Subjects
Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)
State Tuition Reimbursement (STR)
Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)
FTA/STR Dual-Use Policy
Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)
Federal Incentives
Deployment Questions
Miscellaneous
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Montgomery GI Bill For questions and answer about GI Bill benfits visit the VA’s webpage at https://www.gibill2.va.gov/cgi-bin/vba.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php
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STATE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT (STR)
Q: What does State Tuition Reimbursement (STR) reimburse for?
A: MNNG Service Members are reimbursed for the cost of tuition only, not any fees or room and board.
Q: How do I apply for STR?
A: To apply for STR you MUST contact your unit full-time representative to complete an MOU, a Direct Deposit form and to obligate (reserve) funds. Funds must be obligated by the 45 day of the term start date. Q: What do you need in order to process my STR payment?
A: Upon completion of the quarter/semester, obtain a STR payment request form from you full time unit representative. Submit it to them along with a fee statement and your grade slip within 90 days of the end of the term. (Grade slips obtained via the internet are acceptable).
Q: How long does it take to get my payment?
A: Up to 45 days from the date that your Unit Administrator enters your payment request information into the STR database.
Q: I just joined the Guard, for which semesters am I eligible for STR?
A: You are eligible for any classes that you attended after graduating from Basic Training. Just remember that if you ETS before your last day of classes, you are not eligible for STR for any of them.
Q: What if I have an incomplete in one of my classes?
A: Turn in your STR payment request for the classes that are complete. Once you complete the incomplete class, you may turn that in for reimbursement.
Q: Do I have to have my tuition bill paid in full before I can be reimbursed?
A: No, the fee statement just needs to show the amount that you were charged for tuition. It does not matter if there is a balance that needs to be paid.
Q: Why wasn’t I reimbursed for all of the credits that were on my grades slip?
A: The STR program does not reimburse for a grade of a C- or below for undergraduate students and B- or below for Graduate students. The programs does not reimburse for classes that a Soldier has withdrew from either.
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FEDERAL TUITION ASSISTANCE (FTA)
Q: How do I start using Goarmyed.com for FTA?
A: NEW USERS need to go to https://www.goarmyed.com, select the NEW USERS tab in the top right corner of the screen, complete the application and click SUBMIT to receive your username and password.
REGISTERED USERS will need to log on to goarmyed.com with username and password and complete the required IN-PROCESSING STEPS: researching colleges and course schedule, selecting SUBMIT STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING (SOU), read and print SOU. (The SOU requires your Commander's signature unless you are an E-7 or above, Warrant Officer or Officer.)
Follow HOW TO USE YOUR EFILE link to upload your SOU into your e-file within Goarmyed. Next, COMPLETE THE COMMON APPLICATION and select LAUNCH QUICK START TRAINING to complete SOLDIER TRAINING. It is your responsibility to know and follow GoARmyEd procedures. Finally, contact the Army Education Counselor/ESS to activate your Goarmyed account. This can be done by entering a help desk ticket (see Help Desk Ticket question below) or e-mailing ngmneducation@ng.army.mil. Be specific and professional with your request. Q: How do I enter a Help Desk Ticket in Goarmyed.com?
A: From your home page, click on CREATE HELPDESK CASE in the HELP DESK RESOURCES section on the lower left of the screen. Q: How do I apply for FTA in Goarmyed?
A: Note: You Must apply for FTA through Goarmyed.com by the start date of your course.
Log into www.Goarmyed.com, select MY VIRTUAL ECUATION CENTER, ENROLL OR DROP/WITHDRAW FROM A COURSE, REQUEST TA AND ENROLL IN A COURSE. Then, select ACCOUNT INFORMATION VERIFIED to review your account, select the term for your class start date, select CLASS SEARCH/SERACH and fill in the fields to search the COURSE SCHEDULE for classes. Select SEARCH, CLASS SEARCH DESCRIPTION FIELDS and CLASS SSEARCH EXAMPLES, for assistance. View CLASS SEARCH RESULTS, select CLASS DETAILS button before enrolling to view more class information, check the class number to complete enrollment.
The class information now appears on the ADD CLASSES screen. Select PROCEED TO STEP 2 OF 3. Confirm CLASSES screen displays class cost information, which must be verified as being at or below the $250.00 max for Semester Hour allowed, and does not exceed the Schools authorized tuition and course specific fees. Select PROCESS ENROLLMENT or I AGREE TO PAY.
The VIEW RESULTS screen displays the status of your enrollment request. If the STATUS column shows SUCCESS, you have successfully enrolled, pending final approval from the school. You will receive an email confirming enrollment. Do not wait until the day of the course start date if you do not receive this e-mail-contact your school and/or your NG-Minnesota Army Education Counselors at: ngmneducation@ng.army.mil. Q: I received an e-mail from GoArmyEd stating that I have been approved for TA. What do I do next?
A: Print out TA approval and deliver to your billing office. Once you receive an approval e-mail it is up to your school to invoice the Army and for the Army to pay your school. Any changes made to your courses will need to be made before the Add/Drop date for your school. Q: What do I do if I have a question in Goarmyed?
A: You can enter a Help Desk Ticket or call the GoArmyEd helpdesk: 1-800-817-9990 or Contact your NG-Minnesota Army Education Counselors at: ngmneducation@ng.army.mil.
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FTA/STR Dual-Use Policy
Members receiving Federal Benefits which pay tuition costs directly are eligible to receive funds under the STR program. The combination of Federal Benefits and STR cannot exceed 100% of the tuition costs.
Examples of Programs which offer direct tuition payments (not all inclusive):
• Chapter 33 Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits
• Chapter 31 VOC REHAB
• Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)
• ROTC Scholarships (tuition scholarship option)
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STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM (SLRP)
Q: How do I receive the SLRP benefit?
A: The SLRP is an option if enlisting, affiliating, reenlisting or extending into a valid incentive eligible position for a period not less than 6 years. We will pay only those loans that have been dispersed prior to the date that you sign the SLRP addendum (contract). Also, the loan type must be eligible per the SLRP addendum. The payment will be made on your anniversary date every year and we will pay 15% or $500 which ever is higher.
Q: What loans are eligible?
A: Loans eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program are: Stafford Loans (subsidized), Stafford (unsubsidized), Federally Insured Student Loans, Perkins Loans, Auxiliary Loans to Assist Students (ALAS), Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS), Consolidated Loan Program (CLP) and (SMART), William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.
Q: I just contracted for SLRP, where is my payment?
A: Once you contract for SLRP the first payment comes 1 year after the entitlement date (the day you contracted for the benefit). For example, if you enlisted/extended for SLRP on 15 January 2004, your first SLRP payment would come on or after 15 January 2005.
Q: Who is responsible for getting my SLRP paid?
A: Ultimately it is the SOLDIER'S responsibility to initiate the SLRP payment for that year. It is stated right in the SLRP addendum with the Soldier's initials next to it. Soldier's need to bring their annual SLRP payments to the attention of the unit admin NCO and they can guide the process.
Q: How does my SLRP actually get paid? What do I have to do?
A:
Once the unit and Soldier have completed their portions and signed the DA 2475, the Soldier/unit sends this paperwork to the lending institution. The lending institution then sends it back to the unit. The unit prepares a commanders certification letter. The Commanders Certification can be signed by the Unit Commander or the unit administrator.
Q: I was promised $10,000 or $20,000 in loan repayment over 6/8 years! Where is it?
A: The way that SLRP works is it pays 15% or $500 on the total amount borrowed on EACH loan with a maximum of $7,500 for a $50,000 contract. For example, if you have $13,000 out in student loans and you have the $20,000 SLRP contract you will receive $1,950 per year. (15% of $13,000 is $1,950) The least amount of money you will receive per year is $500.
Q: My SLRP has been submitted. How long until my lender receives the money?
A:
This question depends on how long it takes USPFO (at Camp Ripley) to process the payments. A general guideline is 4-6 weeks from the time the payment was sent to them.
Q: How do I know when the payment has made it to my lender?
A: Check your student loan statements or send a written request to your lender asking them to notify you when the payment has been received.
Q: I haven't received a payment in three years. Are my old payments gone forever?
A: Negative. Once we receive a 2475 packet from the unit we can pay on every year that you missed at one time. All the payments will be sent to the lending institution at the same time.
Q: I just contracted for SLRP what do you need to set-up my file and make it easier for future payments to be made?
A:
To process the Student Loan Repayment Program, we need the following in our office:
- A copy of the Soldier's contract (DD 4/DA 4836)
- A copy of the Soldier's SLRP Addendum
- A copy of all Promissory Notes (and Disbursements)
- National Student Load Data System (NSLDS) sheets.
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FEDERAL INCENTIVES
Q: I have a Soldier who hasn't received the first part of there bonus and they have graduated AIT. How do I get them paid?
A: You will need to send the DD 214 up to the Education office. Once we receive it we will process it for pay.
Q: I have a SM that is not showing up on the bonus one report. What do I do?
A: 1st- You need to check and make sure that it is not the first payment on the bonus. 2nd- Check to see if the SM is actually scheduled for payment during that month, if they are then just send an email to ngmneducation@ng.army.mil, with the SM’s contract and addendum and the Incentive Manager will do the research to make the payment.
Q: How long before a Soldier receives their Bonus payment?
A:
Bonus payments are usually received within 20-30 days from the date it leaves the Incentive Managers Office. (That date it posted next to the TL number in iMARC).
Q: A Soldier was supposed to get a $4000 payment but only received $2400. Can you tell me why?
A: Yes. Soldier’s bonus was taxable as indicated in the contract. Soldier did receive the 4K bonus payment but net amount was substantially less as a result of Federal and State Taxes being deducted.
Q: Can a Soldier get an exception to policy for termination and or recoupment issues/reasons?
A: Soldier was suppose to get a $4000 payment but only received $2400. Can you tell me why?
Absolutely not. Programs are governed by Public Law and not policy. Therefore exceptions are not permitted for any reason.
Q: I just finished OBC, how to I apply for the Officer Accession Bonus?
A: If you were commissioned into a critical skill (review SRIP Policy 05-04 for all eligibility requirements) on or between 04 FEB 05 and 26 JAN 06, completed OBC within 36 months of commissioning, you qualify for a $6000.00 Bonus.
If you were commissioned into a critical skill (review SRIP Policy 06-05 for all eligibility requirements) on 27 JAN 06 or after and completed OBC within 36 months of commissioning you qualify for the $10,000.00 bonus.
With the assistance of your Unit Admin NCO complete the ARNG Accession Bonus Agreement, the ARNG Accession-Affiliation Request Form (both found on Education Intranet Site under Federal Bonus Folder) and request a Bonus control number through iMARC to apply for your bonus. Once these documents are complete and Bonus Control number requested forward documents plus their DD214 and DA 1059 to ngmneducation@ng.army.mil for processing. All policies are found in iMARC.
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DEPLOYMENT QUESTIONS
Q: I am deployed, are there educational benefits available to me, if so how do I apply?
A: Yes, you go through your MOBE site Education Office. Check out the appropriate Programs pages for details. Basically you are entitled to the same benefits as if you were home here going to school, you just apply for them a little differently.
Q: How do I apply for STR while I am deployed?
A: You go through your Rear Detatchment Support personnel and apply the same procedures as if you were state side. See State programs page for details.
Q: WHat happens when I Withdraw or take an Incomplete?
A: The Withdrawn class will not be paid. An incomplete grade will not be reimbursed until a grade is received for that course. Go through your rear detatchment support personnel.
Q: What is the difference between withdrawing or taking an incomplete for a class?
A: Withdraw - you essentially drop the class w/o penalty and get no credit. Incomplete - you are allowed to finish the course for credit determined by a schedule you set up with the school and professor.
Q: What happens to my student loans while I am deployed?
A: They can be deferred if you send a letter requesting such action along with a copy of your deployment orders. Most financial Institutions will defer for total time stated on your orders. It is your responsibility to notify the financial institution once your deployment is finished.
Q: I was deployed under one of the following campaigns; GWOT, SFOR, KFOR, OIF or OEF. If I ETS are there any benefits availble to me?
A: Yes, refer to Extended State Tuiton Reimbursement. Must have deployed since 9/11 and ETS'd sice 30 JUN 05.
If you were deployed for 24 continous months or more, you may be eligible for the Active Duty GI Bill. If you elected to sign up for this benefit, you retain it for a period of 10 years from the first day you became eligible.
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MISCELLANEOUS
Q: Are there any benefits for military spouses?
A: Yes, spouses can take CLEP and DSST exams for free. There are colleges that offer discounted tuition, there are special scholarships available and possibly some grants. We have provided links to help you research these benefits to find out more information.
Q: Can I use STR, FTA, SLRP, MGIB and MGIB Kicker all at the same time?
A: Yes, however to use MGIB Kicker with FTA, you must be enrolled at minimum as a half time student. Refer to SRIP Policy letter on the Federal Programs page for exact details. Tuition Assistance -Top Up- allows current active duty/AGR Soldiers to use their MGIB-AD benefits to pay the tuition costs not paid by the military through Tuition Assistance.
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Related FAQs
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