R 291430Z DEC 04
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL MARADMIN(UC)
MARADMIN 576/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MRR//
SUBJ/MARINE CORPS TUITION ASSISTANCE (TA) FUNDING POLICY//
REF/A/MSG/CMC MRV/100000OOCT2003//
POC/MR. VERNON TAYLOR/GS-14//TEL:703-784-9550//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/REF A IS CANCELLED.  MCO WILL BE REVISED TO REFLECT
MARADMIN CHANGES AT A LATER DATE.  THIS MARADMIN PROVIDES
AMPLIFICATION TO REF B REGARDING MARINE CORPS TUITION ASSISTANCE
(TA) POLICY.  THE POLICIES HEREIN WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL
RESCINDED, PENDING AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
2.  ALL ACTIVE DUTY MARINES AND ENLISTED RESERVISTS 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) CONTINUOUS YEARS AFTER COMPLETING THE TA FUNDED
COURSE.  IF ALLOWED TO VOLUNTARILY RESIGN BEFORE THE TWO-YEAR
OBLIGATION IS SERVED, THE SERVICE MEMBER WILL REPAY THE GOVERNMENT A
PRORATED AMOUNT OF TA EXPENDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMNOUNT OF
TIME REMAINING ON ACTIVE DUTY.  THE POLICY MAY NOT BE WAIVED.
ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING FOR ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS OF OTHER MILITARY
SERVICES ARE ESTABLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OTHER MILITARY
SERVICES' TA POLICIES.
3.  TA FUNDING POLICY
A.  TA FUNDS ARE AUTHORIZED UP TO 100% OF TUITION NOT TO EXCEED $250
PER SEMESTER HOUR EQUIVALENT AND $4,500 PER INDIVIDUAL PER FISCAL
YEAR.  WITHIN THE CAPS AND LIMITS, FEES MAY BE PAID ALONG WITH
TUITION WHEN THE FEES ARE DIRECTLY REQUIRED FOR COURSE ENROLLMENT.
FEES MUST BE PUBLISHED, MANDATORY, AND CHARGED FOR COURSE ENROLLMENT
IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR MARINE CORPS TA FUNDING.  MANDATORY
COURSE ENROLLMENT FEES ARE THOSE REFUNDABLE FEES
CHARGED BY THE INSTITUTION THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE
ENROLLMENT IN A SPECIFIC COURSE OFFERED BY THAT INSTITUTION.  IF A
NON-REFUNDABLE FEE IS INCLUDED IN THE TA AND THE COURSE IS CANCELLED
WITH NO OTHER COURSES ACTIVE AT THE INSTITUTION, THE STUDENT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR REIMBURSING EITHER THE INSTITUTION OR THE MARINE
CORPS FOR THE NON-REFUNDABLE FEE.  SERVICE MEMBERS ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE PORTION OF TUITION AND OTHER COSTS NOT FUNDED BY
TA.  THE INSTALLATION EDUCATION SERVICES OFFICER HAS THE DISCRETION
IN LIMITING THE NUMBER OF COURSES/COURSE LOAD TAKEN PER TERM BY THE
SERVICE MEMBER.
B.  A SEMESTER HOUR (SH) IS THE EQUIVALENT OF 15 CLOCK HOURS.  A
QUARTER (QH) HOUR IS THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO-THIRDS OF A SEMESTER HOUR
OR 10 CREDIT HOURS.  TA WILL FUND A MAXIMUM OF $16.67 PER CLOCK
HOUR.  TA WILL FUND A MAXIMUM OF $166.67 PER QUARTER HOUR OR $250
PER SEMESTER HOUR.
C.  TUITION FOR ALL AUTHORIZED COURSES WILL BE FUNDED AT TIME OF
REGISTRATION REGARDLESS OF THE LENGTH OF THE COURSE.  IF A COURSE
DOES NOT HAVE A SPECIFIC END DATE, THE MAXIMUM TIME THE ACADEMIC
INSTITUTION ALLOWS A STUDENT TO COMPLETE THE COURSE WILL BE USED.
D.  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 FISCAL YEAR.
E.  TA FUNDS ARE AUTHORIZED FOR VOCATIONAL AND 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.
F.  DEVELOPMENTAL COURSES.  THESE ARE COURSES THAT COVER BASIC
ACADEMIC SKILLS SUCH AS ENGLISH, MATH, READING AND WRITING.  AS LONG
AS THE INSTITUTION OFFERS THESE COURSES FOR CREDIT (FOR EXAMPLE SH
OR QH), TA MAY BE APPROVED.  TA MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR CREDIT BEARING
COURSES EVEN IF THE SCHOOL WILL NOT COUNT THE CREDITS TOWARD A
DEGREE.  SERVICE MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN SCREENED AND IDENTIFIED BY AN
INSTITUTION'S COUNSELOR(S) AS REQUIRING DEVELOPMENTAL COURSES AS A
PREREQUISITE TO ENROLLMENT IN COLLEGE
COURSES MAY USE TA FUNDS FOR SUCH COURSES.  THE EDUCATION SERVICES
OFFICER MUST RECEIVE OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION FROM THE INSTITUTION
SUBSTANTIATING THE REQUIREMENT FOR DEVELOPMENTAL COURSES.  FUNDING
FOR THESE COURSES WILL ACCRUE TOWARD THE INDIVIDUAL'S FY
UNDERGRADUATE CAP.  TA FUNDS ARE AUTHORIZED FOR STUDY TOWARD A
CERTIFICATE OR DEGREE AT A HIGHER ACADEMIC LEVEL THAN THAT CURRENTLY
HELD BY THE SERVICE MEMBER.  SERVICE MEMBERS USING TA CAN ONLY
PURSUE ONE EDUCATIONAL GOAL AT A TIME.  TA WILL FUND ONLY
ONE GRADUATE OR PROFESSIONAL DEGREE SINCE THEY ARE CONSIDERED DEGREE
EQUIVALENTS.  DUPLICATE DEGREES WILL NOT BE FUNDED.  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 SERVICE MEMBER MUST
PROVIDE THE EDUCATION SERVICES OFFICER WITH AN OFFICIAL LETTER FROM
THE INSTITUTION LISTING REQUIRED PREREQUISITES.  THE EDUCATION
SERVICES OFFICER SHALL DETERMINE IF FUNDING IS WARRANTED AND SHALL
RETAIN THE LETTER ON FILE. 
G.  SERVICE MEMBERS 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.  SERVICE MEMBERS 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.
H.  TA FUNDS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS, OR
PREPARATORY COURSES.
I.  TA FUNDS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR COURSES THAT END AFTER THE
SERVICE MEMBER'S EAS.
J.  TA FUNDS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR BOOKS, COMPUTERS, TOOLS, OR
OTHER TANGIBLE ITEMS.
K.  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 SERVICE
MEMBERS CONVICTED BY FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC COURTS, SERVING SENTENCES
IN FOREIGN PRISONS, OR PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE VICE PUNITIVE
DISCHARGES.
L.  TA FUNDS WILL BE RECOUPED FROM THE SERVICE MEMBER FOR FAILED
COURSES, INCOMPLETE COURSES, OR COURSES FROM WHICH THE MEMBER
VOLUNTARILY WITHDREW.  RECOUPMENT FOR DUTY RELATED WITHDRAWALS MAY
BE WAIVED FOR A SERVICE MEMBER.  THE SERVICE MEMBER MUST SUBMIT
PROOF, SUCH AS TAD OR PCS ORDERS, AND A LETTER ENDORSED BY HIS OR
HER COMMANDING OFFICER.  THE EDUCATION SERVICES OFFICER WILL
DETERMINE IF A DUTY WAIVER IS WARRANTED.  IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THE TA
FISCAL POLICY, DUTY WAIVERS WILL NOT NORMALLY BE MET WITH A
FAVORABLE ENDORSEMENT.  MARINES SHOULD NOT SEND WAIVERS DIRECTLY TO
PENSACOLA-NAVAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
TECHNOLOGY CENTER (NETPDTC).
M.  RECOUPMENT FOR UNDERGRADUATE GRADES OF "F" AND GRADUATE GRADES
OF "D" AND BELOW WILL NOT BE WAIVED.
4.  PROCEDURES
A.  BASIC FORMS
(1)  THE NETPDTC 1560/3 WILL BE USED AS THE TA REQUEST FORM TO
OBTAIN SIGNATURE APPROVAL FROM THE SERVICE MEMBER 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 SERVICES
OFFICER OR DESIGNEE.
(2)  THE AUTOMATED TA AUTHORIZATION MUST BE APPROVED BY THE
DESIGNATED TA APPROVING AUTHORITY PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THE
COURSE.  THE SERVICE MEMBER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING THE TA
AUTHORIZATION FROM THE INSTALLATION EDUCATION CENTER AND SUBMITTING
IT TO THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTION.  THE SERVICE MEMBER SHALL NOT ENROLL
IN ANY COURSE WITHOUT HAVING THE FUNDED TA DOCUMENT.  TA
WILL NOT BE AUTHORIZED AFTER THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTION'S LATE
REGISTRATION DEADLINE OR FULL TUITION REFUND DATE.  THE MEMBER IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR FUNDING ANY TA ENROLLMENTS PRIOR TO THE RECEIPT OF A
PROPER AUTHORIZATION. 
(3)  COMMANDING OFFICER SIGNATURE DOES NOT AUTHORIZE TA FUNDS.  ONLY
THE INSTALLATION EDUCATION SERVICES OFFICER OR THEIR DESIGNEE CAN
AUTHORIZE TA FUNDS.
(4)  TA FORM CHANGES OR CANCELLATIONS WILL BE PROCESSED
ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH
AUTOMATED TA FORM.  THE INSTALLATION EDUCATION SERVICES OFFICER OR A
DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE MUST PROCESS ANY CHANGE THAT ALTERS THE
MONETARY AMOUNTS OF TA.  NO PEN/PENCIL CHANGES ARE ACCEPTED.
FAILURE TO NOTIFY THE INSTALLATION EDUCATION SERVICES OFFICER AND
NETPDTC OF CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS MAY RESULT IN NONPAYMENT OF TA
AND INITIATION OF RECOUPMENT.
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 SERVICE MEMBER
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 LL CENTER WITH THE INITIAL TA
REQUEST FOR PROCESSING AND AUTHORIZATION.
(3)  FIRST TIME TA USERS PERSUING COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES WITH A GT OF
99 AND BELOW MUST COMPLETE THE TEST OF ADULT BASIC EDUCATION (TABE)
WITH SCORES OF 10.2 AND HIGHER TO RECEIVE TA.  IF THE TEST SCORE IS
NOT SATISFACTORY, MARINES MUST COMPLETE THE MILITARY ACADEMIC SKILLS
PROGRAM (MASP) PRIOR TO RECEIVING TA.  MARINES IN REMOTE LOCATIONS
WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE TABE ARE THE EXCEPTION TO THE POLICY;
HOWEVER, MARINES CAN ONLY TAKE ONE COURSE AT A TIME UNTIL THEY
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE 12 SEMESTER HOURS.  AT THAT TIME, THE
RESTRICTION IS LIFTED.
(4)  TO CONTINUE USING TA, MARINES MUST HAVE A WRITTEN DEGREE PLAN
SIGNED OFF BY AN OFFICIAL OF THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTION BEFORE
EXCEEDING 12 SEMESTER HOURS.   
5.  ACTION
A.  EDUCATION SERVICES OFFICERS WILL COORDINATE WITH PUBLIC AFFAIRS,
CAREER PLANNERS, AND THE LOCAL COMMAND VIA THE MCCS DIRECTOR TO
ENSURE ALL ELIGIBLE SERVICE MEMBERS 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 SERVICE MEMBERS 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 (EAST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI) IS PROVIDED BY MARINE CORPS BASE (MCB) CAMP LEJEUNE, NC
OR MARINE CORPS AIR STATION (MCAS), CHERRY POINT, NC.  TA FOR WEST
COAST DEPLOYMENTS (WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI) IS PROVIDED BY MARINE
CORPS BASE (MCB), CAMP PENDLETON, CA.  TA FOR DEPLOYMENTS TO OKINAWA
IS PROVIDED BY MCB, CAMP BUTLER.  IF A MARINE IS TAD 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 I-I 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
MCB CAMP LEJEUNE, NC (FAX # (910) 451-5512).  MARINES AT NAVY AND
COAST GUARD BASES WILL BE PROCESSED BY THESE SERVICES AT THE
EDUCATION CENTERS.  ONCE THE REQUEST IS AUTHORIZED, THE MEMBER WILL
RECEIVE A COPY OF THE AUTHORIZATION TO BE PRESENTED TO THE SCHOOL
WHEN ENROLLING IN COURSES.//