1. Army Regulation (AR) 621-5, Army Continuing Education System, dated November 17, 1993.
2. Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) Examination Program Handbook (DEPH), Volume 1 and 2, dated October 1, 1998 - September 30, 1999.
3. All States memorandum, July 23, 1998, Subject: (All States Log Number 198-0150) Clarification of American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) for Enrollment into State Officer Candidate School (OCS).
4. Memorandum, October 15, 1998, Subject: Education Programs and the Method of Obligation for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 Tuition Assistance Funds.

1. Spouses and ARNG civilians are authorized to take College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) on a funded (free) basis through the State Education Services Officer. Other tests are available for spouses and ARNG civilians on an unfunded (examinee pays) basis as outlined in the DANTES Examination Program Handbook.
2. Soldiers can also take advantage of all 32 nationally recognized certification exams offered through DANTES on a 100 percent reimbursable basis (one time only). Registration fees are not funded. Soldiers are only eligible to take certification exams once they complete Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT) and awarded an MOS.
3. The Student Guide to Success pamphlet provides information on College-Level study material available on video and audiocassette. Study material is available for soldiers, spouses, and ARNG civilian employees. Many courses require an administration fee for spouses and ARNG civilian employees. This material supports CLEP, DSST, and Regents College Examination Program (RCEP) exams. The recommended textbook is required to pass these exams. Soldiers can receive this pamphlet through the State Education Services Officer.

Tuition Assistance (TA) Programs

1. Distance Learning Tuition Assistance. The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) will continue to provide 75 percent of tuition assistance (do not apply semester hour caps), up to 15 semester hours, up-front for soldiers and ARNG federal civilian employees (Title 5). State civilian employees are not eligible for this program. Up-front TA applies to courses that are 24 weeks or less. Courses longer than 24 weeks will be funded on a reimbursable basis. All distance learning courses can be processed through DANTES, even those courses not in a DANTES catalog (DANTES Independent Study Catalog, DANTES External Degree Catalog, or DANTES Catalog of Nationally Accredited Distance Learning Programs). The annual cap per person is $2,000 for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs. State TA programs may be used in conjunction with distance learning tuition assistance not to exceed 100 percent of tuition costs.

2. ARNG Tuition Assistance (TA) Program (ACES):
   1. The ARNG TA program provides 75 percent of tuition costs only up to the cap outlined below for a maximum of fifteen (15) semester hours (22-quarter hours) of college course work per year.
   2. The amount of TA provided to each soldier is subject to the following caps per semester hour: (a) Undergraduate Degree: $100.00 ($68.00 Qtr Hour)
      (b) Graduate Degree: $170.00 ($115.60 Qtr Hour)
      
      For example, if a college charges $85 per semester hour for an undergraduate degree course, then tuition assistance would pay $63.75 per hour. If a college charges $150 per semester hour for an undergraduate degree course, then tuition assistance would pay to the cap or $100 per hour. Additionally, if a college charges $150 per quarter hour for an undergraduate degree course, then tuition assistance would pay $68 per quarter hour. Basically, the 75 percent rule is applied first and the cap is applied second.
   
   
3. Clock Hours. Tuition Assistance can also be used to fund clock hours for vocational/technical courses offered by accredited colleges/universities not to exceed 75 percent per semester hour. The $100 undergraduate and the $170 graduate caps still apply once converted to semester hours.
   1. Clock hour credit systems must be converted to semester hours (SH). To determine the SH cost for vocational/technical courses that yield clock hours, divide the number of clock hours by 15. The result is the number of SHs. Divide the total cost of the course by the number of SHs. The result is the cost per SH.
      
   2. The annual cap per person for clock hours is $1,500.
      
      For example, a Microsoft Office Certification training course, offered by an accredited institution, costs $800.00, and meets for 150 clock hours. Therefore, 150 clock hours divided by 15 equals 10 SHs. Dividing $800.00 (total cost of course) by 10 (number of SH) equals $80.00 per SH. The Army National Guard currently does not fund Microsoft Office Certification.
   
   
4. Soldiers can use any combination of paragraphs a, b, and c above (within the specified limitations) not to exceed $3,500 per soldier per fiscal year.
   
   
5. Soldiers applying for TA must meet the criteria outlined in AR 621-5, the Army Continuing Education System, and Title 10, USC, Armed Forces, section 2007, Payment of tuition for off-duty training or education, dated December 1996.
   
   
6. Soldiers may use other funding sources (e.g. Pell Grants, the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), and State TA programs), to pursue college work. However, benefits can not be duplicated for the same credit hour as follows: (1) Tuition assistance and Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefits cannot be used simultaneously for the same course. For example, if a student is taking 15 semester hours funded under the Montgomery GI Bill program and the school considers 12 hours as full time, then the student can receive TA benefits for 3 semester hours.
   
   (2) MGIB benefits and State TA programs can be used simultaneously and exceed 100 percent of tuition costs.
   
   (3) State TA programs can be used concurrently with the ARNG TA program not to exceed 100 percent of tuition costs.
   
   (4) In the case where a soldier is eligible for both TA and Pell Grants, TA will be applied first to allow maximum use of Pell Grant funds.
   
7. Soldiers who are considered a full-time student and eligible for Montgomery GI Bill benefits should primarily use this program. State TA programs may be used in conjunction with MGIB benefits, and may be more beneficial to the soldier.

Officer Candidate Programs

1. OCS Candidates.

   1. Meet eligibility requirements and enroll in a State or Federal OCS Program. This TA policy is effective the date the soldier is attached (on orders) to OCS.
      
      
   2. Completed Basic Training (OCS Enlistment Option).
      
      
   3. These rates are terminated when a soldier is voluntarily or involuntarily released from the OCS program prior to commissioning for any reason or completes a baccalaureate degree. If a soldier fails to accept a commission, these rates are terminated effective the date of the OCS graduation.
      
      
   4. These rates will continue until the candidate earns their baccalaureate degree, even after graduating from OCS, and accepting a commission in the ARNG.
      
      
   5. All TA restrictions, prohibitions, and recoupment policies outlined in AR 621-5 are applicable.
   
   

2. WOCS Candidates.

   1. Meet eligibility requirements and enroll in a WOCS program. This TA policy is effective the date the soldier is attached (on orders) to WOCS.
      
      
   2. These rates are terminated when a soldier is voluntarily or involuntarily released from the WOCS program prior to appointment for any reason or completes an associate degree. If a soldier fails to accept an appointment, these rates are terminated effective the date of WOCS graduation.
      
      
   3. These rates will continue until the candidate earns their associate degree, even after graduating from OCS, and accepting a commission in the ARNG.
      
      
   4. All TA restrictions, prohibitions, and recoupment policies outlined in AR 621-5 are applicable.
   
   

3. ROTC SMP Cadets.

   1. Must be contracted as an SMP Cadet in an ARNG unit and agree to serve in the ARNG upon commissioning. (Must sign an SMP agreement (NGB Form 594-1).)
      
      
   2. These rates are terminated when a soldier is voluntarily or involuntarily released from the SMP program for any reason or accepts a commission. If a soldier fails to accept a commission on the date offered, these rates are terminated effective that date.
      
      
   3. If an SMP Cadet accepts a commission in the USAR or Active Component, TA will be recouped. These soldiers will be recouped the difference between the standard TA policy and this special rate.
      
      
   4. SMP Cadets who do not accept a commission in the ARNG are eligible for TA under the standard ARNG policy rate.
      
      
   5. All TA restrictions, prohibitions, and recoupment policies outlined in AR 621-5 are applicable.
      
      
   6. SMP Cadets are not eligible for TA if they are a recipient of the 2-year or 4-year Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty Scholarship.

Course Enrollment

1. Soldiers requesting TA must enroll at an approved post secondary institution as listed in the Accredited Institutions Postsecondary Education by the American Council on Education.
   
   
2. Education Services Officers must receive DA Form 2171 soon enough to permit approval and processing before the end of the institutions late registration period or the beginning of the course, whichever is most advantageous to the soldier. Soldiers should follow the State specific tuition assistance application process outlined by the State Education Services Officer.
   
   
3. Soldiers who drop a class must notify the ESO immediately. Soldiers with a record of dropping courses may be restricted from using this program.
   
   
4. Course Completion: Soldiers must provide a certified true copy of their student grade report upon completion of course(s) for which TA has been obligated. TA funds will be recouped, from the soldier, for a failing grade, incomplete courses, or courses from which soldiers voluntarily withdrew, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Extenuating circumstances are situations in which soldiers do not have control.

Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS) transcript

Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)

1. Basic Eligibility requirements.
   1. High School or Secondary School Graduate
   2. Six year enlistment/Extension/Reenlistment
   3. Complete Initial Active Duty for Training.
   4. Enlisted, Warrant or Commissioned Officer.
   5. Remain a member in good standing.
   
   
2. The school and Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) determine course eligibility. Effective October 1, 1998, full time students receive $251.00, three-quarter time $188.00, one-half time $125, less than one-half $62.75 per month. This program is paid on a monthly basis by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) Kicker Program

Eligibility requirements.

1. High School or Secondary School Graduate.
2. Six-year enlistment/Extension/Reenlistment.
3. Valid position vacancy.
4. Non-Prior Service (NPS) enlistees in test category I-IIIa only. (Glossary NPS soldiers are not authorized)
5. Complete Initial Active Duty for Training.
6. Prior Service soldiers who enlist or reenlist directly from the Active Army and who enlist in a unit eligible MOS for which they are MOS qualified and have basic Chapter 1606 or 30 benefits remaining.
7. Current Army National Guard members who served a minimum of three years consecutively in the ARNG are eligible to extend for Kicker benefits. The soldier must be MOS qualified for the eligible position and have basic Chapter 1606 or 30 benefits remaining.
8. Prior Service and ARNG soldiers who enlist or extend respectively must be a sergeant or below to qualify.
9. Remain in good standing.
10. MGIB Kicker program is considered an incentive program and is subject to Federal and State income tax withholdings.
11. The Department of Veterans Affairs will pay lump sum payments at the end of the "term" (semester, quarter, etc.)

State Tuition Assistance Programs (Varies by State)

Student Loan Repayment Program

1. The National Guard will pay up to $10,000 on qualifying existing loans.
2. Effective October 1, 1998, soldiers must have existing loan(s) at the time of their enlistment in order to be eligible for repayment. Loans incurred after enlistment do not qualify for repayment.
3. Individuals may receive $500 or 15% of the principle, whichever is greater, subject to a limit of $1,500 annually plus interest.

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