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A COMPREHENSIVE BREAKDOWN OF THE MYCAA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM


By Allison Kirschbaum

The Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) scholarship program was created to help military spouses get additional funds for education. This program is important to every military family because it gives spouses the option and help they need to start a career of their own.

The initiative provides up to $4,000 in educational financing for schools authorized by the MyCAA Scholarship. As a gesture of military spouse appreciation, eligible spouses may use this money to choose an eligible school that provides the course or training that they want to grow their career.

Who Can Apply for MyCAA?

During active duty, spouses of service members in pay grades E-1 to E-9, W-1 to W-3, and O-1 to O-3 are eligible to begin and finish their coursework. This includes spouses of National Guard members and reserve components in these same pay grades if the member is under Title 10 orders.

As long as they have a training plan in place prior to the promotion, the spouse will still be eligible even if the service member is promoted to a level that disqualifies them. Coast Guard spouses whose service members are in qualifying paygrades will also be eligible for the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account program beginning in 2020.

Limited Financial Assistance Scholarships Are Now Available

Military spouses are often expected to put off their career and professional aspirations to accommodate their partners and the needs of their families. In response to this, the Department of Defense created this program so that it wouldn’t become a financial burden for military spouses to pursue a higher education.

The scholarship program now provides eligible military spouses with up to $4,000 in financial assistance for career growth that they can use within institutions that provide these scholarships. More importantly, up to 1,250 grantees and military spouses can now avail of these additional funds from the program, and it is offered to a wider range of pay grades.

The Coverage of the MyCAA Scholarship Program

The Scholarship program was created especially to help military spouses pursue associate degrees, licenses, certificates, and certifications in portable, high-demand professions. Nevertheless, it does not pay for certain other types of educational costs, such as:

  • Advanced Degrees: Coursework for bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degrees is not covered by the scholarship program.
  • Non-Career-Oriented Courses: Funding is not available for general studies, liberal arts degrees without a concentration, personal enrichment courses, or courses that do not lead to an associate's degree, license, or certification.
  • Non-Academic Costs: The program does not pay for expenses associated with students, such as those for applications, enrollment, student ID cards, labs, and technology.
  • Previously Started or Completed Courses: Courses and tests that have already started or been finished before submitting an application for the scholarship program financing are not eligible.
  • Non-Eligible Programs and Educational Schools: Programs offered by non-MyCAA-approved schools or that do not prepare students for careers in portable fields are not covered.
  • GED, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Non-Credit Courses: Financial funding is not available for General Equivalency Diploma (GED) preparation courses, ESL courses, or Continuing Education Units (CEUs) that do not count toward a degree or certification.
  • Preparatory Courses: Preparatory courses in fields like pre-law or pre-med cannot be funded with MyCAA financial aid.

How to Apply

Once you have checked all the coverage of the program and you’ve chosen what course to take, learn the process of applying for this program so that you can get the funding you need.

  1. Make Your MyCAA Account: Visit their official website here and make your own account. This will help you get notified of other details that you should know.
  2. Know if You’re Eligible: When you register, your eligibility will be checked right away alongside all the necessary requirements that you need to pass.
  3. Create a CTP (Career and Training Plan): Your educational objectives, program of choice, and career goals, such as being eligible for a transferable career field, are described in this plan. For individualized help creating your CTP, think about speaking with a career coach. In keeping with the mobile character of military life, keep in mind that the funds you get from the scholarship program can be utilized for associate degrees, licenses, or certificates in authorized professions that provide flexibility and portability. One piece of advice is to include a professional goal on the application that corresponds with the major or field of study you have chosen.
  4. Send in Your Application: Once your CTP is complete, electronically submit it using your account. The platform will walk you through the steps and give you the instructions you need.

Notify the college or university you intend to attend as soon as you are accepted. Although not all educational institutions are eligible for this grant, programs, and institutions that accept MyCAA can assist you with the application process. You can also check their website for qualified schools and even evaluate potential career paths that you can take.

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