TA is back: Students can submit applications for summer term Published April 17, 2013 By Senior Airman Matthew Lancaster 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Nellis and Creech Airmen can apply for the military Tuition Assistance program to complete their education effective immediately. Department of Defense officials announced the tuition assistance program will resume as a result of Congress approving legislation on the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013, which call for funding through the end of September. The Air Force is responsible for administering its tuition assistance program in accordance with the DoD policy. "Military Tuition Assistance will be the same program Airmen are used to," said Mr. Russell Frasz, Air Force director of force development. "The same policies and procedures will be in place." The tuition assistance program provides up to $4,500 per fiscal year for Airmen to complete their higher education. "Some Airmen are going to run out of TA [because] they have used it throughout the year so they [may] have $800 or $500 left," said Mrs. Alice Patton, 99th Force Support Squadron chief of education and training. "Some people haven't used it. My recommendation is to jump right in and do your TA right away." Airmen can now go to the education office and apply for TA to pay for their summer classes "Please remember, I have a limited staff so it going to take a while to approve [everyone's TA,]" Patton said. If Airmen run out of TA there are other avenues for them to receive funding to attend off-duty education, such as scholarships or grants. Some schools also offer in-house financial assistance. Airmen can also use the College Level Examination Program and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support testing offered through the education office. CLEP and DANTES tests are free to service members for the first test for each class. "Don't give up on education just because one door closed," Patton said. The education office can provide more tools and resources for applying for TA and other alternative methods for funding off duty education. For more information, call the education office at 702-682-5281.
