M I N N E S O T A N A T I O N A L G U A R D
STAFF
SGM JODY COURTS Education/Incentives Services
NCOIC
SFC ANDREW KLOTZ Incentives NCOIC
SFC NICHOLAS GAUWITZ GI BILL Manager
SFC ROBYN MAJOR FTA Manager
AMBER MANKE Education Services Specialist
CONTACT INFORMATION
PHONE
651-282-4582
EMAIL ng.mn.mnarng.mbx.assets-
FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/educationandincentives
URGENT ANNOUNCEMENTS:
FEDERAL TUITION ASSISTANCE (FTA) IS REINSTATED
The deadline for transferring your Post 9-11 GI Bill without automatically incur-
ring a 4-year service obligation is 01 August 2013, regardless of how many years
you have in the service.
Check our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/educationandincentives
IN THIS ISSUE:
Page 2 — Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) is REINSTATED
Page 3 — Joint Services Transcript (JST)
Page 4 — GI Bill Programs: The VA Work-study Program and
J1 Education and Incentives Facebook Page information
Page 5 — CSM Virgil Williams Scholarship and Selected Reserve
Incentive Program
Page 6 — The Daniel Drevnick Memorial Fund and the Minnesota Military
Appreciation Fund (MMAF)
Page 7— Program Highlight: Masters of Arts degree: Public Safety and
Law Enforcement Leadership at the University of St. Thomas
Page 8— Program Highlights: MBA at the Carlson School of
Management, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and Operational
Management from Minnesota State-Moorhead
Page 9—Helpful Links & Resources
Spring issue
If you have ideas on how to make this newsletter even better, or useful information you want to share, email us at:
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Federal Tuition Assistance REINSTATED!
The Army is committed to education and understands the tremendous benefit that it provides to our Soldiers and is dedicated to maintaining a stable and supportable TA program. As such, the Tuition Assistance (TA) functionality in GoArmyEd was turned back on Wednesday 10 April 2013 at 0001 hours EDT. This will allow Soldiers to request Tuition Assistance for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13). The eligibility rules, the $250 semester hour cap and the annual ceiling of $4,500 remain unchanged.
If a Soldier has an approved Tuition Assistance request for a class with a start date between 8 March and 9 April 2013, the request will be honored for payment by the Army. Enrollments with false start dates will be rejected and if they appear on a school’s invoice, the invoice will be rejected. As the TA program restarts we encourage Soldiers to utilize the academic testing program, CLEP and DSST exams in fulfilling degree requirements. With the reinstatement of TA, the REQUIREMENT for Enlisted Service Members (SMs) to apply for TA in order to be eligible for STR is also reinstated for all courses starting on/after 10 April. The exception to this requirement is for Spring Term courses that started between 1 January and 10 April 2013 and applies to all SMs who did not apply for or receive TA funding. Units should ensure their SMs have submitted required STR documents for Spring term courses.
More information can be obtained through the following sources:
a. GoArmyEd account at: www.GoArmyEd.com b. J1 Education & Incentives Facebook page: www.facebook.com/educationandincentives c. J1 Education Counselors - PH (651) 282-4589, email: [email protected]
d. MN Department of Veteran Affairs Higher Education Veterans Program representatives: http://www.mnveteranservice.org/documents/Veterans_Coordinators.html
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Now Hear This….. The Joint Services Transcript (JST) The AARTS transcript has transitioned to the Joint Services Transcript (JST). The JST will produce a uniform
transcript of all military training and experiences to service members of all branches. The new electronic tran-
script service, effective 1 January 2013, will include Army Officer and Warrant Officer training, NCOES, joint
military training conducted by other services, and DANTES funded test scores. Personnel data should be re-
viewed for accuracy and ensure that completed training is documented in the Army Training Requirements and
Resource System (ATRRS). You can also update your transcripts with your most recent military schools.
Value of Transcripts:
Degree completion
Training and certification verification
Employment
Job advancement
Skills documentation
Advanced college placement
Courses in certification programs
State credentials verification
Resume development
***If you are using Federal Tuition Assistance (TA) you are REQUIRED to submit your
Joint Services Transcript (JST) to your school for credit evaluation.***
To take a look at your military transcripts
of request an official copy go to the JST
systems page at: https://jst.doded.mil
If you have inquiries about updating your
JST please contact the JST helpdesk at
Benefits of the JST:
Degree is closer than you may expect
Credit awarded = saves on tuition
Online access
Easier to read
Easier to determine credit
Centralized operations center
Single source transcript for all service branches
Alignment of service specific information
Free transcripts online
GI BILL INFORMATION
Need to earn some extra cash while you go to school?
The VA Work-study Program can help!!
Who is eligible:
Post 9-11 GI Bill Veterans and their dependants collecting the Post 9-11 GI Bill;
Montgomery GI Bill, Active Duty recipients;
REAP participants;
Montgomery GI Bill, Selected Reserve recipients;
Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program recipients;
Dependents Educational Assistance Program recipi-ents;
National Call to Service Participants;
Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Program recipients.
You can earn an hourly wage equal to the Federal minimum wage by working at any VA or DoD facilities, or your school.
Follow the link below for more:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/resources/education_resources/programs/work_study_program.html
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Important Announcements:
As of 1 August 2013 EVERYONE,
regardless of time in service, will have
to serve four additional years if they
transfer their Post 9-11 GI Bill to their
dependents. If you’re considering
transferring, do it NOW!!
The VA is still about 6-8 weeks
behind in making GI Bill Payments. You
can call the VA at: 1-888-GIBILL1, or
check online for your payment status.
See the link below.
Helpful Links and Additional Information:
To transfer your post 9-11 GI Bill to your
dependants:
https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/faces
To apply for the GI Bill see the VA website:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/
Check your military records on iPERMS:
https://iperms.hrc.army.mil/rms/login.jsp
Apply for the MN GI Bill:
http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/gpg.cfm?pageid=1803
For more information, contact your state
GI Bill Manager at:
or call 651-282-4590
More money for
school! GET SOME!
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SELECTED RESERVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM
New re-enlistment bonus contract changes effective 01 October 2012: Soldiers may now re-enlist for a 3
or 6 year bonus. Soldiers MUST have no more than 13 years time in service at the time of current ETS.
See your Retention NCO or Full Time Staff for more information.
REB Extension
Eligibility Period
Extend 365-91
Days Before ETS
Extend 90-1 Day
(s) Before ETS
REB Extension
Eligibility Period
Extend 365-91
Days Before ETS
Extend 90-1 Day
(s) Before ETS
Less than 13 Years
Time in Service $10,000 Not Eligible $0
Less than 13
Years Time in
Service
$5,000 Not Eligible $0
Six Year Re-enlistment Bonus (REB) Rate Three Year Re-enlistment Bonus (REB) Rate
The Enlisted Association of the
National Guard of the United
States EANGUS serves as the
voice of National Guard
enlisted members. It covers all
54 states territories. The
Enlisted Association encour-
ages your state and national
leaders to enact legislation on
issues that affect you.
Become a member online at:
http://www.eangus.org/ or
the Minnesota branch at:
http://www.mngea.com/
The Daniel Drevnick Memorial Fund
The Daniel Drevnick Scholarship has been established to assist veterans in
the transition from military service to civilian law enforcement. The
memorial fund promotes the values of freedom, opportunity,
responsibility, compassion and morality...because this is what Daniel stood for.
To qualify for the Daniel Drevnick Memorial Fund, Military Veterans must meet to following requirements:
Reside in Minnesota, or have been based in Minnesota (current/widowed spouse or immediate children);
Served between September 11, 2001 and the present;
Completed Basic training and AIT;
Have received an honorable discharge if no longer in service;
Be enrolled in law enforcement degree at a tech school or university;
Complete the application and a written essay.
For more information, to complete an application or to make a donation, visit the website at:
http://www.heroathome.org/
Uncle Sam’s Intel...
SAT and ACT test season is here
Need help?
eKnowledge donates SAT and ACT PowerPrep programs to Veterans and
their families
Programs include:
11 hours of video instruction.
Practice tests.
To get help with your ACT or SAT go to:
www.eKnowledge.com/DANTES
The Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund (MMAF) is a statewide fundraising initiative by the citizens of Minnesota for
Minnesota military personnel and their families. MMAF has so far raised over $13 million and provided more than $8 million
in grants to returning Minnesota Service Members.
Go here to apply for a grant or to donate: http://www.thankmntroops.org/
The mission of MMAF is to say “thanks” to Minnesota Service Members and their families who are making sacrifices in the
defense of our freedoms in combat zones around the world.
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Checkout Our New Facebook Page at
www.facebook.com/educationandincentives
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Get a B.S. in Operational Management with the
2+2 Program
Do you have a 2-year technical degree in a non-business field? Increase your salary or get that promotion! You can
earn a B.S. degree in operational management at Minnesota State University, Moorhead. You could attend online or
face to face at one of three campuses around the state. Choose from Moorhead, Brooklyn Park, or North Hennepin.
The program offers generous transfer credits for technical college classes. It also boasts of “nearly 100%” job place-
ment, and 8-week core classes instead of 16-weeks.
For more information contact:
Pam McGee
Associate Professor/Coordinator
(701) 361-9270 or [email protected]
Visit the website at: http://www.mnstate.edu/com
See an online brochure at:
http://issuu.com/msumoorhead/docs/online_om_brochure_2012-singles?
mode=window
Earn an MBA Degree at The Carlson School of Management
Translating military skills to the business world
Military veterans have the distinct advantage of possessing the skills and determina-
tion necessary to succeed in an MBA program and the business world. By pursuing an
MBA degree you’ll learn how to effectively translate those military skills to the busi-
ness world resulting in a better position for both immediate and future success in your
civilian career. The Carlson School of Management provides veteran specific training
and resources to help you transition while getting an education.
For more information contact:
Charles Altman Commander,
U.S. Navy (Ret)
Carlson MBA Program Phone: 612-626-7147, Email: [email protected]
Or see the website at:
http://www.carlsonschool.umn.edu/MBA/veterans/index.html
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Financial Aid for Veterans Military Personnel and Their Families
This handy resource is a Department of Defense approved list of scholarships and financial aid options just for veterans military and families. Download a free copy at:
http://www.rspfunding.com/f/VeteransIntro.PDF
Every year there are many scholarships that are never paid to students. This resource contains over 1400 scholarships specifically targeted for Service Members
and their families.
Links and Resources
GAE—https://www.goarmyed.com—Web Portal for Federal Tuition Assistance
MNARNG Education— http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/education/ —
Contains many useful documents about education benefits
Scholarships—http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/education/scholarships/index.php—
Check out what is available!
My Military Education—www.mymilitaryeducation.org —A great resource to have in your cargo
pocket. Sponsored by the Higher Education Veterans Program, for current military members and
veterans, and their families.
The Pat Tillman Foundation—http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/tillman-military-scholars/apply/
“The Pat Tillman Foundation is a national leader in providing resources and educational scholarship support to veterans, active Service Members and their spouses. The Tillman Military Scholars program aids all veterans, specifically the ever-growing population of veterans of Post-9/11 conflicts.”—www.pattillmanfoundation.org/
Minnesota Association of County Veteran Service Officers—http://www.macvso.org/ Your Point of contact for Federal, State, and Local Veterans benefits. Go to the website to find out who you County Veteran Service Officer is today.
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