The Army offers its members great opportunities to get a college education. These programs are usually referred to as Voluntary Education or Vol Ed. The Army Continuing Education System offers the following VOL ED programs to help soldiers reach their education goals:
- eArmyU
- GoArmyEd
- Tuition Assistance also known as (TA)
- Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOCAD)
- Other Army Education Resources
eArmyU
eArmyU is a new college program that provides you:
- 100 percent tuition assistance (TA)
- Books and study materials
- Fees for online courses
- A technology package which includes a laptop computer, printer, email account and Internet access
Entirely online, this program offers soldiers an efficient "portal" approach to a wide variety of post-secondary degrees and technical certificates. This technology package is available after you complete 12 semester hours. In addition to the existing education programs and services available, this online program helps to ensure you have the opportunity to fulfill your personal and professional educational goals. Still allowing you the abilities for building the technology, critical thinking, and decision-making skills required to fully transform the Army.
GoArmyEd
GoArmyEd is the essential gateway for Soldiers on active duty to request Tuition Assistance (TA) online, for classroom, distance learning, and eArmyU online college courses GoArmyEd can be used by:
- Soldiers pursuing their postsecondary educational goals.
- Army Education Counselors providing educational guidance.
- Colleges to deliver degrees and course offerings and also to report Soldiers progress.
Army Tuition Assistance
As an Active Duty or in the Army Reservist, you may be eligible to receive up to 100% of your college tuition.
TA automation allows Soldiers to request TA and enroll in courses online. This aids in expediting the enrollment process and minimize wait times at Army Education Centers. Soldiers will be able to request TA online through the ACES portal called GoArmyEd.
SOCAD
SOCAD is the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) degree program for the Army.
SOCAD consists of colleges that offer associate and bachelor's degree programs on or accessible to Army installations worldwide.
In addition these colleges have joined together to form networks in which each college accepts credits from all the others. This guarantees that Army students and their adult family members can continue toward completion of their degrees even though the Army may transfer them several times. There are also degrees available by distance learning that require no classroom placement.
For more information visit the SOCAD website.
Other Education Resources for the Army
Army Emergency Relief (AER)
AER is the Army's own emergency financial assistance organization and is dedicated to "Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own". AER funds are made available to commanders having AER Sections to provide emergency financial assistance to soldiers - active & retired - and their dependents when there is a valid need.
For detailed information visit the AER website here.
Spouse Education Assistance Program (SSEAP) (links to spouse and family) The Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SSEAP) is a need-based education assistance program designed to provide spouses of active duty and retired Army Soldiers, and widows (ers) of Army Soldiers who died either on active duty or in a retired status, and residing in the United States, with financial assistance in pursuing educational goals.
For Detailed information please visit the SSEAP website. The Army College Fund (ACF)
The Army College Fund (ACF)
Is an enlistment benefit that adds to the Montgomery G.I. Bill, or the new GI Bill of the 21st Century.
You must have participated in one of these two GI Bill programs, as the two programs run hand-in-hand in order to receive benefits. The ACF adds to the monthly education benefits payments made by these two programs. If you're a high school graduate, score a 50 or better on the ASVAB, and qualify for particular Army jobs or specialties, you can get more than $20,000 in addition to your GI Bill money for your education upon enlistment.
Student Loan Repayment Program (LRP)
If you are a college student or graduate you must meet the following qualifications for the Loan Repayment Program (LRP). Upon qualification the Army will pay, upon enlistment, up to $65,000 of your student loans for a college level education. Qualifications:
- Must decline enrollment in the Montgomery GI Bill in writing, using DD Form 2366
- Have LRP guaranteed in writing in the enlistment contract (DA Form 3286-66).
- Be a non-prior service accession.
- Enlist with a high school diploma.
- Have an Armed Forces Qualification Test score of 50 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).
- Enlist in one of the critical military occupational specialties (MOS). These MOS change quarterly. The local Army recruiter will have the current list.
- Possess a loan that was made, insured, or guaranteed under the Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part B, D, or E and prior to entering active duty.
