Mr. Russell Frasz, Air Force force development director, speaks on Air Force tuition assistance being restarted, effective, April 10, 2013. The Air Force will reinstate TA for the rest of Fiscal Year 2013. The service restarted the program as a result of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013, where Congress called for tuition assistance to continue in the current fiscal year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)
by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
4/10/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force has officially restarted military tuition assistance, effective immediately.
The service restarted the program as a result of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013, where Congress called for the MTA program to continue in the current fiscal year.
As a result of the restart, the program will resume the same benefits as before. Airmen are eligible for up to $4,500 per fiscal year and a maximum of $250 per semester hour or quarter hour equivalent to cover tuition and allowable fees. Military tuition assistance is not available retroactively to cover courses taken and paid for using any other funding source during the suspension of military tuition assistance.
"Military tuition assistance will be the same program Airmen are used to," said Russell Frasz, the director of Force Development. "The same policies and procedures will be in place."
With this change, current and future Airmen will be given another tool to develop professionally through advanced education, Frasz said.
"Voluntary education and military tuition assistance programs continue to be integral to the recruiting, retention and readiness of Airmen and contribute to institutional competencies," said Kim Yates, the Air Force Voluntary Education chief. "In the long term, the Air Force will still be able to leverage the learning achieved by Airmen to ensure a dynamic, flexible force able to work in uncertain environments around the world. The will have the ability to think critically."
Looking to the future, Frasz notes that they are trying to maintain the balance of the military tuition assistance benefits while also ensuring the force is ready and equipped for operations.
"We are working with senior leaders to develop a way ahead for fiscal year 2014 that takes into account both the value of the (military tuition assistance) program as well maintaining the financial health of the program within funding constraints."
Though times may seem uncertain, Frasz wants to reassure Airmen of senior leaders' commitment to Airmen and their education.
The Air Force continues to value education as a force multiplier and Airmen should take advantage of educational opportunities making them more proficient in their profession, setting them up for success in their career.
Like all organizations going through sequestration and budgetary struggles, Frasz is committed to fighting for the best Air Force possible.
"Fiscal constraints create a challenge that Air Force leadership continues to work through," he said. "We strive to meet the needs of Airmen and the Air Force."
Comments
4/22/2013 10:19:00 AM ET Ok Arctic Warrior as a GS-6 it's probably a pay grade equal to the job maybe a little lower and you want me to see all that you do How about this when I was an E-5 we had GS-15s in the same workcenter as me and they did next to nothing. It was expected that the military guys would take care of everything. Also how about you work a job for a third or half of the pay not knowing where you'll be stationed at a year from now and not knowing whether you'll be short noticed deployed tomorrow. Oh wait that doesn't happen in most GS positions because heaven forbid that you should have to call a GS at night to ask a question about work if it's after their duty hours. I actually got an LOC for that because it is then considered overtime past their 40 hour week. As far as work is concerned try my job at my pay that I'm doing now and not get frustrated at the GS 13 in my workcenter that does nothing yet makes a heck of a lot more than me.
This guy, JBMDL
4/18/2013 10:46:32 AM ET This guy JBMDL. Come spend a day with me and you'll see how much this lowly GS-6 actually does. Let's not get started on the accountability standards when a military individual fails to complete training or gets downrange without something. It isn't their fault it's someone else's. My last organization selected a CGO and SNCO to succeed me and six months later they still don't have their arms around all the programs I managed. I agree the GS system could use a overhaul. We have NSPS to thank for that.
Arctic Warrior, Colorado Springs CO
4/17/2013 1:10:24 AM ET Keep this great program but only cover 50 percent of the school cost. If you want to go to college you will find a way to pay the rest.
Bama, Overseas
4/16/2013 10:39:06 AM ET Mike WPAFB Do you realize you have a very similar education benefit too The AF pays for your education if it is approved. You have to apply for it. Or is that you have already obtained the education you need Are you advocating giving up your benefit too Also the GI Bill wasnt designed to be used while the person is on active duty but for use after separation when the student can enter the university on a full-time status. TA is used for part-time education to off-set costs to attain the education needed to meet the needs of the Air Force and the ever changing technology and management practices. It only applies to the enlisted force. Give them a break. They deserve this pittance.
SNCO Ret, Scott
4/15/2013 4:23:29 PM ET @Mike true but the difference is if you don't like the cuts you can quit and find a job elsewhere. I can't quit if I don't like how things are until my contract is up. I suppose it'd probably be difficult to find a new job that pays what you are making now though. Not mad at you hope to join you one day but you shouldn't really whine about something you can change.
MM, FL
4/15/2013 3:31:35 PM ET It was really disappointing to have this happen the week before my class start date. Now I have to pay 800 for my class or risk being dropped from the graduate program that I am in. The gov't is not paying for classes that started before 11 Apr. But I understand the need for budget adjustments it's just unfortunate when budget cuts involve our education. Please take advantage of your benefits because you never know when they will be taken away.
Kevin D. Thompson, Travis AFB
4/15/2013 2:10:19 PM ET Let's ruffle some civilian feathers here. The civies are all griping about furlough yet so much government spending is wasted on GS positions that are not needed or the pay grade is way above what it actually warrants. Example how does the government create a GS-12 positionfor continuity to do something an E-5 had been doing for years last I checked GS-12 is a heck of a lot higher pay than E-5. Save money you can make it a WG-5 or 6 if you want continuity.
This guy, JBMDL
4/15/2013 12:55:24 PM ET I'm glad that this came back although after seeing how many alternatives there are to using TA after it was suspended I don't know if I should bother using TA. CLEP tests alone are still provided for without TA and if you're a good studiertest taker you'd get done with some credits so much faster than by taking classes.
Over it, CONUS
4/12/2013 6:41:46 PM ET Airman take it while you can I am glad they brought it back for you all. Having a BS after you get out or retire is a plus.
sam, Peterson AFB
4/12/2013 5:33:31 PM ET You bet. Fund Tuition Assistance and cut flying hours. Fund SOS and cut Weapons School. Fund ACSC and cut Red Flag. Fund for-profit advanced degree institutions and cut Northern Edge. Makes total sense. We are the Air Force after all.
Flyer, AF
4/12/2013 4:01:49 PM ET SNCO Ret my complaint is that there is not enough funding for the salaries for civil servants like me yet they have the gal approve this benefit. That is exactly what it is a benefit and a redundant one at that. If a military member has an absolute need to continue with their education they can use the GI Bill another education benefit that has been afforded to them. Don't get me wrong I think it's a great benefit and can benefit the Active Duty force. I used it myself when I was active duty. That said I like over 1000000 others are going to be furloughed one day a week to save the government money - essentially a 20 percent pay cut for 14 weeks. By my calculations with the cost of paying for medical and dental for my family not being reduced by 20 percent I'm going to be taking an approximate 25 percent cut in take home pay for that time but they can approve spending for a redundant education program. Do you see now why I don't agree
Mike, WPAFB
4/12/2013 2:59:34 PM ET DC Maxwell. You are so wrong on so many levels. This isnt about being on anyones teat. Its about the injustice of an incompetent Congress that is penalizing federal government employees for their mistakes and corruption. Do I need to explain that
SNCO Ret, Scott
4/12/2013 12:38:20 PM ET I am an active duty member who uses TA. I just saved 1500 on tuition cost because of TA coming back. I KNOW it is a benefit not an entitlement. But I find it comical how many of you conservative active duty folks are quick to say we need to cut wasteful spending and suggest we begin with entitlements and benefits. Yet when it is your pocket that is affected you scream like children. Stop being hypocrits. If it is good enough for you to be on the government teet why would it not be good enough for everyone else
DC, Maxwell
4/12/2013 12:25:32 PM ET TA is a benefit getting paid is not. Yet civilians are getting a 14 day furlough on top of a continuing 3-year pay freeze...
Mike, PAFB
4/12/2013 7:53:39 AM ET @ACortijo and Brent excuse me if I'm mistaken but isn't ANG handled by each state not federally Which would mean Active Duty and the Federal budget isn't a factor the state is.
A1C, Scott
4/11/2013 6:01:58 PM ET Can anyone define other funding source as out of pocket I can't but I am being denied any retroactive pay due to the fact I paid out of pocket. I am out 2250 and facing Furlough.
Kevin Krebs, March ARB CA
4/11/2013 5:09:08 PM ET @PB I know exactly how it was reinstated. And both the Senate and Congress were suckered by this entitled generation of service members whining that their education benefits were being taken away. Waah GI Bill isn't enough I want more.
TJ, Texas
4/11/2013 4:25:33 PM ET SNCO Ret civilians lost their education benefits months ago.
Kate, VA
4/11/2013 4:16:50 PM ET Military tuition assistance is not available retroactively to cover courses taken and paid for using any other funding source during the suspension of military tuition assistance. My Spring Semester started on 8 APR 13 and I'm being told it is retroactive and cannot be paid for. I don't get this.
Emmanuel, Andrews AFB
4/11/2013 3:32:02 PM ET TJ the Air Force is reinstating the benefit because Congress passed a bill forcing them to reinstate the benefit. This is the same Congress that told the Post Office it can't close down Saturday delivery to save money.
PB, US
4/11/2013 2:43:49 PM ET Military tuition assistance is not available retroactively to cover courses taken and paid for using any other funding source during the suspension of military tuition assistance. My class Spring Semester started on 8 APR 13 and I'm being told it is retroactive and cannot be paid for. I don't get this.I beg to disagree that the
Emmanuel, Andrews AFB
4/11/2013 2:40:23 PM ET Yep ANG drill status guardsman and technicians are airmen too... We need support from Active AF and DoD to fight for our benefits... after all we suport and fight the war too.... just saying...
ACortijo, Texas
4/11/2013 1:00:41 PM ET It's great that the benefit has been restored but it's a shame that ANG drill status guardsman still aren't included in the program. Our airmen deserve parity with our total force activereserve counterparts for the very same reasons outlined in this article.
Brent, Oregon
4/11/2013 12:44:51 PM ET It's back and it's 100 percent tuition reimbursement. Those who have been around a while remember when TA only paid for 75 percent of your tuition costs...and there has already been talk of returning to those levels in FY14 and beyond. If you're thinking about taking classes you might want to start while the higher rate is still available. TA is a great benefit but it's a benefit not an entitlement. It can be changed or disappear at any time...
Pro Education Airman, CONUS
4/11/2013 11:10:01 AM ET So we're grounding operational combat squadrons but reinstating an additional education benefit I can't imagine why we're broke.
TJ, Texas
4/11/2013 10:09:21 AM ET Mike...what's your complaint You have education benefits through the government too. Are you aware of them do you ue them Do you apply for any of the training that is offred through this venue
SNCO Ret, Scott
4/11/2013 9:18:11 AM ET Before this financial crisis Air Force leaders did not know how they were going to continue funding for the program. Lawmakers have not said they will give the military additional funding for the program. With the additional cuts to the militarys budget what will the military give up to pay for this benefit I am a frequent user of TA and am grateful to have it back but what will it cost us
Kevin Butler, Scott AFB
4/11/2013 9:00:22 AM ET Good to see TA is back even though the GI Bill is a very good education benefit. As a civilian I'll be thinking about that when I'm furloughed this summer...
Mike, WPAFB
4/11/2013 8:51:05 AM ET @Mathew Bray- haha my sides hurt now. The funny thing is I've actually heard this from a 'leader' before. He suffered from an inferiority complex and didn't like it that the people he was in charge of where smarter and more educated than him. We called him Shirt.
chris, Texas
4/11/2013 8:48:57 AM ET Baffles my mind how Tuition Assistance Furloughs and a 2010 freeze in pay is put on the table while Congress goes on 6 day recesses all while still receiving their full pay.President Obama recently gave up 5 percent of his pay very good gesture however he should have done that back in 2010 but great gesture still.Congress has yet to follow suit.
Eric, Keesler AFB
4/11/2013 8:47:49 AM ET Still have to use GI Bill for this semester.
Dave Kiernan, WPAFB
4/11/2013 8:40:29 AM ET If you want to thank people be sure to thank Senators Hagan of North Carolina and Infohe of Oklahoma. They were the ones who made this happen.
DC, Maxwell
4/11/2013 7:47:46 AM ET MarshaYou can always shoot him an email russell.frasz@pentagon.af.milI'm sure he'd appreciate hearing kudos from folks around the community.VrJoe
Joe, DC
4/11/2013 7:26:58 AM ET Amen TA is back
Elias Ayala, WPAFB
4/11/2013 5:47:59 AM ET Life saver for those who care
Damilola, DMAFB Arizona
4/11/2013 3:58:24 AM ET Its funny how many people complained about TA being taken away when most of them never used it. Bet they'll use it now.
Israel, Spangdahlem
4/11/2013 3:18:41 AM ET @ SSgt Maxwell - Army recently restarted their TA program as well.httpwww.armytimes.com
SSgt Behrens, RAF Molesworth
4/11/2013 3:14:11 AM ET Does this mean that school will be free again or do we have to pay for school to be free again
Norman, Altus
4/10/2013 11:54:28 PM ET Bad Move An uneducated military member is KEY to a dominate military force
Mathew Bray, Kadena AB
4/10/2013 8:32:42 PM ET You have to wait until your specific branch Army Guard Reserve etc HQ sends out specific guidance to act on. Now that TA is to be reinstated..how about un-instate furlough...
Cheri Lewis, JBLM
4/10/2013 7:07:59 PM ET The story should have began After 100000 concerned Airmen and citizens petitioned the White House and the Government received negative publicity...P.S. Kudos to the Navy for their actions related to the sequester.
JB, Italy
4/10/2013 7:02:00 PM ET Is it possible to get Mr. Frasz's address I would like to write to personally thank him for his efforts in the restarting of the Air Force tuition assistance.Thank youMarsha Day
Marsha Day, United States
4/10/2013 6:07:37 PM ET Does anyone know if the other branches restarted their TA
