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Air Force tuition assistance suspended

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Zach Anderson
  • 931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  In a memorandum addressed to all Airmen, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody announced today that the Air Force has made the decision to suspend military tuition assistance for the remainder of the fiscal year, effective March 11, 2013.

The suspension of tuition assistance applies to all components, including the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.

In the memorandum, Cody cited the combined effects of the continuing resolution and sequestration as forcing Air Force leaders to make some very tough decisions.

According to the Air Force, the suspension of tuition assistance is necessary given the significant budget execution challenges caused by sequestration.  The Air Force plans to evaluate the program in the coming months to determine impacts in fiscal year 2014.

"This means that Airmen are not permitted to submit a new request for tuition assistance," said Senior Master Sgt. Pam Summers, 931st Air Refueling Group Force Development Superintendent.  "Our Airmen who are currently enrolled in courses that have been approved for military tuition will not be affected.  They will be allowed to complete their current course enrollment."

Air Force Education Centers will continue to provide educational support to Airmen, including education and vocational counseling, academic testing, credentialing, and transcripts of their military and training experience.

931 ARG Airmen should contact the 931st education center with questions or to get updates.  Additionally, updated information will be posted to the Air Force Virtual Education Center at https://www.my.af.mil/afvec.

According to the Air Force, in fiscal year 2012, 104,422 Airmen used tuition assistance, which provided $194 million to Airmen pursuing their educational goals to take 277,255 courses.  With that money, Airmen earned 26,611 associate degrees, 2,405 baccalaureate degrees, and 3,356 graduate degrees.