An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Dec. 7, 2012

DOD clarifies post-secondary education expectations

By Amaani Lyle American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has issued new policy guidelines intended to provide better protection for members of the military and veterans who seek tuition assistance for post-secondary degrees.

The department's revised voluntary education partnership policy specifies the expectations and agreements that colleges, universities and technical schools must adhere to in order to receive DOD underwriting, said Carolyn Baker, chief of voluntary education for DOD's military community family and policy office.

The guidelines, part of a new memorandum of understanding, "ensure certain protections for military members [so] that they have a quality education," she added.

Tuition assistance is a benefit available to Guard members, reservists, active duty members and veterans, allowing a degree from a Department of Education-accredited college or university.

To receive it, participating institutions must sign the memorandum of understanding, and provide the student with clear information about financial procedures, course information and graduation rates.

"[The MOU] protects service members in providing them with information so a service member can make a wise choice as to the institution [they attend]," Baker said. "We ask that all institutions provide service members with an education plan that states [course requirements] and evaluates credits earned at other schools [so] the service member can move forward and actually obtain their degree."

The new guidelines clarify oversight, enforcement, and accountability for educational institutions receiving military tuition assistance, Baker said.

Currently about 2,000 institutions participate in the tuition assistance program and Baker said she encourages more to do the same.

The overall initiative supports the executive order establishing the President's "Principles of Excellence," Baker said. Those were issued in response to reports of aggressive and deceptive targeting of service members, veterans, and their families by some educational institutions after the Post-9/11 GI Bill became law.

The guidelines pertain only to institutions accepting Title 4 funding, Baker said.

 

 

Related Articles
Staff Sgt. Ashley Renye perform during a culminating training event to medically evacuate soldiers at Fort Cavazos, Texas, May 14, 2025. This training scenario had units from the 3-238th General Support Aviation Battalion (Michigan), the 101st Public Affairs Detachment (Delaware) and the 328th Military Police Platoon (New Jersey) work together to respond to a vehicle rollover accident with multiple casualties.
Louisana Guard Medical Evacuation Training Turns Real
By Capt. Shy Garden, | May 21, 2025
FORT CAVAZOS, Texas - Soldiers of the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and its assigned units were conducting a training exercise May 14 for an emergency medical evacuation when a Soldier...

Col. Boone Caldon, commander of the 153rd Medical Group, briefs Tunisian armed forces of medical capabilities during a Tunisian NCO development presentation at Cheyenne, Wyoming, on May 12, 2025. The Wyoming National Guard hosted a delegation from the Tunisian Armed Forces for a weeklong noncommissioned officer (NCO) development exchange, strengthening a long-standing partnership through the State Partnership Program.
Wyoming Guard Hosts Tunisian Noncommissioned Officer Development Exchange
By Staff Sgt. Cesar Rivas, | May 21, 2025
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Wyoming National Guard hosted a delegation from the Tunisian Armed Forces for a weeklong noncommissioned officer (NCO) development exchange, strengthening a long-standing partnership through the...

U.S. Army National Guard units assigned to Task Force Tiger perform their culminating training event to medically evacuate Soldiers on Fort Cavazos, Texas, May 14, 2025. This training scenario had units from the 3-238th General Support Aviation Battalion (Michigan), the 101st Public Affairs Detachment (Delaware) and the 328th Military Police Platoon (New Jersey) work together to respond to a vehicle rollover accident with multiple casualties.
Army Guard Soldiers Train for Kosovo Deployment
By Staff Sgt. Alyssa Lisenbe,  | May 20, 2025
FORT CAVAZOS, Texas – More than 500 Army National Guard Soldiers under Task Force Tiger are conducting a culminating training event at Fort Cavazos in preparation for an upcoming deployment to support a NATO-led peacekeeping...