Diverse group of college students sitting on the stairs. (vadymvdrobot (123RF))
One of the best parts about being stationed in Europe is the access to higher education! So many in-person classes on military bases are offered all over Europe, especially in Germany.
The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) does extensive outreach to military members stationed in Europe. When I was in the Army and stationed at Wiesbaden in 2017, I couldn’t use my Tuition Assistance (TA) education benefits for six months, being a new soldier. However, UMGC worked with the military to allow all soldiers (even new ones!) to use their education benefits towards a German Studies Certificate. Because of that, I was able to start learning German as soon as I was stationed here.
UMGC offers European “traveling classes” where you can travel with your class (hotel stay and all), learn some culture and history, and earn college credit. UMGC also offers social work degrees (online and in person) only to those stationed in Europe.
Europe’s military higher education system is dedicated, thorough, and unmatched compared to what I’ve seen CONUS. Unfortunately, not enough military members understand their education benefits, so they miss an important educational opportunity here in Europe. Hopefully, with more understanding of the TA program, military members will take advantage of tuition-assisted college education, not solely offered through UMGC, while stationed here!
Framed German Studies diploma (Elizabeth Bird)
The Tuition Assistance (TA) program in the Army provides up to $4,000 in yearly higher education funding. The TA program is only available to active-duty military members and can be used in conjunction with other financial aid programs (such as FAFSA or scholarships). One of the program’s biggest changes happened in 2018 when an amendment allowed new military members who just finished military training to use TA education benefits.
Before 2018, new military members had to wait at least six months to use their education benefits. This six-month restriction was placed in the hopes of helping soldiers transition into military life without the overload of school and work. However, the military saw a need for more educated members and has since lifted that time restriction.
Another amendment in 2018 allowed members to pursue a master’s degree using TA without any time restrictions. Before 2018, military members had to do 10 years in service before being eligible for a TA-funded master’s degree. However, the military felt that this restriction was hindering military members’ education levels and lifted the restriction to increase college enrollment among the active-duty population (Military Report, 2018).
The purpose of the TA program is for military members to meet their professional and personal developmental goals. The TA program was implemented so that active-duty members could achieve their career goals inside and outside the military (Military OneSource, 2002).
Male university student using laptop in classroom (stockbroker (123RF))
This can be seen in the Army promotion point process where soldiers need to earn promotion points to not only become promoted but also to be eligible to stay in the army. If soldiers do not make enough promotion points in a certain amount of time, they will not be promoted and will be forced to separate from the Army. One way to earn promotion points in the Army is to achieve a college education. Therefore, the Army’s retention rates depend on the education soldiers pursue.
According to L.E. Sizer (2018), the Army has struggled with retention goals in years past and has had to spend extraordinary amounts of money to replace lost soldiers. The changes to the TA program reflect the retention issues of the Army, and many improvements have been made so that soldiers can attain a college education to succeed in the Army (Military Report, 2018). Soldiers depend on a college education to secure career success within the military, and the Army depends on it to have overall organizational success.
Another reason the Army uses college education for promotion points is because the Army acknowledges the academic skills and professionalism that a college education provides. Education allows soldiers to retain more skills and develop professionally as leaders. Army leadership roles require developing soft and hard skills such as computer proficiency, communication and confidence. Leadership roles require soldiers to produce self-development plans for subordinates and write work-review counselings. When soldiers make the rank of E-5 (an official Army leadership rank), they must go to a leadership course that mimics a higher education classroom. TA allows the Army to have technical and tactical proficient and well-rounded leadership preparation.
Furthermore, the Army highly prioritizes successful civilian transition for its members as all soldiers inevitably leave the Army. Having a college education and work experience in Army jobs gives transitioning soldiers a more successful civilian life and a better quality of life. The TA program is essential to the Army’s organizational success and soldiers’ lifelong success.
To the military members who haven’t already, use your TA benefits and earn your degree! To the military leaders who have subordinates that aren’t using TA, be the guide and support they need to use their hard-earned education benefits!
References
Military Report. (2018). Army changes tuition assistance eligibility. https://www.military.com/military-report/army-changes-tuition-assistance-eligibility.html Military OneSource. (2002). Army Tuition Assistance. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/benefits/army-tuition-assistance/#:~:text=TA%20helps%20soldiers%20meet%20their,an%20annual%20ceiling%20for%20TA
