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

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1 F A L L I S S U E Q U A R T E R 1, F Y 1 6 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 U R G E N T A N N O U N C E M E N T S : Certification and Licensure Reimbursement Program is suspended as of 30 October 2015 American Education Week is November 2015 Follow us on Facebook at the link below: S F C A N T H O N Y E D U C A T I O N N C O I C I N T H I S I S S U E : 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 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 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 Page 7 Reenlistment Incentives Comparison Chart Page 8-9 Weighing School Options? Page 10 Federal Bonuses and Student Loan Repayment Did you know? If you have ideas on how to make this newsletter better, us at: ng.mn.mnarng.mbx.assets-education@mail.mil

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 Page 2 DoD Virtual Education Fair Thursday, 19 November On Thursday, 19 November 2015, from 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. Register for the Virtual Education Fair today at:

3 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 Page 3 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 Below is a summary of Minnesota ARNG Education Programs and Services available. 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: 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, (undergrad/graduate) per semester hour Apply through your unit. Obligation and payment request forms can be found at: 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 semester and part-time students may be eligible to receive up to $500 per semester per term. Must complete FAFSA: Apply through 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: To identify RA training programs sponsored by nearly 16,000 employers nationwide, visit:

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 Page 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. 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 % Rate: $1, for two years or more of consecutive active duty 60% Rate: $1, for one-two years of consecutive active duty 40% Rate: $ 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, 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 For More Information:

5 Page 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? 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 DS 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 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. VIA is launching in GoArmyEd on December 12th, 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 existing school or degree will be required use VIA.

6 Page 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. documents/veterans_coordinators.html GI Bill Recipients: Contact the VA through the GI Bill Feedback System and lodge your anonymous complaint after logging in. Federal Tuition Assistance Recipients: GoArmyEd users should file complaints through the DoD Postsecondary Education Complaint Intake System. Federal Student Loan Recipients: All federal student loan recipients may file complaints through the Department of Education. the DOE at: compliancecomplaints@ed.gov Private Student Loan Recipients: Private loan complaints may be filed through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

7 Page 7 Reenlistment Incentives 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! 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 E7 or below Time in Less than 13 years Less than 13 years Less than 13 years Service (TIS) on ETS date on ETS date 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 3 yr: $2,500 at the end of each good year 2 yr: Lump Sum at contract Start Annual payment Payments 6 yr: $2,500 at the end of each good year 6 yr: 50% at contract start and 50% at year 4 anniversary date 15% or $500, whichever is greater Yearly max $7,500

8 Page 8 Weighing School Options? How to find the school that will give you the most bang for your buck 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 weamspub/buildsearchinstitutioncriteria.do or 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: 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.

9 Page 9 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: 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.

10 Page 10 FEDERAL BONUSES AND STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT (SLRP) DID YOU KNOW?? ACTIONS THAT MAY RESULT IN BONUS/ (SLRP) PAYMENT REQUESTS 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 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) 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.) 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) Being placed in an authorized over-strength (9993) paragraph and line on your unit s UMR Once a loan goes into DEFAULT status it is not eligible for an SLRP payment until brought current Private loans are not eligible for SLRP SLRP anniversary payments are taxed prior to the loan holder receiving payment (Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) will issue a separate W-2 to the Soldier each year a payment is processed) STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM