ALCOAST 344/18 - OCT 2018 CY18 COAST GUARD FOUNDATION EDUCATION GRANT (CGFEG) PROGRAM

R 041556 OCT 18
FM COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA//FC-Cd//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N01560//
ALCOAST 344/18
COMDTNOTE 1560
SUBJ: CY18 COAST GUARD FOUNDATION EDUCATION GRANT (CGFEG) PROGRAM
A. Reserve Policy Manual, COMDTINST M1001.28 (series)
1. This ALCOAST announces the receipt of a gift fund from the Coast Guard Foundation and
prescribes the application process for eligible members to apply for a Coast Guard Foundation
Education Grant (CGFEG). The Oregon Bookstore Education Grant (OUBEG), Marine Science Education
Grant (MSEG), Select Cutter Education Grant (SCEG), and Vander Putten Education Grant (VPEG)
have all been disestablished.
2. The CGFEG program is designed to assist eligible personnel in their academic or technical
development by providing funding for tuition, fees, and miscellaneous expenses incurred in
completing off-duty voluntary education. The CGFEG program is a reimbursement program, requiring
members to expend funds prior to applying for a CGFEG. The maximum payable reimbursement is
currently $500.00 per person.
3. Effective the date of this ALCOAST, the Education and Training Quota Management Command (ETQC)
will begin accepting CGFEG applications. All applications will be processed on a first come,
first served basis.
4. Eligible Members:
    a. Coast Guard Active Duty enlisted members serving in pay grades E-3 through E-6.
    b. Selective Reserve (SELRES) members on long term active duty orders of 180 days, or more.
    c. SELRES members must meet and maintain satisfactory participation requirements per the
provisions of Chapter 4 of REF (A).
    d. All applicants must be participating, or have participated, in a professional development,
licensing, certification, college, undergraduate, or graduate level course, within 12 months of
the date of the application.
    e. There is no time in service requirement; however, members must complete the course(s) for
which the application is being submitted prior to release from active duty, discharge, or
retirement.
5. Eligible Expenses:
    a. Costs associated with professional development, licensing, certification, undergraduate,
and graduate (Master’s and Doctorate) level courses, which includes tuition (not covered by a
tuition assistance program), any and all fees, textbook costs, taxes and shipping charges.
    b. Direct expenses, such as computers, supplies, transportation, or other necessities needed
to complete a member’s educational goals may be included in the computation of education expenses
covered by CGFEG. CGFEG may cover the cost of tools, manuals, protective or other equipment,
which become the property of the student. The student must provide documentation, along with
their CGFEG application from the institution, stating the student is required to purchase the
tools, manuals, protective or other equipment, and that the institution does not provide them
for the student.
    c. Expenses must be submitted for reimbursement no later than 12 months from date of the
expenditure.
6. CGFEG is not authorized for:
    a. Any course for which the applicant is receiving assistance under a federally funded program
where such payment would constitute a duplication of benefits. This includes, but is not limited
to: Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Supplemental Education Grants, Pell Grants, Montgomery GI
Bill/Veterans Education Assistance Program, or other Government funded education programs.
A member earning student aid via a loan, such as a student loan, Sallie Mae, Stafford loan, etc.
is still eligible for CGFEG. In cases where Federal grant monies are credited to the student’s
institution account, the credited portion may not be calculated into the CGFEG application.
    b. Expenses previously reimbursed by CGFEG.
    c. Applicants in a duty-under-instruction status, where the applicant’s educational fees are
being paid by the Coast Guard.
    d. Coast Guard members that are inmates in military prisons.
7. To apply, members will complete the CGFEG Application Form, ETQC-1560-10A, and forward it,
along with expense receipts and proof of enrollment in an eligible program, to their servicing
Education Services Officer (ESO).
8. ESOs will endorse the CGFEG Application Form, ETQC-1560-10A, as verification of eligibility
requirements and will submit the completed application to ETQC via e-mail to:
ETQC-SMB-FoundationGrants@uscg.mil.
9. If an application does not meet the minimum standards, ETQC will return the application back
to the member and their respective ESO, unprocessed. If a member believes their application was
returned erroneously, members may dispute the decision by submitting a memo to Commanding Officer,
ETQC, no later than 30 days after receiving the denial notification.
10. Additional details and the CGFEG Application Form, ETQC-1560-10A, can be found at:
http://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/FORCECOM-UNITS/ETQC/Voluntary-Education/Education-
Service-Officers/.
11. For field level questions, please refer to your ESO. Questions from ESOs should be directed
to CWO2 Anthony D. Nash at (757) 413-7449 or email at: ETQC-SMB-FoundationGrants@uscg.mil.
12. Dr. Gladys Brignoni, Deputy Commander, Force Readiness Command, sends.
13. Internet release is authorized.