MyCAA Tuition Resources

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

The Department of Defense announced today the resumption of the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account - MyCAA - program.  Beginning Saturday, March 13 at 12 p.m. (EST), the 136,583 military spouses who are currently enrolled in the program will once again be able to receive tuition assistance, defense officials say.

 
"We made a commitment to our military spouses when they established a career advancement account and we will be true to our promises," said Tommy Thomas, deputy under secretary of defense, military community and family policy.

The first phase of the reinstated program will enable the department to continue to pay up to $6,000 tuition assistance for spouses currently enrolled.  The department is working hard to adjust and meet the demands of the program and develop a long-term solution for spouses not yet enrolled who would like to establish an account, Thomas said.

The program was launched March 2, 2009, to assist military spouses in attaining portable careers in high-demand, high-growth occupations.  An unexpected six-fold spike in enrollment in prompted the Defense Department to pause the program Feb. 16 without notice.  A thorough review began immediately to assure the program was accomplishing its intended goals.  "When we determined that an operational pause in the program was critical, we failed to notify our spouses in a timely and appropriate manner," said Thomas.  "As a result of our failure, we know we will have to work hard to restore their faith in us.  We are committed to earning that trust through improved communication and by delivering services."
 
The Defense Department is currently developing long-term options for the program and expects to announce the details soon, Thomas said.  Until new accounts can be created, Military OneSource Spouse Education and Career Consultants will continue to be available to provide education and training, career exploration, assessment, employment readiness and career search assistance.
 
What does this mean for schools?
 
Spouses with existing accounts will be allowed to request Financial Assistance for MyCAA funding but new accounts can not be created. The program will operate with the same policies and procedures that were in place before the pause.  MyCAA will not fund any courses that do not have an approved financial assistance document prior to the start date of the course.
 
More information about MyCAA can be found at http://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/FindInformation/Category/MilitarySpouseCareerAdvancementAccounts.aspx.

Tuition Resources

Are you a military spouse who would like to develop or further a career in holistic nutrition? The Department of Defense Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program provides up to $6,000 of Financial Assistance for military spouses who are pursuing degree programs or credentials leading to employment in portable career fields.

Hawthorn University has pioneered completely online programs in holistic nutrition. While these programs are demanding and rigorous, students can take the program whenever, wherever. MyCAA Financial Assistance pays for education and training programs tuition fees. This includes degree programs and continuing education classes. A military spouse can request MyCAA Financial Assistance for all approved courses on the spouse’s Career and Training Plan. A Career and Training Plan includes the spouse’s Portable Career Field, name of school and course information (course titles, codes, costs and start/end dates).  To get started eligible spouses can establish a MyCAA Account by visiting the MyCAA website (  https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa  ).  Once spouse profile information is provided, MyCAA will verify spouse DEERS eligibility. Eligible spouses will be allowed to create their Career and Training Plan and request Financial Assistance when they are within 90 days of course start dates. Additionally, spouses are responsible for applying to their selected school or program and enrolling in each course included in their approved MyCAA Career and Training Plan. Hawthorn students can develop skills and the professional tools needed to be an effective and successful practitioner while in school.

Click here for Hawthorn University / MyCAA Student Carrie Thompson's Story.