By Cid Standifer, Stars and Stripes – Special to InMilitaryEducation.com
Amid budget struggles that earlier this year threatened to kill tuition assistance for active duty servicemembers altogether, the Air Force has pushed back applications for this academic year and given commanders veto power over airmen’s classes.

By Bradley Hood
Contributor, In Military Education

One of the best opportunities open to qualified Active Duty Enlisted Marines with an interest in pursuing a college education and a subsequent commission as an officer is the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Educational Program (MECEP). Along with the Enlisted Commissioning Program (ECP), these two programs form the prior-enlisted options open to Active Marines, although those with an interest exclusively in a commission may attend PLC or the regular 10 week OCC covered in a previous post.

By Bradley Hood
Contributor, In Military Education

The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays out on a system slightly differently than the Montgomery GI Bill, a topic I have previously discussed on this blog. Because I have already gone over this topic, if you have interest in how the system payment works, I recommend you check my earlier post, or go to a site like military.com, a repository of a great deal of up to date information on the GI Bill. To summarize: With enough service, a service member or veteran can have up to 100% of their public school tuition paid for them by the VA, in addition to living expenses.

With the amplified effect of multiple sequestration cuts and downsizing corresponding to the scaling down of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, many service members have found themselves in a tough spot. Early outs, delayed and decreased opportunities for promotion and in some cases even forced separations.

By Debra Wales
Education Coordinator, American Military University

In addition to using Tuition Assistance (TA) or your GI Bill to fund your education, you have the option of using a Pell Grant. It’s a Federal Grant usually awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree and unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid.

By Debra Wales
Education Coordinator, American Military University

If you are like many senior NCO’s, just the thought of going back to school can be overwhelming. You decided a decade or more ago, after high school, that you were done with the classroom.  You volunteered for the Army, to serve you country and you never wanted to look at a book again.  If you ever had any of these feelings, you’re not alone.  Many of your fellow soldiers, sailors and Marines have these same thoughts and struggle with the idea of going back to school.

by Bradley Hood
Contributor, In Military Education

I have not yet been married for a year, and have not even begun to consider the possibility of starting a family with my wife. However, when I started my Master’s Degree with Norwich University, my wife was jealous. She completed my Bachelor’s Degree before I did, and has wanted to return for her Master’s for a long time.

Years ago when I was accepted into graduate school I was first overcome with excitement—followed by panic. How was I going to pay for it all? I knew I had to leave my gainful employment to move to Southern California in order to focus and get fully immersed in my studies. But living and going to school in a big city like Los Angeles was going to leave me broke and in debt. Despite having saved money and put in for financial aid, the numbers weren’t adding up.

Associated Press
Special to InMilitaryEducation.com

Conn. Sen. Blumenthal to offer bill removing time limits on GI Bill eligibility for veterans

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal is proposing new federal legislation that would repeal what he calls unfair and arbitrary time limits under the GI Bill.