Report any continued harassment by recruiters to your education office and the VA.

College Reputation in the Workforce:

The MNARNG Education Office has seen a startling increase in Soldiers returning to school because they could not get a job with their previous degrees. It is very important to consider whether a degree from your school will make you employable in your chosen field. Some schools knowingly offer degree programs which are “worthless” in

oversaturated job markets. Other times, a school’s reputation will not go very far in the real world.

Before starting a program, contact employers in the field to find out what schools they have hired from. How do they rank your school compared to others? Do they have “blacklisted” schools? Keep in mind, many employers use automated systems to weed out applicants that have been known to toss applications based on school alone.

The purpose of this message is not to discourage you from attending your chosen school. It is to empower you by giving you the tools to remain vigilant and know what to watch out for when researching colleges. Speak with multiple sources and research on your own before making your final decision.

Weighing School Options? Cont.

How to find the school that will give you the most bang for your buck

Cost of Attendance Cont.

Student loan debt is one of the greatest financial burdens a Soldier may take on. Too often young Soldiers take out loans and cannot afford to pay them back. While loans may be considered “easy money” they accrue interest while you are attending school. Student Loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy and falling behind in payments can result in garnishments, lost eligibility for federal benefits and potential loss of your security clearance. You should avoid student loans if at all possible.

Marketing:

Keep an eye out for schools that advertise

them-selves as “Military Friendly”. Many schools have lured students by using DoD seals as a mark of

endorsement illegally. Each time you see these ads, they were funded by tuition that could have been spent directly on your education. Many times this is a ploy to get students with guaranteed DOD federal aid. There are some ways to determine the true “military friendliness”. Find out if the school has a

well-established veteran’s organization. Do they have vets working as faculty and admin staff? Do they have a dedicated Veterans’ Services Office on campus? The Student Veterans of America organization can provide additional information at: http://www.studentveterans.org/

(10)

Page 10

Q U A R T E R 1 , F Y 1 6

ACTIONS THAT MAY RESULT IN BONUS/

SLRP TERMINATION



Changing your MOS or becoming

Non-Duty MOS Qualified

(Examples: Accepting an Open Vacancy/Changing MOS for a State MOS Conversion Bonus)



Failing two consecutive record APFT

events



Failing to meet ABFCP (Ht/Wt) standards

two consecutive times



Adverse Action Flags

(Payment is “Held” until removed; Termination is effective the date of flag issuance if Soldier is discharged with an active flag)



Transferring to a TDA unit, even if you

maintain MOS Qualification and/or as a

result of EPS selection/Normal Career

Progression

(Examples of TDA units: JFHQ/TSU/RTI/RRB. Limited exceptions may apply.)



Being placed in an authorized

over-strength (9993) paragraph and line

on your unit’s UMR

STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

(SLRP) PAYMENT REQUESTS



There are EIGHT levels of review that

must be completed each time a Payment

Request is initiated

(This makes accurate initial submissions VERY IMPORTANT)



Requests may be submitted no earlier

than 30-days before the anniversary date

of the loan.

(Documents cannot be dated earlier than 30 days prior to date of entitlement)



Supporting documents (National Student

Loan Data System [NSLDS] detail and

Summary Loan sheets) must be printed/

acquired on the same date



NSLDS and loan summary sheets for

every loan must be submitted with each

request.

(To include individual loans that have been paid off or have a zero balance)