US Dept of Veterans Affairs

Military Spouse and Family Educational Assistance Programs

A number of armed forces and their associated relief organisations offer military spouses and military dependants educational assistance programs.

The programs and funding eligibility requirements differ from service to service. This list is subject to continual review and change. Contact your Service Education Officer directly about accessing these or any other educational benefits for your spose / dependant(s)

Army

Spouse Education Assistance Program (EAP): If the service person is assigned in Europe, Korea, Japan or Okinawa, AER offers the service spouse a grant to assist with the costs associated with pursing his/her education up to a maximum of $350 per term.

MAJOR GENERAL JAMES URSANO SCHOLARSHIP FUND, ARMY EMERGENCY RELIEF
200 Stovall St. 5N13, Alexandria, VA 22332-0600. Contact Mrs. Rosamond Pariseau (703) 428-0035, rosie@aerhq.org Undergraduate scholarship awarded from $900.00 to $1900.00 for up to four academic years to unmarried dependent children of Army Soldiers (active, retired or deceased). Student must attend full-time for the entire academic year, cumulative GPA of not less than 2.0. Scholarship deadline is March 1. Student may apply online or print application from Web site: www.aerhq.org/education.asp

Air Force

Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)
General George S. Brown, Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP)
If you are a spouse of an Active Duty airmen or officer stationed overseas, and you will be attending high school or college programs, then you are eligible for the Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP). STAP provides partial tuition assistance at a rate of 50% of course tuition with a maximum of $1,500 per academic year.

General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program:
Provides $1500 grants to selected sons and daughters of active duty servicemembers.

AIR FORCE AID SOCIETY'S EDUCATION GRANT
1745 Jefferson Davis Hwy. Suite #202, Arlington, VA 22202-3410; (800) 429-9475. The Air Force Aid Society provides $1,500 grants to dependent children of active, retired, or deceased members of the Air Force Aid Society. In addition, the grants require financial need and full-time student status. Applications are available by writing to the above address before March of each year. Web site: www.afas.org

Navy

The Navy Maine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS):

Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP):
The Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) offers STAP to your spouse if you are on active duty and stationed in an overseas (OCONUS) location. Your spouse may be a full or part-time student studying toward a vocational certificate, or an undergraduate or graduate degree.

Amounts granted:

Undergraduate level maximum of $300 per semester and $1500 per year.
Graduate level maximum of $350 per semester and $1750 per year.

To request an application form and information about deadlines, contact one of the following NMCRS offices: Guam, Guantanamo Bay, London, Naples, Okinawa, Roosevelt Roads, Rota, Sigonella, or Yokosuk

VADM E.P. Travers Scholarship and Loan Program:
To apply, you must be the spouse of an active duty member or the dependent child of an active or retired member of the Navy or Marine Corps. You must also be a full time undergraduate student at an accredited college or university.

1000 grants are awarded each academic year at $2000 each.
Applicants are also evaluated for an interest-free student loan of up to $3000.
The loan repayment begins within 30 days of award and must be repaid by allotment within 24 months.
Application deadline is 1 March of each year.
Late applications will not be considered for the scholarship; however they will be evaluated for a loan.

Coast Guard

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) offers a Supplemental Education Grant (SEG) of up to $150 per year. You can use this grant for ANY family member's education expenses. However it does not cover Tuition expenses. This grant can also be used to pay for ASVAB, CLEP, SAT, and other study guides. CGMA also offers several education related loans.

Marine Corps

The Admiral Mike Boorda Seaman-to-Admiral Educational Assistance Program offers grants and/or interest-free loans of up to $2,000 a year to eligible active duty servicemembers accepted to the following programs:

Enlisted Commissioning Program
Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program
Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program

The program is also open to Midshipmen who have been released from active duty for immediate assignment to the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Program. Application is made through the Commanding Officer of the NROTC Unit, or by contacting NMCRS Headquarters.

Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP):
The Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) offers STAP to your spouse if you are an active duty servicemember stationed in an overseas (OCONUS) location. Your spouse may be a full or part-time student studying toward a vocational certificate or an undergraduate or graduate degree.