ALCOAST 358/24 - SEP 2024 COAST GUARD FOUNDATION EDUCATION GRANT (CGFEG) PROGRAM

R 161502Z SEP 24   MID120001389676U
FM COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 358/24
SSIC 1560
SUBJ: COAST GUARD FOUNDATION EDUCATION GRANT (CGFEG) PROGRAM
A. Reserve Duty Status and Participation, COMDTINST 1001.2A
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 Vice Admiral William Freeland Rea, III
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 $500.00 per person. 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 Systems. The program has a maximum
payable reimbursement of $500.00 per person. Applicants may apply
for, and receive, both the WFEG and the CGFEG, but the total
combined reimbursement may not exceed $500.00 per applicant.
3. Upon coordination with the CG Foundation the Education and
Training Quota Management Command (ETQC) will begin accepting
CGFEG and WFEG applications. The official date will be announced via
email to the Education Service Officer (ESO) Distribution Groups for
ESO's to ensure the widest dissemination of this announcement, please
ensure your name appears on the list of Education Service Officers
or Collateral Duty Education Service Officers found on ETQC's
SharePoint site.
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/forcecom_spo/ETQC/SitePages/
Registrar-Services.aspx

4. 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 are set by the Coast Guard Foundation
and currently include:
    a. Coast Guard Active Duty enlisted members.
    b. Selected Reserve (SELRES) enlisted members on Active Duty
orders for over 180 days 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. Member must only use CGFEG funds for
following expenses.
    a. Costs associated with undergraduate level courses, including
tuition (not covered by a tuition assistance (TA) program or other
funding), school fees, textbook costs, 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 Voluntary Education or Voluntary Credentialing goals.
    d. Cost of tools, manuals, 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 loans, Sallie Mae, Stafford Loan,
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. Member must only use WFEG funds for
following expenses.
    a. Military-to-Mariner preparatory courses.
    b. Costs associated with direct educational expenses
(e.g., books, supplies, and transportation) necessary to complete
the member's pursuit of a Military-to-Mariner credential or degree
for tuition assistance leading up to a Master's Degree.
    c. 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 Education
Programs (e.g., Advanced Education Program), Pell Grants, Montgomery
GI Bill/Veterans Education Assistance Program, or any other
Government or non-Government funded education programs
(TA/Voluntary Credentialing).
    b. CGFEG: Costs associated with graduate (Master's and Doctorate)
level tuition, courses, school fees, textbook costs, taxes, or
shipping charges. Graduate level tuition is not reimbursable.
    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
/Tuition-Assistance-%26-Grants.aspx

    c. Once a qualifying expense (as described in paragraphs 6 and 7
above) has been made, members will complete and submit an
application for reimbursement. The application must include a
legible receipt, and must be dated no more than 12 months from the
date of the application. The application should also include proof
that the purchase was made as a requirement for a class, or in
pursuit of a credential. Example supporting documents include course
syllabi, verification of out-of-pocket tuition costs, and proof of
enrollment in a TA or CA program.
    d. If an application does not include the necessary documentation
to support the request, ETQC will return the application to the
member unprocessed. Members may reapply and the new application will
be reviewed in the order it was received. 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
/Tuition-Assistance-%26-Grants.aspx

11. For field level questions, please refer to your ESO. ESO related
inquiries should be directed to YNC Christina Lehman at:
(541) 610-0107 or ETQC-SMB-FoundationGrants@uscg.mil.
12. RDML J. K. Randall, Commander, Force Readiness Command (FC-C),
sends.
13. Internet release is authorized.