R 171625Z OCT 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 616/11
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)//
SUBJ/MARINE CORPS TUITION ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY, FUNDING PROVISIONS AND RESTRICTIONS//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CMC MR/YMD:20100901//
AMPN/REF A IS MCO 1560.25, MARINE CORPS LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAM (SHORT TITLE: LL PROGRAM)//
POC/DARYL PATRICK/NF-4/-/-/TEL:703-784-9550//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  REF A REGARDING MARINE CORPS TUITION ASSISTANCE (TA) POLICY, THE POLICIES HEREIN WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL RESCINDED, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
2.  PER THE REFERENCE, THE MARINE CORPS TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE PERSONNEL TO VOLUNTARILY ATTEND COURSES DELIVERED BY ACCREDITED, CIVILIAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ON CAMPUS, AT RESIDENT CENTERS, ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS OR THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING DURING THEIR OFF-DUTY TIME.  WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL AND THE POST 9/11 GI BILL, FUNDING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO MARINES FOR THEIR EDUCATION HAS INCREASED AND ALLOWS GREATER CHOICES IN THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS THEY CAN CHOOSE TO ATTEND.  THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION (ACE) CONTINUES TO EVALUATE MILITARY TRAINING FOR RECOMMENDED COLLEGE CREDITS.  THESE CREDITS, COUPLED WITH THE CREDIT BY EXAM PROGRAM OFFERED BY THE DEFENSE ACTIVITY FOR NON-TRADITIONAL EDUCATION SUPPORT (DANTES), AND PAYMENT FOR COLLEGE COURSES THROUGH THE GI BILLS, AND TA AFFORD ALL ELIGIBLE MARINES, ESPECIALLY FIRST TERM MARINES, THE OPPORTUNITY TO START THE PROCESS TO PURSUE THEIR HIGHER EDUCATIONAL GOAL.  MAXIMIZING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OR THE GREATER NUMBER OF MARINES DEMANDS THAT WE ADJUST THE SCOPE OF THE MARINE CORPS TA PROGRAM.
3.  AS OF 1 OCTOBER 2011, ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING RATES FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE ARE CHANGED IAW WITH THE PROVISIONS BELOW.  THIS CHANGE IS DIRECTED TO MORE SPECIFICALLY FOCUS TUITION ASSISTANCE UTILIZATION IN THE MARINE CORPS TO FIRST TERM MARINES INTERESTED IN INITIATING HIGHER EDUCATIONAL PURSUIT.  THIS NEW APPROACH TO TA RECOGNIZES THE EDUCATION FUNDING OPTIONS (THE GI BILLS) THAT ARE INTENDED TO SUPPORT A BROADER CONTINUUM OF LEARNING OR ACHIEVEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL DEGREES OR CERTIFICATION THAT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THOSE MARINES TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE MARINES CORPS AFTER SUCCESSFUL SERVICE.
A.  A CEILING OF 175.00 DOLLARS PER SEMESTER HOUR FOR UNDERGRADUATE COURSES, 225.00 DOLLARS PER SEMESTER HOUR FOR GRADUATE COURSES, AND 3500.00 DOLLARS PER FY IS THE ESTABLISHED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TA RATES, HOWEVER, MARINE CORPS TA ANALYSIS CONFIRMS THAT MOST MARINE TA USERS TAKE ON AVERAGE 4 OR 5 SEMESTER HOURS PER YEAR.  THEREFORE, MARINES SHALL BE RESTRICTED TO 5 SEMESTER HOURS PER YEAR FOR TA REIMBURSEMENT (875.00 DOLLARS PER FY).
B.  FEES INCLUDING LAB, TECHNOLOGY, AND DISTANCE LEARNING FEES ARE NOT TO EXCEED 30 DOLLARS COMBINED.  TA IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION FEES, CREDIT EXAMINATIONS, AND NON-REFUNDABLE STUDENT FEES SUCH AS CREDIT MATRICULATION OR GRADUATION.  AUTHORIZATION WILL BE BASED ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
C.  TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR STUDY LEADING TO A VALID HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL OR DIPLOMA WILL BE FUNDED UP TO 875.00 DOLLARS PER FISCAL YEAR.  AUTHORIZATION WILL BE BASED ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
4.  THE FOLLOWING INTERNAL CONTROLS ARE ESTABLISED FOR ALL MARINES AND SUPPORT OUR VALUES-BASED CULTURE.
A.  REQUIRED TIME ONBOARD FIRST PERMANENT DUTY STATION (PDS).  THE INITIAL MONTHS ONBOARD A FIRST PDS ARE A CRITICAL TIME FOR MARINES TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH COMMAND OPERATIONS.  THEREFORE, OFFICER AND ENLISTED NEW ACCESSIONS ARE NOW REQUIRED TO HAVE ONE YEAR ONBOARD THEIR FIRST PDS BEFORE TA WILL BE AUTHORIZED.  THOSE INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS AS OF THE DATE OF THIS MARADMIN ARE EXEMPT FROM THE ONE YEAR REQUIREMENT, AND MAY CONTINUE RECEIVING BENEFITS AS LONG AS THEY REMAIN ELIGIBLE.
B.  AN EDUCATION PLAN BY AN INSTALLATION EDUCATION SERVICE OFFICER IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO THE APPROVAL OF TA FUNDS.  DEGREE PLANS WILL BE MAINTAINED IN THE MARINE'S EDUCATION FILE.
C.  MARINES MUST PASS THEIR MOST RECENT PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST AND COMBAT FITNESS TEST. THIS REQUIREMENT CAN BE WAIVED FOR MEMBERS OF THE WOUNDED WARRIOR REGIMENT.
D.  MARINES MUST BE RECOMMENDED FOR PROMOTION OR ADVANCEMENT (AS APPLICABLE).
E.  MARINES WHO HAVE BEEN AWARDED NON-JUDICIAL OR COURT-MARTIAL PUNISHMENT IN THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TA.
F.  MARINES MUST COMPLETE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING MARINE CORPS INSTITUTE (MCI) COURSES "LEADERSHIP" (COURSE ID 8112A) (DESIGNATED FOR CPLS AND SGTS) OR PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (COURSE ID 3420F) (DESIGNATED FOR ALL MARINES).
G.  TA IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR DOCTORAL PROGRAMS AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS.
H.  OFFICERS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO USE TA FOR CERTIFICATES, CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURES THAT ARE NOT PART OF A DEGREE PROGRAM.
I.  ENLISTED MARINES ARE AUTHORIZED TO USE TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR ONE ACADEMIC OR VOCATIONAL CERTIFICATE FROM A REGIONAL OR NATIONALLY ACCREDITED INSTITUTION SOLELY AT THE UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL.
5.  COMMANDING OFFICERS, OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE, AND SERGEANT MAJORS/FIRST SERGEANTS WILL INSURE INDIVIDUALS MEET THE NEW INPOSED ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO AUTHORIZING TA.
6.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH INSTALLATIONS EDUCATION SERVICE OFFICERS, INCLUDING INFORMATION ABOUT THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL AND THE POST 9/11 GI BILL.
7.  RELEASED AUTHORIZED BY LTGEN R. E. MILSTEAD JR, DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS.//