Military Education, military education, service programs, G.I. Bill - Military Times

Service programs — Air Force

Air Force Voluntary Education Branch. This branch oversees all Air Force education centers and counselors, administration of tuition assistance, testing and other voluntary education-related services.

Community College of the Air Force. This program enables students to earn an associate’s degree in applied science. The college, open to enlisted active-duty Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members, has full regional accreditation.

To earn two-year degrees, students combine technical training, professional military education and general education credits from accredited colleges and universities.

Most technical training is completed at schools on four bases: Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and Lackland, Sheppard and Goodfellow Air Force bases in Texas. Students can complete technical courses at Air Force schools affiliated with the Community College of the Air Force. Liberal arts requirements can be completed at civilian colleges and universities.

The Air Force also offers professional and other distance education courses through the Air Force Institute for Advanced Distributed Learning.

Contact: For more information, see www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afiadl.

Air Force Reserve

DANTES spouse testing program. Spouses of Air Force Reserve personnel are authorized to take DANTES-funded College Level Examination Program general and subject examinations and DANTES subject standardized tests through an Air Force Reserve, Army and Air National Guard DANTES Test Center.

Contact: Call the Air Force Reserve Personnel Center Military Training Division at (800) 525-0102, ext. 71330, or visit http://arpc.afrc.af.mil/contact/ default.asp

Air National Guard

Air National Guard members are eligible for all DANTES credit-by-examination programs, Community College of the Air Force associate’s degree programs, federal tuition assistance, state education benefits and the Student Loan Repayment Program. The program will repay up to $20,000 in student loans for selected enlisted members and Air National Guard chaplains, and up to $50,000 for medical officers.

Other programs include:

• Montgomery GI Bill

• Spouse and civilian testing program

• State tuition assistance programs

Many states and territories offer tuition assistance and other financial aid in addition to any other benefits for which service members may qualify. Contact your state National Guard or Air National Guard office to inquire about current available funding.