MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, JAPAN -- With the official word coming out in MARADMIN 456/13 Sept. 11, 2013, requirements for getting tuition assistance approved are becoming more difficult.
The changes officially started on October 1, 2013.
The biggest changes for Marines is that only one class can be taken per semester and that servicemembers with less than two years of active duty service completed are no longer eligible. The MARADMIN says Marines must maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or higher, half a point more than previously required.
“I think the 2.5 GPA is doable,” said Mary Cory, MCAS Iwakuni education services officer. “I think that all Marines are capable of getting above that and most Marines we sign off TA forms for have higher GPAs than that.”
Marines are also required to have the Personal Financial Management Marine Corps Institute Course complete.
Funds for TA are also going through some major changes.
As of Oct. 1, 2013, the Marine Corps TA funding budget will be divided into fiscal quarters. Once Marines exhaust the quarterly funds, TA approvals will be deferred until the following quarter. When TA funds are available, approvals are granted upon Marines meeting all eligibility requirements and are limited to classes that begin during that quarter. TA requests can only be submitted within 30 days of the start date of the class.
Marines are still granted the opportunity to take college level examination program (CLEP) exams in order to test out of classes.
“You can only take one college class your first semester,” said Cory. “We recommended that Marines only take one class their first semester anyway, but now, it’s in writing.”
These new changes mean that Marines will have to stay on top of their college work more than ever before if they wish to continue earning an education.
“These changes may slow a person down from getting started with their degree, but it shouldn’t hinder them once they get started, they just have to raise their standards a bit,” said Cory.
Cory added that Marines who truly want to earn a degree will be able to and Marines who do not have the 24 months of active duty service completed can still get started on their college with CLEP tests and educating themselves on the TA process.