R 011016Z OCT 03
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL MARADMIN(uc)
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
MARADMIN 461/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRR//
SUBJ/MARINE CORPS TUITION ASSISTANCE FUNDING POLICY//
REF/A/MSG/CMC MRV 029010Z OCT 02/-//
REF/B/DOC/CMC MR/YMD:19991222//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 529/02, MARINE CORPS TUITION ASSISTANCE (TA)
POLICY. REF B IS MCO 1560.25C, MARINE CORPS LIFELONG LEARNING
PROGRAM (SHORT TITLE: LL PROGRAM)//
POC/MR VERNON TAYLOR/GS-14/-/-/TEL:(703) 784-9550
/EMAIL:TAYLORVH@MANPOWER.USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. REF A IS CANCELLED. THIS MARADMIN PROVIDES
AMPLIFICATION TO
REF B REGARDING MARINE CORPS TUITION ASSISTANCE POLICY. THE
POLICIES HEREIN WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL RESCINDED, SUBJECT TO
THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
2. ALL ACTIVE DUTY MARINES (TO INCLUDE SELECTED MARINE CORPS
RESERVE ENLISTED MARINES ON CONTINUOUS ACTIVE DUTY) ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR TA PER POLICIES ESTABLISHED HEREIN. TA IS AUTHORIZED FOR
OFFICERS ONLY IF THEY AGREE TO REMAIN ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR TWO (2)
YEARS AFTER COMPLETING THE TA FUNDED COURSE. ELIGIBILITY AND
FUNDING FOR ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS OF OTHER MILITARY SERVICES ARE
ESTABLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OTHER MILITARY SERVICES' TA
POLICY.
3. TA FUNDING POLICY
A. TA FUNDS ARE AUTHORIZED UP TO 100% OF TUITION, INSTRUCTIONAL
FEES, LABORATORY FEES, COMPUTER FEES AND MANDATORY COURSE ENROLLMENT
FEES COMBINED, NOT TO EXCEED $250 PER SEMESTER HOUR EQUIVALENT AND
$4,500 PER INDIVIDUAL PER FISCAL YEAR. MANDATORY COURSE ENROLLMENT
FEES ARE THOSE REFUNDABLE FEES CHARGED BY THE INSTITUTION THAT ARE
DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ENROLLMENT IN A COURSE OFFERED BY THAT
INSTITUTION. SERVICEMEMBERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PORTION OF
TUITION AND OTHER COSTS NOT FUNDED BY TA. FUNDING COMBINATIONS FOR
THE VARIOUS VOLUNTARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS WILL NOT EXCEED THE FISCAL
YEAR CAP.
B. A SEMESTER HOUR IS THE EQUIVALENT OF 15 CLOCK HOURS. TA WILL
FUND A MAXIMUM OF $16.67 PER CLOCK HOUR. A SEMESTER HOUR IS THE
EQUIVALENT OF .66-QUARTER HOURS. TA WILL FUND A MAXIMUM OF $166.67
PER QUARTER HOUR. TUITION FOR COURSES LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 18
WEEKS IN LENGTH WILL BE FUNDED UP FRONT. TUITION FOR COURSES LONGER
THAN 18 WEEKS, OR SELF-PACED COURSES WILL BE REIMBURSED TO THE
STUDENT FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE COURSE.
C. TUITION FOR STUDY LEADING TO A VALID HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL OR
DIPLOMA WILL BE FULLY FUNDED (100%) UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $4,500 PER
INDIVIDUAL PER YEAR.
D. TA FUNDS ARE AUTHORIZED FOR VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL, UNDERGRADUATE,
GRADUATE, INDEPENDENT STUDY, AND DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS.
COURSES MUST BE OFFERED BY INSTITUTIONS ACCREDITED BY
AGENCIES RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
E. TA FUNDS ARE AUTHORIZED FOR STUDY TOWARD A CERTIFICATE OR DEGREE
AT A HIGHER ACADEMIC LEVEL THAN THAT CURRENTLY HELD BY THE
SERVICEMEMBER. IF THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTION REQUIRES PREREQUISITES,
TA MAY FUND UP TO NINE (9) SEMESTER HOURS OR EQUIVALENT OF THOSE
PREREQUISITES FOR THE NEXT HIGHER ACADEMIC LEVEL OF STUDY. THE
SERVICEMEMBER MUST PROVIDE THE EDUCATION OFFICER WITH AN OFFICIAL
LETTER FROM THE INSTITUTION LISTING REQUIRED PREREQUISITES. THE
EDUCATION OFFICER SHALL DETERMINE IF FUNDING IS WARRANTED AND SHALL
RETAIN THE LETTER ON FILE.
F. SERVICEMEMBERS ELIGIBLE FOR THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL (MGIB) MAY
USE THEIR MGIB BENEFIT TO OFFSET THAT PORTION OF TUITION AND RELATED
FEES NOT COVERED BY TA. MEMBERS ENROLLED IN MGIB MUST CLEARLY PRINT
"TA TOP-UP" ACROSS THE TOP OF THE TA AUTHORIZATION AND FORWARD A
COPY TO THEIR VETERANS ADMINISTRATION REGIONAL OFFICE. ALL FIRST
TIME TOP-UP APPLICANTS MUST ALSO FORWARD A MGIB APPLICATION, VA FORM
22-1990. SERVICEMEMBERS WILL WORK WITH VA DIRECTLY FOR SETTLEMENT.
ALTHOUGH MGIB MAY BE USED TO OFFSET TA, TA IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO
OFFSET THAT PORTION OF MGIB NOT PAID BY VA. THERE MUST BE A TA
DOLLAR CONTRIBUTION IN ORDER FOR TA TOP-UP TO APPLY.
G. TA FUNDS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS,
DEVELOPMENTAL COURSES, OR PREPARATORY COURSES.
H. TA FUNDS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR COURSES THAT END AFTER THE
SERVICEMEMBER'S EAS.
I. TA FUNDS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR BOOKS.
J. TA IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR PERSONNEL AWARDED A PUNITIVE DISCHARGE,
IN CONFINEMENT, ON APPELLATE LEAVE, OR AWAITING ADMINISTRATIVE
SEPARATION, OTHER THAN HONORABLE OR GENERAL DISCHARGE UNDER
HONORABLE CONDITIONS. TA IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR SERVICEMEMBERS
CONVICTED BY FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC COURTS, SERVING SENTENCES IN
FOREIGN PRISONS, OR PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE VICE PUNITIVE DISCHARGES.
K. TA FUNDS WILL BE RECOUPED FROM THE SERVICEMEMBER FOR FAILED
COURSES, INCOMPLETE COURSES, OR COURSES FROM WHICH THE MEMBER
VOLUNTARILY WITHDREW. RECOUPMENT FOR DUTY RELATED WITHDRAWALS MAY
BE WAIVED FOR A SERVICEMEMBER. THE SERVICEMEMBER MUST SUBMIT PROOF,
SUCH AS TAD OR PCS ORDERS, AND A LETTER ENDORSED BY HIS OR HER
COMMANDING OFFICER. THE EDUCATION OFFICER WILL DETERMINE IF A DUTY
WAIVER IS WARRANTED.
L. RECOUPMENT FOR UNDERGRADUATE GRADES OF "F" AND GRADUATE GRADES
OF "D" AND BELOW WILL NOT BE WAIVED.
4. PROCEDURES
A. BASIC FORMS
(1) THE NAVMC 10883 WILL BE USED AS THE TA REQUEST FORM TO
OBTAIN SIGNATURE APPROVAL FROM THE SERVICEMEMBER AND HIS OR HER
COMMANDING OFFICER. THE REQUEST FORM IS NOT AN AUTHORIZATION AND IS
NOT AUTHORIZED FOR USE AS THE FUNDING DOCUMENT. THE FUNDING
DOCUMENT IS THE AUTOMATED TA AUTHORIZATION PRODUCED BY THE CENTRALLY
MANAGED TA SYSTEM AND SIGNED BY THE INSTALLATION EDUCATION OFFICER
OR DESIGNEE.
(A) THE AUTOMATED TA AUTHORIZATION MUST BE APPROVED BY THE
DESIGNATED TA APPROVING AUTHORITY PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THE
TERM. THE MEMBER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FUNDING ANY TA ENROLLMENTS
PRIOR TO THE RECEIPT OF A PROPER AUTHORIZATION.
(B) COMMANDING OFFICER SIGNATURE DOES NOT AUTHORIZE TA FUNDS. ONLY
THE INSTALLATION EDUCATION OFFICER OR THEIR DESIGNEE CAN AUTHORIZE
TA FUNDS.
(C) THE SERVICEMEMBER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING THE TA
AUTHORIZATION FROM THE INSTALLATION EDUCATION CENTER AND SUBMITTING
IT TO THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTION WHEN ENROLLING PRIOR TO THE START OF
THE COURSE.
(D) TA FORM CHANGES OR CANCELLATIONS WILL BE PROCESSED ACCORDING TO
THE INSTRUCTIONS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH AUTOMATED TA FORM.
THE INSTALLATION EDUCATION OFFICER OR A DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE
MUST PROCESS ANY CHANGE THAT ALTERS THE MONETARY AMOUNTS OF TA.
FAILURE TO NOTIFY THE INSTALLATION EDUCATION OFFICER AND THE NAVAL
EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
CENTER (NETPDTC) OF CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS MAY RESULT IN
NONPAYMENT OF TA AND INITIATION OF RECOUPMENT.
(E) TA FOR INDEPENDENT STUDY/DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES GREATER THAN
18 WEEKS IN LENGTH WILL BE REIMBURSED TO THE INDIVIDUAL BY DANTES,
FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE COURSE. THE INDIVIDUAL MUST
ENROLL USING DANTES FORM 1562/31 AND OBTAIN THE INSTALLATION
EDUCATION OFFICER'S AUTHORIZATION PRIOR TO ENROLLING IN THE COURSE.
B. REQUIREMENTS
(1) AN INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE NO MORE THAN TWO OUTSTANDING GRADES AT
ANY GIVEN TIME. AN OUTSTANDING GRADE IS DEFINED AS A GRADE NOT
RECEIVED WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE COMPLETION DATE OF A COURSE.
BEFORE RECEIVING ADDITIONAL TA, THE GRADE(S) MUST BE SUBMITTED TO
COMMANDING OFFICER (CODE N8115) MARINE CORPS GROUP, NETPDTC, 6490
SAUFLEY FIELD ROAD, PENSACOLA, FL 32509-5241. THE SERVICEMEMBER IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING GRADES ARE RECEIVED BY NETPDTC.
(2) ALL FIRST TIME STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE A "TA ORIENTATION"
CLASS (COLLEGE 101) PRIOR TO USING TA. MARINES ON MAJOR
INSTALLATIONS MAY ACCESS THE COURSE AT LOCAL EDUCATION OFFICES.
MARINES AT REMOTE SITES (NON-MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS) MAY ACCESS
THE COURSE VIA WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG, LIFELONG LEARNING, MILITARY
TUITION ASSISTANCE OR WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG/PERSSVC/PER_SERV_MAIN.HTML,
(LIFELONG LEARNING), MILITARY TUITION ASSISTANCE. REMOTE ON-LINE
USERS WILL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION. THIS CERTIFICATE
WILL BE FAXED TO THE APPROPRIATE LIFELONG LEARNING (LL) CENTER WITH
THE INITIAL TA REQUEST FOR PROCESSING AND AUTHORIZATION.
(3) MARINES WITH A GT OF 99 AND BELOW MUST COMPLETE THE TEST OF
ADULT BASIC EDUCATION WITH SCORES OF 10.2 AND HIGHER TO RECEIVE TA.
IF THE TEST SCORE IS NOT SATISFACTORY, MARINES MUST COMPLETE
MILITARY ACADEMIC SKILLS PROGRAM PRIOR TO RECEIVING TA.
(4) TO CONTINUE USING TA, MARINES MUST HAVE A WRITTEN DEGREE PLAN
BEFORE EXCEEDING 12 SEMESTER HOUR EQUIVALENT COURSES.
5. ACTION
A. EDUCATION OFFICERS WILL COORDINATE WITH PUBLIC AFFAIRS,
CAREER PLANNERS, AND THE LOCAL COMMAND VIA THE MCCS DIRECTOR TO
ENSURE ALL ELIGIBLE SERVICEMEMBERS ARE AWARE OF THE VOLUNTARY
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY.
B. LOCAL COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE THE INFORMATION REGARDING
AVAILABILITY OF TA IS DISSEMINATED TO ALL SERVICEMEMBERS AND ENSURE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TA PROGRAM PER THE POLICIES SET FORTH IN THIS
MARADMIN AND REF B. COMMANDERS' ATTENTION TO COMMAND SCHEDULE
COMMITMENTS THAT PRECLUDE SUCCESSFUL COURSE COMPLETION IS VITAL TO
THE SUCCESS OF FUNDING THE TA PROGRAM. TA IS A DISCRETIONARY
PROGRAM KEYED TO MILITARY ENHANCEMENT, AND FUNDED DEPENDING ON THE
UNIT'S MISSION, THE MARINE'S OBLIGATED SERVICE, AND THE COMMANDING
OFFICER'S CONCURRENCE THAT THE MARINE CAN PARTICIPATE MEANINGFULLY.
C. THE COMMANDER SHOULD PROVIDE MAXIMUM ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT
DEPLOYED-ISOLATED MARINES BY ENSURING DISSEMINATION OF THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION:
(1) DEPLOYED/DETACHED MARINES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TA, TESTING,
AND APPROVED INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAMS THROUGH THE EDUCATION
OFFICE AT THE BASE FROM WHICH THEY DEPLOYED OR THE BASE AT WHICH
THEY ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED. INFORMATION REGARDING MATERIALS,
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS SHALL BE PROVIDED PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT WITH
APPROPRIATE LEAD-TIME TO ENABLE THE DEPLOYED MARINES TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES. TA FOR EAST COAST DEPLOYMENTS IS
PROVIDED BY MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, (MCAS) CHERRY POINT, NC. TA
FOR WEST COAST DEPLOYMENTS IS PROVIDED BY MARINE CORPS BASE (MCB),
CAMP PENDLETON, CA. TA FOR DEPLOYMENTS TO OKINAWA IS PROVIDED BY
MCB, CAMP BUTLER. HOWEVER, IF A MARINE IS DEPLOYED TO A MARINE
CORPS INSTALLATION, THE LOCAL LL CENTER WILL PROVIDE TA.
(2) TA FOR RECRUITERS IS PROCESSED BY THE RECRUITING DISTRICT OR
REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS, ERR PARRIS ISLAND, AND WRR SAN DIEGO
DEPENDING UPON THE LOCATION OF THE MARINE.
(3) TA FOR MARINES ON INSPECTOR-INSTRUCTOR DUTY IS PROCESSED BY
COMMANDING OFFICER, MARFORRES, (ATTN: LIFELONG LEARNING SECTION)
4400 DAUPHINE STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70146-5400. COMM:(504)
678-6581/8213, OR DSN:678-6581/8213.
(4) TA FOR MARINES STATIONED AT NON-MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS
(EXCEPT NAVY AND COAST GUARD) IS PROCESSED AT TWO LOCATIONS.
MARINES WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI SHOULD FAX TA REQUESTS TO THE LL
CENTER AT MCB CAMP PENDLETON, CA (FAX # (760) 725-6593). MARINES
EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI SHOULD FAX TA REQUESTS TO THE LL CENTER AT
CAMP LEJEUNE, NC (FAX # (910) 451-5512). ONCE THE REQUEST IS
AUTHORIZED, THE MEMBER WILL RECEIVE A COPY OF THE AUTHORIZATION TO
BE PRESENTED TO THE SCHOOL WHEN ENROLLING IN COURSES.//