Military Tuition
Assistance Cut 25%
Setting politics aside,
if you are in the military and taking college courses, there is something major
that has happened, and you need to be aware of it. The White House and our
representatives are reneging on its national promise to pay for the college for
enlisted armed services members.
As I can attest, college tuition is the primary inducement for many
of us who comprise America’s all-volunteer fighting force.
So here are the details
that are unfolding:
According to an email
sent out to AFSA members, “"Congress has amended the
Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (HR 1540)to direct the D.O.D. to reduce the
current 100 percent tuition and fees rate by 25 percent. The amendment was
offered by Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO). Currently service members can get up to
100% of the tuition and fees covered as long as the per semester credit limit
of $250 is not exceeded. Anything tuition costs which exceed the per credit
hour cap must be paid through secondary sources like their GI Bill benefit,
scholarships, grants or out-of-pocket." I think the original Bill was sponsored by Howard McKeon (R, CA-25)
HR1540, SEC. 547(3). REPORT ON TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
FOR OFF-DUTY TRAINING OR EDUCATION:
“Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the
Senate and House of Representatives a report on methods to increase the
efficiency of the tuition assistance program under section 2007 of title 10,
United States Code. Such report shall include--
(1) a description of the effect of the program on recruiting and retention
within the Armed Forces;
(2) an analysis of other programs that provide benefits similar to those
provided through the program, including the use of educational assistance
programs under chapters 30 and 33 of title 38, United States Code, for
education and training pursued by members of the Armed Forces serving on active
duty while they are off-duty; and
(3) … modifying the program to require members of the Armed Forces
participating in the program to pay for 25 percent of their education expenses
and the Secretary concerned to pay the remaining 75 percent of such expenses.” The
full version of HR1540 can be found here:
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h1540/text
The military tuition assistance cuts go into
effect October 1, 2011, so write or call your representatives today.
As for me, the $75 in the max per credit hour fee
means $225 for my average 3 credit class. Maybe this doesn’t seem like a huge
amount, but in my situation, that means an additional $2,250 per year coming
out of my pocket. I already have to pay for my text books and supplies. When
you consider that a new recruit's modest salary of $1467.60, many with families are already below the national poverty level, the increased tuition
cost to them is no small difference! What really frosts this grunt’s hindparts
is that the big boys in DC will shell out trillions to failed banks and
insurance companies, but screw a jarhead that is willing to die for them for
$75 buck a credit hour. How is that good smart?
I joined the military because I knew I could access
the 100% military tuition assistance program. My Congressman said it was better
than nothing, and that I should be happy that they didn’t cut military tuition
assistance program completely. I guess he wasn’t there when my recruiter made
the promises to me that convinced me that if I risked my live in the flea
invested desert sands of Iraq, the military would provide 100% tuition
assistance. I was hoping to go from green to gold and become an officer. With
the looming cuts, it will either take me longer as I will have to adjust my
educational pursuits to fit my budget, or I will have to sell our house and
downsize. We just bought a 3 bedroom house last year because we had hoped to
have another child next year before I had planned to graduate. I don’t think
the higher-ups understand what this kind of cut does to their enlisted members.
We are patriotic and defend America for God, family and country… but we expect
our elected leaders to keep their promises when it comes to things like the
promised military tuition assistance. If not, then perhaps our contract with
them is only and “illusory” contract?
Is this the end of the cuts that affect those of
us in the trenches, or only the beginning? Anyone else got any thoughts on
this?
