Complaint Review: Military Tuition Assistance Reduced by 25%

HR1540 is a major ripoff for enlisted military who attend college and are trying to better themselves. 

Setting politics aside, if you are in the military and taking college courses, there is something major that has just happened that affects your military tuition assistance. The White House and our representatives are reneging on its national promise to pay for the college for enlisted armed services members.

As I can attest, college tuition is the primary inducement for many of us who comprise Americas all-volunteer fighting force.

So here are the details that are unfolding:

According to an email sent out to AFSA members, "Congress has amended the Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (HR 1540)to direct the D.O.D. to reduce the current 100 percent tuition and fees rate by 25 percent. The amendment was offered by Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO). Currently service members can get up to 100% of the tuition and fees covered as long as the per semester credit limit of $250 is not exceeded. Anything tuition costs which exceed the per credit hour cap must be paid through secondary sources like their GI Bill benefit, scholarships, grants or out-of-pocket."

HR1540, SEC. 547(3). REPORT ON TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR OFF-DUTY TRAINING OR EDUCATION:

Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on methods to increase the efficiency of the tuition assistance program under section 2007 of title 10, United States Code. Such report shall include--

(1) a description of the effect of the program on recruiting and retention within the Armed Forces;

(2) an analysis of other programs that provide benefits similar to those provided through the program, including the use of educational assistance programs under chapters 30 and 33 of title 38, United States Code, for education and training pursued by members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty while they are off-duty; and

(3) modifying the program to require members of the Armed Forces participating in the program to pay for 25 percent of their education expenses and the Secretary concerned to pay the remaining 75 percent of such expenses. The full version of HR1540 can be found here: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h1540/text

If you would like to oppose the HR1540 bill related to the military tuition assistance cuts, you can send your rep a letter online at:  http://www.opencongress.org/contact_congress_letters/new?bill=112-h1540&position=oppose

The military tuition assistance cuts go into effect October 1, 2011, so write or call your representatives today.

As for me, the $75 in the max per credit hour fee means $225 for my average 3 credit class. Maybe this doesnt seem like a huge amount, but in my situation, that means an additional $2,250 per year coming out of my pocket. I already have to pay for my text books and supplies. When you consider that a new recruit's modest salary of $1467.60, many with families are already below the national poverty level, the increased tuition cost to them is no small difference! What really frosts this grunts hindparts is that the big boys in DC will shell out trillions to failed banks and insurance companies, but screw a jarhead that is willing to die for them for $75 buck a credit hour. How is that good smart?

I joined the military because I knew I could access the 100% military tuition assistance program. My Congressman said it was better than nothing, and that I should be happy that they didnt cut military tuition assistance program completely. I guess he wasnt there when my recruiter made the promises to me that convinced me that if I risked my live in the flea invested desert sands of Iraq, the military would provide 100% tuition assistance. I was hoping to go from green to gold and become an officer. With the looming cuts, it will either take me longer as I will have to adjust my educational pursuits to fit my budget, or I will have to sell our house and downsize. We just bought a 3 bedroom house last year because we had hoped to have another child next year before I had planned to graduate. I dont think the higher-ups understand what this kind of cut does to their enlisted members. We are patriotic and defend America for God, family and country but we expect our elected leaders to keep their promises when it comes to things like the promised military tuition assistance. If not, then perhaps our contract with them is only and illusory contract?

Is this the end of the cuts that affect those of us in the trenches, or only the beginning? Anyone else got any thoughts on this? Thank goodness for a place like RipOff Reports that lets us get the word out on things like this.