Army Continuing Education System (ACES)
The ACES mission is to provide lifelong learning, readiness, and resilience through flexible and quality education programs, services, and systems in support of the Total Army Family. ACES provides a variety of programs and services to help Soldiers, Family Members, and Civilians establish and attain professional and or personal education goals. ACES offers programs and services to include, Army Credentialing Assistance (CA), Army Tuition Assistance (TA), Army Personnel Testing (APT)/Non-APT Testing, Functional Academic Skills Training (FAST)/ Basic Skills Education Program (BSEP), and College Counseling and Advising Services.
Army Tuition Assistance
Army Tuition Assistance (TA) supports Soldiers' voluntary postsecondary education, enabling Soldiers to complete college classes and earn degrees. Postsecondary education increases the professionalism and readiness of the Force.
What Is Army Tuition Assistance?
Tuition Assistance (TA) is financial assistance provided for voluntary, off-duty education programs in support of a Soldier's professional and personal development goals.
Am I Eligible?
Eligibility:
- Regular Army Active-Duty Soldiers, Active Guard, and Reserve (AGR) Soldiers pursuant to Title 10 and Title 32.
- Soldiers must have a Common Access Card (CAC).
- Soldiers must not be flagged under provisions of AR 600-8-2.
Military Service Obligation:
- Commissioned officers (CW2/2LT and above) who accept TA funds incur a Military Service Obligation (MSO). Regular Army, AGR, and Title 10/Title 32 mobilized officers incur an Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) of two years. Reserve Component (USAR/ARNG) officers incur a Reserve Duty Service Obligation (RDSO) of four years.
- The TA MSO runs concurrently with any previously imposed MSO.
- Officers may not under any circumstances reimburse an Academic Institution (AI) for a TA-funded class to avoid the MSO.
What Is Funded?
What is Funded:
- TA funds up to 16 Semester Hours (SH) per fiscal year at the rate of up to $250 per SH for cost of tuition only.
- Soldiers may complete one degree at the associate, bachelor's, and master's level within the following lifetime SH limits: 130 SH undergraduate credit or a bachelor’s degree (whichever comes first), and up to 39 SH graduate credit or a master’s degree (whichever comes first).
- Soldiers are authorized one undergraduate or graduate certificate per lifetime with a cap of 21 SH.
- Soldiers may pursue one Special Program such as USAREC-approved AMEDD programs or Specialized Chaplain Certificates, with a lifetime cap of 39 SH.
Explore What to Study:
- Visit CAREER PATH DECIDE to research detailed information on specific career/vocation outlooks, review information on institutions that are eligible for TA, and take a skills assessment.
- Take the KUDER JOURNEY assessment to learn about interests, skills, and values with research-based assessments, identify education and careers based off assessment results, and use planning tools to aid in education/career choices.
- Talk your local Army Education Counselor to discuss your assessment results.
How Do I Apply?
- Soldiers must log into ArmyIgnitED with their CAC.
- Soldiers must declare and educational goal in ArmyIgnitED and upload an Evaluated Degree Plan (EDP).
- Soldiers must request TA in ArmyIgnitED up to 60 days prior to the term start date and no later than 7 days prior to the term start date.
- Soldiers must maintain a minimum TA grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 after completion of 15 SH of TA-funded undergraduate credit or a TA GPA of 3.0 after completion of 6 SH of TA-funded graduate credit.
Army Credentialing Assistance
The Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) Program directly contributes to supporting Soldiers' professional development, retaining quality Soldiers, and preparing Soldiers for meaningful employment upon transition from military service.
What is Army Credentialing Assistance?
The Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) Program is a voluntary, off-duty program that provides Soldiers with funding for more than 1,900 credentials.
Am I Eligible?
- Soldiers must meet basic Federal TA eligibility requirements.
- Soldiers must have an ArmyIgnitED account and a Credentialing Assistance Education Goal created and approved in ArmyIgnitED.
- Soldiers must complete the credentialing training and/or exam at least 31 days prior to separation.
What Is Funded?
- CA pays up to $4,000 per fiscal year for credentials; for aviation-related credentials, active duty Soldiers are limited to $1,000.
- CA can be used for any credential listed on the Army COOL website and does not have to be related to the Soldier's MOS.
- CA will pay for expenses for classroom, hands-on, online/blended training and required associated materials to include: manuals, study guides, textbooks, processing fees, test fees, related fees for continuing education requirements, and recertification of credentials.
How Do I Apply?
- Soldiers must apply for CA funding in ArmyIgnitED.
- Soldiers will need to create a Credentialing Assistance Education Goal and upload a custom quote provided by the vendor.
- CA requests must be submitted at least 45 days prior to the course or exam start date, but not more than 90 days from the submission date.
- The Army Credentialing Assistance Program Office (ACAPO) will review he request for funding and Soldiers will be notified via ArmyIgnitED messaging once the CA request is approved.
Resources & Websites
- ACCESS, Army University
- Army Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL)
- ArmyIgnitED Student Portal
- Army Regulation 621-5
- Career Path Decide
- College Navigator
- Credentialing Assistance Policy Update 6 Sep 2023
- Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)
- Department of Education College Scorecard
- Federal Financial Aid
- GI Bill Comparison Tool
- Joint Services Transcript
- Kuder Career Interests Assessment
- MilGears
- MyCAA Spouse Education & Career Opportunities
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET Online
- Peterson's Online Academic Skills Course
- Tuition Assistance (TA) Decide
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Outlook Handbook
HQ IMCOM, Army Continuing Education System
Email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
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