The Sequester and Tuition Assistance

Discussion in 'Political Discussions' started by mattbrent, Mar 15, 2013.

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  1. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    Hi All,

    My cousin is in the Coast Guard, and he just started school at AMU. He now has to quit after his classes are done because as a result of the sequester, they'll pulled tuition assistance. That's a little crappy, in my opinion. Perhaps they should've been grandfathered in or something.

    Anyone else having experiences with this? I'm wondering how it'll affect the enrollment at the community college where I work.

    -Matt
     
  2. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    There is another thread already going on this subject.

    This isn't unique. Companies, organizations, and governmental agencies have to do it all the time. There's nothing special about the military that should make it any different for them.
     
  3. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    On one hand I agree, when you have to tighten the belt someone gets squeezed. It's unfortunate that recruiters have used "free tuition" to entice folks to join the service, when viewed that way I think it's unfair to pull the carpet out from under them. I believe GI Bill benefits are still applicable though, correct?
     
  4. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    Military TA has been on and off for years. There were some lean years where it was not offered in the Marine Corps during the late 90's. Hell, even when they started it back up again most other Marines had no clue what I was talking about. Things are different now, more schools want that money. They could cut military TA all the way out, not sure how big of a chunk of money it is though.
     
  5. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Yes. If you want Uncle Sam to pay for college, enlisting is still a way to do so.

    I realize joining the military isn't like other forms of employment, but it's still worth noting that it's a benefit very rarely seen elsewhere, especially its carte blanche aspect.
     
  6. thomaskolter

    thomaskolter New Member

    My father checked this out it is true for active service they won't help with a degree unless your under orders to earn a degree, uncommon, but my father was told to years ago earn a bachelors degree in linguistics and they paid it all and he was in active service so was paid as it was his work. The GI Bill still is unaffected as a veterans program so marines, sailors and such once they leave can get funds for school under such programs from what he can tell.

    But can't they pay for tuition they do get paid and if single have most expenses covered by the government, unless they stopped providing unit housing and the other benefits of service?
     
  7. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    I have nothing but respect for them and this cut makes me feel bad, but my employer could cut tuition reimbursement tomorrow and I would have no say in the matter ...of course, I can get up and walk out anytime I want and nobody will come looking for me.

    Can they still take CLEP/DSST for free or is that cut too?
     
  8. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    That's a great question. No one's said, so I assume it is.
     
  9. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Oh, you can quit the military, too. It is a lot more common than civilians think.
     
  10. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Yes. DSST examinations are military, anyway. (The "D" stands for "DANTES." They're managed and updated by the same people who do CLEP.)

    CLEP are not, but I don't think the services pay for their members to take them.
     
  11. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    I know companies cut benefits from time to time. I just think it kinda sucks for my cousin. He's been in the Coast Guard for about 14 years, and he just started his first class at AMU. He had gotten extremely excited at the opportunity to earn his degree, and then "BOOM!" It was just awkward timing. I'm trying to convince him to come to my community college since we are much cheaper than AMU.

    I don't know the specifics of military benefits as I have no connection to it, but apparently his wife took advantage of his GI Bill, and therefore he can't use it.

    -Matt
     
  12. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    Matt, be sure he knows thY AMU is really good in accepting both DSST/CLEP and at least some FEMA....that with some CC credit and he could really bring the costs down.
     
  13. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    I wonder if we will see a major reduction in servicemen and women allowing their spouses to use their GI Bill now. I know a few people who are in school now using their spouses Bill, and I think that's going to go by the wayside soon enough. If that is the only way for those in the military to have Uncle Same foot the bill for their education, i see th whole sharing thing over and done with. Perhaps the spouses will be on their own now.
     
  14. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    Just a hunch - Incurring a four year service commitment to transfer the benefits over is going to put a damper transferring it to the spouses/kids. This policy went into effect a month or two ago.
     
  15. fmlyhm

    fmlyhm Member

    I am interested to hear how one can legally quit the military without reaching their separation date.
     
  16. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member


    Not in my experience.
     
  17. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Okay, what is your experience? I was a military commander for several years and processed many airmen out on administrative discharges, some voluntary, some not.

    You?
     
  18. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Depending on the circumstances, you can volunteer to get out early, apply for various programs, violate regulations and accept discharge, transfer to reserve status, etc.

    Hope that meets your interest.
     
  19. Koolcypher

    Koolcypher Member

    Must be different with the Cherryforce, err, I mean Air Force. j/k :biggrin: In my experience with the Army, all of the discharges within my last three units where either medical (MEB process), or administrative, bad conduct and so forth. All involuntary, I've never saw one voluntary.
     
  20. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I know a guy who enlisted in the U.S. Army, realized soon after that he had made a terrible mistake, and failed physical tests afterward until they kicked him out. He suggested it wasn't that hard and that the consequences weren't that dire. But this was also twenty-odd years ago.
     

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