ALCOAST 418/23 - OCT 2023 COAST GUARD FOUNDATION EDUCATION GRANT (CGFEG) AND WILLIAM FREELAND REA, III EDUCATION GRANT (WFEG)

R 271028Z OCT 23  MID120000575972U
FM COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 418/23
SSIC 1560
SUBJ: COAST GUARD FOUNDATION EDUCATION GRANT (CGFEG) AND WILLIAM
FREELAND REA, III EDUCATION GRANT (WFEG)
A. Reserve Duty Status and Participation Manual, COMDTINST M1001.2
(series)
1. This ALCOAST announces the receipt of a gift fund from the Coast
Guard Foundation and prescribes the application criteria for
eligible members to apply for the Coast Guard Foundation Education
Grant (CGFEG) and the Vice Admiral William Freeland Rea, III
Education Grant (WFEG).
2. The CGFEG program is intended to assist eligible personnel in
their academic or technical development by providing a grant for
tuition, fees, and miscellaneous expenses incurred while pursuing
off-duty voluntary education and credentialing. The maximum payable
reimbursement is $500 per person.
3. The WFEG program is intended to supplement qualifying
expenditures for CG members following a career pattern related to
Marine Safety, Security, Environmental Protection, and Vessel
Traffic Services. The maximum payable reimbursement is $500 per
person.
4. Applicants may apply for, and receive, both the WFEG and the
CGFEG, but the total combined reimbursement may not exceed $500 per
applicant. Effective the date of this ALCOAST, the Education and
Training Quota Management Command (ETQC) will begin accepting CGFEG
and WFEG applications. All applications will be processed on a first
come, first served basis until funds are expended. The CGFEG and
WFEG will run per calendar year to the extent that funding is
available.
5. Eligibility requirements for CGFEG and WFEG are set by the Coast
Guard Foundation and currently include:
    a. Coast Guard Active Duty enlisted members serving in pay grades
E-3 through E-6.
    b. Selected Reserve (SELRES) members in pay grades E-3 through
E-6, on Active Duty orders for over 180 days within the previous 12
months from the time the application is submitted, with satisfactory
progress in the current anniversary year and have met participation
standards for the previous anniversary year per REF (A). Reservists
must include reserve orders and point statements with the
application.
    c. There is no time in service requirement. However, members must
complete the course(s) or certification/license for which the
application is being submitted prior to release from active duty,
discharge, or retirement.
6. CGFEG Eligible Expenses. Members must only use CGFEG funds for
following expenses:
    a. Costs associated with undergraduate level courses, including
tuition not covered by a tuition assistance program, school fees,
textbooks, taxes, and shipping charges.
    b. Costs associated with certification and license exam fees not
covered by the Voluntary Credentialing Program (VCP) or other
funding; credentialing books, preparation courses, and associated
supplies; and continuing education and professional development
credits for an earned credential and license.
    c. Costs associated with direct expenses such as computers,
supplies, transportation, or other necessities needed to complete a
member's education or credentialing goals.
    d. Cost of tools, manuals, and protective or other equipment,
which become the student's property. However, the student must
provide official documentation from the academic institution that
these items were required for the course.
    e. Education expenses paid by student financial aid via a loan
(federal or personal education loan, Sallie Mae, Stafford, etc). 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.
7. WFEG Eligible Expenses. Members must only use WFEG funds for the
following expenses:
    a. Preparatory courses for merchant mariner credentials (MMCs).
    b. Costs associated with direct educational expenses (e.g.,
books, supplies, and transportation) necessary to complete the
member's pursuit of an MMC, associate, bachelor's, or master's
degree.
    c. Supplement qualifying expenditures for CG members following a
career pattern related to Marine Safety, Security, Environmental
Protection, and Vessel Traffic Systems.
8. CGFEG and WFEG are not authorized for:
    a. Any expense in 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, CG Advanced
Education Programs, Tuition Assistance, Credentialing Assistance,
Pell Grants, Montgomery GI Bill/Veterans Education Assistance
Program, or any other government funded education programs.
    b. For CGFEG, graduate level (master's and doctorate) tuition,
courses, school fees, textbooks, taxes, or shipping charges.
    c. Expenses previously reimbursed by CGFEG or WFEG.
9. Application Procedures:
    a. Members should work with their Education Services Officer
(ESO) to verify eligibility.
    b. ETQC will no longer accept applications via email. All members
must submit a complete electronic grant application, located at:
(Copy and paste URL below into browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/forcecom_spo/ETQC/SitePages/
Foundation-Grants.aspx

    c. Both CGFEG and WFEG are reimbursement programs requiring
members to expend funds before applying for the grant. Supporting
documentation shall be attached to the electronic application in
order to validate member's request for reimbursement. This includes,
as applicable, verification of tuition cost, proof of enrollment,
course syllabus or document outlining course material requirements,
and legible receipts. Receipts must be dated no more than 12 months
from the date of the application.
    d. If an application does not include the necessary documentation
to support the request, ETQC will return the application to the
member unprocessed. ESOs shall remind members to thoroughly review
the Foundation Grant Process Guide located on ETQC's SharePoint
Site.
    e. Denied grant applications may be disputed by writing to the
Commanding Officer, ETQC, no later than 30 days after notification.
10. Additional details, including complete submission procedures for
the CGFEG and WFEG application can be found on ETQC's SharePoint
and public website.
(Copy and paste URL below into browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/forcecom_spo/ETQC/SitePages/
Foundation-Grants.aspx

11. For field level questions, please refer to your ESO. ESO related
inquiries should be directed to YNC Christina Lehman at
(571) 610-0107 or via email at: ETQC-SMB-FoundationGrants@uscg.mil.
12. This ALCOAST is cancelled 29 DEC 2024.
13. RDML J. K. Randall, Commander, Force Readiness Command (FC-C),
sends.
14. Internet release is authorized.