ALCOAST 384/22 - OCT 2022 FY23 COAST GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE (TA) POLICY

R 071316Z OCT 22 MID200080325432U
FM COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 384/22
SSIC 1500
SUBJ: FY23 COAST GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE (TA) POLICY
A. Reserve Duty Status and Participation Manual, COMDTINST M1001.2
B. Voluntary Education Programs, DoD Instruction (DoDI) 1322.25D
C. COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA 302054Z SEP 30/ALCOAST 359/21
D. COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA 252015Z MAR 22/ALCOAST 105/22
E. COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA 141813Z JUL 22/ALCOAST 261/22
F. Performance, Training, and Education Manual, COMDTINST M1500.10C
1. Pending the FY23 allocation of funding, this ALCOAST announces
the FY23 TA policy, effective 01 Oct 2022.
2. Eligibility.
a. Tuition Assistance (TA) is authorized for Active and Selected
Reserve (SELRES) military members. In acordance with REF (A),
members of SELRES must be drilling reservists with satisfactory
progress in the current anniversary year and have met the
participation standards for the previous anniversary year.
The exception is first-year reservists, who can participate in
the TA program so as long as they are making satisfactory progress
in the current year as evidenced by an uploaded point statement.
A point statement in PDF format is required to be uploaded in
MyCG Ed.
b. COs, OICs, or first O-6/GS-15 in the chain-of-command shall
ensure Active Duty and SELRES members meet all of the following
eligibility criteria:
(a) Satisfactory progress toward completion of unit
qualifications,
(b) Satisfactory progress toward watch station qualifications,
(c) Satisfactory proficiency of craft,
(d) Satisfactory conduct during the six months prior to the
class start date, and
(e) Satisfactory progress towards participation standards if
member is SELRES.
c. Active duty officers will incur a 2 year service obligation
following the completion of the course. Officers agree to not
request release, separation, or retirement for 24 months following
the course completion date of the last course funded through the
TA program. SELRES Officers must agree to remain a member of the
Selected Reserve for at least 4 years after the completion of the
education or training for which the tuition was paid.
(a) If an Active Duty Officer affiliates with the SELRES,
the obligated service requirement will run concurrently in the
SELRES based upon the initial obligation incurred.
(b) If a SELRES member integrates into Active Duty, the
obligated service requirement will run concurrently while on
Active Duty based upon the initial obligation incurred.
(c) If an officer accepts a permanent full-time or part-time
Government Service (GS) or Wage Grade (WG) and there is no break
between the military service and civilian hiring the obligated
service requirement will run concurrently.
d. TA is authorized for permanent full-time and part-time
Government Service (GS) and Wage Grade (WG) civilians. Civilian
tuition assistance exists to offset costs for courses that
contribute to occupational and institutional competencies, special
interest needs, and readiness by supporting the current and future
needs of the Coast Guard. This includes courses that will provide
employees breadth of knowledge and problem-solving tools that aid
in critical thinking, allowing individuals to address a wide range
of problems and assess alternative solutions. TA for civilian
employees is only authorized for courses that are related to the
employee's current position and the anticipated needs of the
Coast Guard. Additionally, Civilians must meet the following
criteria:
(a) Have at least 90 days of prior, continuous Coast Guard
service.
(b) Received "Achieved Expectations" or higher rating on
their most recent annual appraisal or interim rating.
(c) Received supervisor approval to participate in the TA
program.
(d) Civilian members of the Selected Reserve (SELRES), in any
service must meet participation standards within REF (A). The
combined total of civilian TA and reservist TA shallnot exceed
Coast Guard's $4,500 annual cap.
(e) Civilian members are obligated to remain employed with the
Coast Guard one full month for each course credit hour upon the
completion date of the course. For example, a civilian who
completes a course worth 3 credit hours on 26 July is obligated to
serve until 26 Oct and complete the full pay period.
3. Policy.
a. The Coast Guard will fund tuition costs, not to exceed $250.00
per semester hour, $166.67 per quarter hour, or $16.67 per clock
hour. The annual cap for reimbursement of TA is $4,500.00 per member
per FY. Lifetime credit hour limits for TA are lifted.
b. TA is authorized for courses leading to a first or second
academic certificate, a first or second associate or bachelor's
degree, and a first Master's degree. TA is not authorized for any
degree above a Master's degree including Juris Doctor (JD) or
doctoral degrees (PhD), and similar terminal degrees.
c. Associates to Master's degree bridge programs are authorized.
d. Members may use TA to pursue two cultural immersion or
language classes when assigned OCONUS, regardless of whether they
have an Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, or no degree.
e. TA is not authorized for any fees. Any other college expense
not listed as tuition is considered a fee (e.g., technology fees,
labs, graduation, internet usage, etc.). For eligible members, fees
may be able to be reimbursed under the Supplemental Education
Grants (SEG) through the Coast Guard's Mutual Assistance Grants.
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.cgmahq.org/programs/seg.html

f. Other Coast Guard sources of funding and reimbursement
programs for education expenses can be found on the Education and
Training Quota Management Command (ETQC) public-facing website:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

http://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/FORCECOM-UNITS/ETQC/

g. Non-Coast Guard (federal and state) sources for need-based or
merit-based financial aid can be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://studentaid.ed.gov

h. Federal student aid loans obtained by Coast Guard members for
the purpose of funding their education will not be considered as a
duplication of benefit and not subtracted when calculating the use
of TA.
4. Procedure.
a. It is the member's responsibility to establish a plan for
completing their certificate or degree requirements. Engaging your
local Education Services Officer (ESO) is strongly encouraged to
assist with this plan. Additionally, members are encouraged to
submit their Joint Service Transcript to their Academic
Institution. The Joint Service Transcript (JST) translates your
military experience into academic credits that have the potential
to reduce the number of credits required to complete your
certificate or degree program. A copy of your JST can be submitted
electronically to your institution by visiting:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://jst.doded.mil

b. Schools authorized to receive TA funding must participate and
have a signed MOU with the DoD. The authorized school list can be
found at the following website:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

www.dodmou.com

c. A complete TA application, IAW REF (F) must be received by ETQC
NO LESS than 14 days before the class start date. Do not include the
submission date to ETQC or the class start date within the 14 day
calculation. There are no exceptions or waivers to this policy.
If students self-identify as eligible for TA and begin a class
without an approved TA authorization from ETQC, the student is
solely responsible for all costs incurred for the course(s).
This timeline is necessary to ensure members receive an approved
TA authorization before the start of a course as required by REF (B)
and to ensure schools meet the intent of Presidential Executive
Order 13607.
d. Mandatory degree plans are required before requesting TA to
fund a second course. Academic certificate plans are required before
enrolling in and attending the first course funded by TA. The degree
or certificate plan shall list the academic institution, member's
name, degree or certificate level, and all courses required to
complete the program and shall be in PDF format. TA will not cover
courses that do not appear on the degree plan. ESOs must validate
all degree plans before approving the TA application. Degree or
certificate plans are typically found on the member's student
portal page. See the ETQC portal page for specific instructions on
uploading degree plans:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/forcecom/ETQC/

e. Units are strongly encouraged to build sufficient timelines to
ensure applications are completed, degree or certificate plans are
uploaded, and member receives command approval well in advance of
the class start date. Additionally, units are also strongly
encouraged to have at least one alternate ESO, designated in
writing, to ensure no single point of failure exists which could
prevent the timely approval of TA applications at the unit level.
f. After completion of a degree or certificate program, members
shall ensure an official copy of their college transcript is sent to
ETQC, in accordance with REF (C). Official transcripts must list the
type of degree, the date of degree/certificate, and the date of
completion/conferment. Paper copies must be sent in a sealed
envelope by the degree granting academic institution to: USCG ETQC
Registrar's Office 300 E. Main Street, STE 1201, Norfolk, VA 23510
or transmitted securely to ETQC-SMB-RO@uscg.mil.
g. Reimbursement of TA will be required if the student does
not successfully complete the course(s). For the purpose of
reimbursement, a successful course completion is defined as a grade
of a C or higher for undergraduate courses, a B or higher for
graduate courses, and a pass for pass/fail grades.
5. All additional eligibility constraints and requirements listed
in REF (F) not addressed in this ALCOAST still apply.
6. Members are strongly encouraged to seek ESO guidance when
deciding which college or university maximizes military training,
credits-by-exam, and provides the best value for tuition dollars.
ESOs can also help identify other sources of funding, if desired.
Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.dantes.doded.mil/

7. Additional information to include a list of Frequently Asked
Questions please visit ETQC's public page:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/FORCECOM-UNITS/ETQC/

8. POC: CWO2 Jaimee Richter or email at: ETQC-SMB-TAG@uscg.mil.
9. CAPT A.L. West, Acting Commander, Force Readiness Command (FC-C),
sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.