June 13, 2023
What Educational Assistance Programs Are Available for Military Spouses and Families?
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For spouses and children of active-duty and retired military personnel, getting educational assistance from nonprofit organizations matters a lot since it often spells the difference between success and failure in life.
Many students in the country face difficulties in finding funds to pay for their college education. The problem is magnified for students who are the children and spouses of our men and women in the military. Due to the frequent relocations and deployments of their loved ones, accessing financial assistance for their college education can be even more problematic.
Fortunately, there are various educational assistance programs offered exclusively to spouses and families of those serving in the Armed Forces. The programs provide them with much-needed financial assistance while they pursue their college education.
Veteran Car Donations presents below some of the military spouse and family educational assistance programs available in the United States and the various benefits they offer:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability
The Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability is a program that allows service members to transfer their unused Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits to their dependents. This program is open to active-duty service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps who have served for at least six years and agree to serve an additional four years of active duty or four years in the Selected Reserve.
Military families under this program receive financial assistance that can be used to pay for tuition fees and the costs of books, supplies, and housing. Depending on the amount of entitlement transferred and how it will be used, a beneficiary may get up to 36 months of educational benefits, including tuition assistance and a monthly housing stipend, to be used for college or other approved training programs.
- Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA)
A program funded by the Department of Defense, the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) provides up to $4,000 in financial assistance to eligible military spouses who are pursuing degree programs, licenses, or credentials leading to employment in high demand, and high-growth portable career fields and occupations.
The MyCAA program is open to spouses of active-duty, National Guard, and reserve service members in pay grades E1 to E5, W1 to W2, and O1 to O2. They must have completed high school and be able to request tuition assistance while their spouses are on qualifying Title 10 military orders.
- Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program
The VA started the Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program to provide educational and training benefits to spouses, children, and even parents of veterans who died in the line of duty, or service members who went missing in action.
The DEA is designed to help eligible family members pay the cost of attending college or other approved education programs. It can provide up to 45 months of educational assistance, paying for tuition and other fees, living allowance, and the costs of books and school supplies. The DEA may also cover licensing fees as well as the costs for taking on-the-job training and correspondence courses.
- Marine GySgt John D. Fry Scholarship Program
The Marine GySgt John D. Fry Scholarship Program is a scholarship program that provides financial assistance to the dependents of Marines, veterans, and eligible active-duty service members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11th, 2001.
Through this program, an eligible spouse or child can receive up to $5,000 worth of educational assistance per academic year. The scholarship, which can be used at any accredited college or university in the United States, is renewable for all years of the program. It is intended to cover the costs of tuition and other fees, as well as the costs of books and supplies needed for college education. Beneficiaries may also use the funds to pay for room and board if tuition fees aren’t fully covered.
- Army Emergency Relief (AER)
The Army Emergency Relief (AER) is the Army’s own emergency financial assistance organization. Its slogan is “Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own.” The organization provides financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans or grants to soldiers, retirees, and their families during times of financial need.
The AER also offers educational programs such as:
- AER Scholarship program: It provides active-duty and reserve soldiers, as well as their spouses, with up to $2,000 per academic year for tuition and other fees at accredited schools.
- Grant-in-Aid (GIA) program: It assists dependent children of deceased or disabled soldiers in paying for tuition and other fees at post-secondary institutions.
- Education Loan Repayment Program: It supports eligible active-duty soldiers by providing them with up to $50,000 for repayment of college loans.
- Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)
The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) is a private nonprofit organization that provides financial aid in the form of grants and no-interest loans to members of the U.S. Air Force and their families.
AFAS offers a variety of educational benefits for airmen and their families. These include grants, scholarships, and loans to assist with college expenses or vocational/technical training programs. Grants are available to active-duty members and veterans who have served in the military within the last 12 years. Loans are offered to those who wish to pursue higher education or training courses.
- Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) is a charitable organization that provides financial assistance and other aid to eligible active-duty and retired sailors, Marines, and their families in times of need.
The Society provides a range of educational assistance benefits to all members of the Navy-Marine community and their families. These include financial aid grants for college tuition and course-related expenses, access to online courses, and free tutoring services. Qualified individuals may also receive loans, grants, and scholarships.
- Coast Guard Foundation
The Coast Guard Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping active-duty, retired and veteran U.S. Coast Guard members and their families. It provides scholarships for dependents of deceased and disabled Coast Guard personnel, as well as grants for morale, welfare, and recreation programs.
The foundation’s educational support includes tuition assistance for college, graduate school, and trade schools; scholarship opportunities for eligible high school students; and grant programs that provide financial support to help cover the costs of textbooks, lab fees, computer equipment, and other educational expenses. Mentorships and counseling services to help students make informed decisions about their educational choices are also available.
- Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA)
An independent nonprofit, the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) works to ensure that all Coast Guard personnel and their families receive the support they need during difficult times by providing them with a range of programs and services, such as financial assistance grants, counseling, budgeting guidance, and educational scholarship opportunities.
CGMA provides an array of benefits to assist Coast Guard members and their families with paying for educational expenses, including funding for college tuition, textbooks, and fees charged by accredited post-secondary institutions. Its Emergency Scholarship Program provides up to $5,000 worth of emergency scholarships to help beneficiaries cover college expenses.
The organization also offers its Tuition Assistance Program to help qualified individuals offset the cost of college tuition and fees. It also has an Educational Loan Program for members who need assistance in paying for their educational expenses. It likewise offers a Student Loan Repayment Program to help beneficiaries repay student loans.
Be a Hero to Our Hurting Heroes with a Simple Auto Donation
If you’ve long been thinking of disposing of that old car that you no longer use, perhaps it’s time you finally make it happen. All you have to do is donate it to us at Veteran Car Donations. Not only will you be getting rid of it in the easiest way possible, but you also get the opportunity to become a hero to our nation’s struggling heroes.
We’ll use your donation to uplift the lives of those veterans in your local community who are suffering from poverty, homelessness, unemployment, disabilities, and serious illnesses, including mental health issues.
Our team will sell your donated auto through an auction and use the proceeds to support the life-improvement programs of our veteran-focused charity partners. These IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations use the funding we give them to provide their beneficiaries with housing and financial assistance, employment and livelihood opportunities, family support, free quality health care and medical treatment, psychotherapy services, and other services meant to improve their living conditions.
Your participation in our vehicle donation program will enable you to enjoy a fast and free towing service anywhere in the United States. Your donation will also entitle you to claim the maximum tax deduction in the next tax season.
However, these material rewards pale in comparison to the deep sense of personal satisfaction you’ll experience, knowing that you’ll be giving back to those heroic men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our nation’s freedoms and ensure our security.
We accept nearly all types of vehicles regardless of their ages or conditions.
For more information about our vehicle donation program, including our quick and easy donation process, you may browse through our FAQs page. Send us a message here if you have any concerns or inquiries, or give us a call anytime through our toll-free hotline at 877-594-5822.
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Help Struggling Vets Get Back on Their Feet Today!
It’s easy to leave a lasting impact on the lives of the suffering veterans in your area. Your donated vehicle will go a long way in getting them back on their feet. Call Veteran Car Donations at 877-594-5822 or fill out our secure online donation form now!
Last Updated: June 13th, 2023