Professional Educational / Vocational and Career Advisement Services: Counseling services are available to assist in developing educational, vocational, and career goals, for both military (active duty, reserves, guard and retired), military spouses, and DoD civilians. Information and advice is provided on career development, all facets of the Air Force Education Services Program, to include: Community College of the Air, Professional Military Education programs, Air Force commissioning programs, Educational Deferments, local college and university programs, and information on the many degree programs offered by schools across America using distance education.
Career Planning: Individual vocational and academic counseling is available. On-line career planning tools are also available free to active duty military. Contact your Air Force guidance counselor for information on the Kuder Career Planning System or the Discover program. These career planning tools can be accessed using your home computer or by using a computer at the 7 FSS Force Development Flight. Below are some websites just loaded with information on thousands of occupations. Some sites are commercial. These sites offer free services as well as selling additional products or services. You do not have to buy their commercial services to use their free service.
www.acenet.edu/clll/military/index.cfm - ACE Guides - Credit for military training
www.bls.gov/oco/ - Occupational Outlook Handbook
www.bls.gov/oco/cg/ - Occupational Outlook Handbook Career Guide
www.careereducationadvisor.com/ - Commercial School Locator, this site may charge fees.
www.ed.gov/help/site/index/topics_az.jsp - US Department of Education
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/index.html?src=mr Post-Secondary Education
www1.va.gov/opa/vadocs/current_benefits.asp - VA Benefits
www.kuder.com Kuder.com is a commercial site. Free access codes are available from your AF Guidance Counselor.
www.act.org/discover The Discover program is a commercial site. Free access codes are available from your AF Guidance Counselor.
www.degree.net - A distance education search program - commercial
www.collegedegree.com/ - A distance education search program - commercial
www.gnacademy.org/mason/catalog/front.html - A distance education search program -commercial
www.petersons.com/dlearn - Petersons College University search program for distance education - commercial
www.taonline.com - Transition Assistance
www.dodtransportal.org Pre-separation help is available on-line. The DOD has designed a Web site specifically to assist service members leaving active duty. It is called the DoD Web Portal for Military members transitioning to civilian life. It contains several good features, including a Pre-separation Guide.
Distance Education courses can provide a good alternative to students who cannot participate in traditional in classroom courses. There are many alternative options available for taking courses or completing degree programs via distance education. Courses are offered by a variety of delivery modes from correspondence courses to courses by the Internet.
These programs are designed to meet the needs of individuals who cannot attend traditional classes. Several of our local schools offer distance education courses. DANTES also provides an on-line catalog of schools that offer distance education programs - Courses and complete degree programs.
Go to:
http://www.dantescatalogs.com
or http://www.dantes.doded.mil
DANTES = Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support
Learn about financial aid from your school's Financial Aid Officer. Beware of SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS! If in doubt, visit your 7 FSS Force Development Flight or your school’s financial aid office. Below are listed several programs that provide financial assistance to military personnel:
The Active Duty Air Force Tuition Assistance Program provides funding at 100% of tuition and fees* charged up to $250 per semester hour ($166 per quarter hour), up to $4500 per fiscal year, for any college degree higher than the member’s current degree level; up through the masters degree level, plus one vocation/technical certification training program. The Vocational/Technical program has an additional cap of $9000.
* Non-refundable fees are not covered under AF TA.
Request for Air Force Tuition Assistance is accomplished through the AIR FORCE VIRTUAL EDUCATION CENTER (AFVEC). This system is used to process all requests for Active Duty Tuition Assistance (AF TA). The following is a list of the information the Air Force member must provide for entry into AFVEC. Without this information, the Tuition Assistance request cannot be submitted. https://www.my.af.mil
All military students seeking AF TA must have a copy of their degree plan on file in their military education record. The school will issue the degree plans to their enrolled students. Degree plans must list all courses required for the degree the member is pursuing. The student must then provide a copy of the degree plan to their Education Services Center.
Name of the School:(Example – McMurry University)
Degree Title:
(Example – BS degree Business Administration and Management)
Course # and title: (Example – ENG 1301, Composition and Rhetoric)
Credit hours:(Example – 3 semester hours [SH] or 4 quarter hours [QH] )
Dates(begin & end of the semester or term):
(Example - 1 June 2006 – 7 July 2006)
Tuition Charges:(Example - $425 per SH)
Other fees: Registration fee, enrollment fee, laboratory fee, technology fee, etc.
All students should pre-register when allowed by the school. Payment should not be made until the TA forms are obtained. The student must provide the TA form to the school. The school will then invoice the Air Force for payment.
The 7 FSS Force Development Flight personnel will determine what fees will be paid under AF TA guidelines. AF TA will not be used for books, supplies, materials, medical fees, or fees that are not refundable should the member drop the course. The AF Form 1227 listed on the Air Force e-publishing website will not be used.
Eligible personnel may also use Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefits while on active duty. The current MGIB allowance is $1321.00 per month of eligibility for a maximum of 36 months of equivalent full-time training. After contributing the required $1200 and completion of 24 months of active service, the member may choose to use either their AF Tuition Assistance, or their MGIB. On active duty, the Veterans Administration (VA) will reimburse the member the cost of their tuition up to an amount equal to their MGIB allowance. The AF TA program and the MGIB cannot be used for the same course of study; however, the member may seek reimbursement for any student tuition and fee that exceeds what the Air Force pays using Tuition Assistance. This combination of the MGIB and the AF TA program is called the MGIB TOP-UP. Air Force members may also be eligible to increase their MGIB benefits by contributing additional dollars to their account. An eligible member may also increase their MGIB benefits by contribute a minimum of an additional $20, up to a maximum contribution of $600. All contributions must be in $4 increments. For each $4 contributed, the Veterans Administration will add an additional $32 to the member's MGIB account. An additional $600 investment will earn the member an additional $150 for each month of the 36 months of eligibility. This program is called the MGIB PLUS-UP, or BUY-IN. http://www.gibill.va.gov Talk to your AF Guidance Counselor about the Top-Up or Buy-In programs.
The new Post 9/11 GI Bill will be implemented on 1 Aug 09. This new GI Bill pays tuition directly to the school, provides up to $1,000 per academic year for books and supplies, and E-5 w/dependents BAH according to specific locations. Service members will be able to transfer educational benefits to spouses/children. Information is limited at this time on this program, however for the most comprehensive information please visit: http://www.gibill.va.gov/ and click on the link under New GI Bill lnformation.
McMurry University offers an Active Duty Military scholarship to Air Force personnel using Air Force Tuition Assistance. These programs equal the unpaid tuition balance not paid by Tuition Assistance. The students' cost = books and miscellaneous fees. Other local schools may also offer tuition reduction or scholarships for active duty members and discounts for spouses of active duty personnel.
If qualified the member may also be eligible for benefits from the Federal Assistance (use the FAFSA form) programs as well as assistance from their home state veteran’s aid programs.
Financial Aid on the Web: The following sites may be used to assist the student (military and dependents) in finding additional financial aid for school:
FEDERAL AID PROGRAMS - http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
AIR FORCE AID SOCIETY – AIR FORCE AID SOCIETY GENERAL HENRY H. ARNOLD EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM - http://www.afas.org,
or http://www.afas.org/Education/body_grant.cfm,
or http://www.afas.org/Education/body_stap.cfm,
ABILENE EDUCATION FOUNDATION (AISD) - Programs for high school age dependents - http://www.abileneeducationfoundation.org/
ABSOLUTELY SCHOLARSHIPS (search)
- http://absolutelyscholarships.com
ADVENTURES IN EDUCATION (search) - http://adventuresineducation.org
THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION - awards, scholarships & grants for military personnel and their dependents
http://www.afa.org/aef/default.asp?pm=asg
AIR FORCE SERGEANTS ASSOCIATION AND THE AIRMEN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION - http://www.afsahq.org/index_amfscholar.htm
COLLEGE AID (search) – http://www.collegeaid.com
COLLEGE BOARD (search) - http://www.collegeboard.com
COLLEGE IS POSSIBLE (search) - http://www.collegeispossible.org
FASTWEB (search) - http://www.fastweb.com/
FEDMONEY.ORG STUDENT FINANCIAL AID & FELLOWSHIPS -
http://www.fedmoney.org/grants/0-fellowships.htm
FINAID (search) – http://www.finaid.org/
GRADUATE; FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS AND LOANS –
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3gradinf.htm#websites
HAZELWOOD ACT - wartime veterans, who were legal residents of Texas at the time they entered military service, and home of record is listed as Texas on the DD Form 214, may be entitled to a waiver of tuition and some fees at state-supported colleges and universities. Any person claiming this benefit must have exhausted all federal educational benefits, and be a legal resident of Texas at the time of application. Apply through local state schools.
MILITARY.COM (search)–http://www.military.com
or http://aid.military.com/scholarship/search-for-scholarships.do
Scholarships may also be available through the Dyess Chief’s Group or the Dyess Top 3 Group. Contact members of the Chief's Group or the Top 3 for applications. Applications may also be available at the Education Services Center.
DANTES FINANCIAL AID FOR SPOUSES- Financial Aid for Spouses of Service Members go to:
http://www.dantes.doded.mil/dantes
_web/library/docs/counselorsupport/fossm.pdf.
It can also be found under http://www.dantes.doded.mil , and then look to left under Counselor Support Programs, put your cursor on that, and the first block will be labeled "Financial Aid for Spouses of Service Members".
The above resources are only a few of the many resources available for financial aid. Visit the Education Services Center for a list of over 200 financial aid resources.
Our academic examination center offers testing services for military Career Development Courses, the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the DANTES Subject Standardized Tests, non-resident PME examinations, College / University course exams, Excelsior College exams, Air Force Reading Achievement Test (AFRAT), the SAT, and certification examinations. Please call 6-5544 for additional information, or a test/exam appointment. Test/exam administration at Dyess AFB is free for Active Duty military, Reserves, and Guard personnel; however, some certification agencies charge fees for their exams that the member must pay.
Dyess Education Services Center, Examination Center, All exams are by appointment only. Call 6-5544 or 6-2145 for an exam appointment.
Career Development Course exams (CDC EOC) are scheduled by unit training managers only.
Dyess AFB NATIONAL TEST CENTER: To schedule a CLEP or DANTES exam go to http://military.coastline.edu (See box at right for directions)
National Test Center, under management by Coastline Community College, under an MOU with DANTES.
STUDY GUIDES and STUDY MATERIALS:
Study Guides and other resources are available on line in the AF Virtual Education Center: http://www.my.af.mil.
Study materials are available at the Dyess Library.
Study materials and practice CLEP & DANTES exams can be found on: http://www.militaryonesource.com
For more information on CLEP and DANTES examinations go to: http://www.dantes.doded.mil
Other Exams:
SAT - Offered four times each year on Dyess AFB. Exam is available only to active duty military, reserves, and guard personnel. Fees paid by the DoD, one time, for military personnel. Contact the Dyess Education Services Center for the next scheduled test date and registration, 696-5544, DSN 461-5544. For additional information go to: http://www.collegeboard.com
ACT - NOT OFFERED ON DYESS AFB. For additional information go to: http://www.act.org
GRE - NOT OFFERED ON DYESS AFB. For additional information go to: http://www.gre.org Fees reimbursed by the DoD, one time, for the GRE or the GMAT (not both).
GMAT - NOT OFFERED ON DYESS AFB. For additional information go to: http://www.mba.com/mba Fees reimbursed by the DoD, one time, for the GRE or the GMAT (not both).
LSAT - NOT OFFERED ON DYESS AFB. For additional information go to: http://www.lsat.org/
Professional Military Education (PME) Non-Resident Programs: The 7 FSS Force Development Flight provides enrollment and testing services for non-resident study (Distance Education) for the Senior NCO Academy (Course 12 and 14), and the Squadron Officer School (Course 28). Enrollment in Course 12 will end on 31 Dec 08. Course 14 is entirely online.
Enrollment in the non-resident Air Command and Staff College, and the non-resident Air War College, programs is through the Air University Student Information System (AUSIS) at https://ausis.maxwell.af.mil.
PME is the foundation to advancement in a military career for enlisted and officers. Resident programs are preferred, but when they are not available, the non-resident programs will meet the career needs of the Air Force member. For program descriptions go to: http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afiadl/ under the link: CATALOGS
Enlisted PME:
Airman Leadership School (ALS), NCO Academy (NCOA) - In residence only.
Senior NCO Academy (SNCOA) - In residence and by Distance Education through AFIADL (http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afiadl/). Enroll in the Distance Education courses at the Education Services Center.
a. Course 12 (CD-ROM), (enrollment for this course will end on 31 Dec 08)
or
b. Course 14 (Internet Course)
Officer PME:
Squadron Officer School (SOS) in residence, or by Distance Education - Distance Education, enroll through the Education Services Center. Additional information available at: http://sos.maxwell.af.mil/.
Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) in residence, or by Distance Education - Distance Education, enroll on-line at: http://wwwacsc.au.af.mil/,
Air War College (AWC) in residence, or by Distance Education - Distance Education, enroll on-line at: http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awchome.htm.
Contact a 7 FSS Force Development Flight guidance counselor regarding your PME needs.
Counseling and application guidance on Air Force commissioning programs for enlisted members. Assistance is available for the Air Force Academy, Air Force ROTC, the Officer Training School (OTS), the Physician Assistant commissioning program, and the Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program. Airmen can learn all about program educational requirements and eligibility criteria. A Commissioning Program Seminar is held quarterly. Application information and guides are available on the following websites:
AF Academy - http://www.academyadmissions.com.
AFROTC- http://www.afoats.af.mil/AFROTC/EnlistedComm/EnlistedCommissioning.asp
OTS - http://afrecruiting.com/RSOC/
PA- Physician Assistant Program - http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/
NECP -HQ AFPC/DPAMN, 550 C. Street West Ste 25, Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4727
Medical, Legal, and Chaplain Commissioning programs - http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/
The SAT is required by the AFA, and may be required for AFROTC.
The Air Force Officer Qualification Test (AFOQT) is required by the AFROTC and OTS commissioning programs. Schedule the test through the Military Personnel Flight’s Test Center.
A practice test is available through Petersons.com. http://www.petersons.com/airforce/
For medical, legal or chaplain programs, talk to your Air Force Guidance Counselor.
It is essential for military members to keep their education information accurate and up-to-date in their military records. Criteria governing the processes are contained in AFI 36-2305. AF members must request their own updates to reflect increased college hours. A higher code is authorized for each additional 15 to 30-semester hours of college work completed. An official transcript is required to update military records.
Enlisted personnel must have their transcripts sent to 7 FSS/FSDE, ATTN: Mil Records Update, 425 Third Street, Room 317, Dyess AFB, TX 79607.
Please note - Military Education Records and Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) records are not the same thing. To update your CCAF record, transcripts must be sent directly to CCAF, not the Education Services Center.
Officers must have their official transcripts sent to AFIT, http://www.afit.edu/p/milpds.cfm or http://www.afit.edu/.
AFIT Academic Coding Branch
2950 Hobson Way
Wright-Patterson AFB, Oh 45433-7765
Phone: (937) 255-6565, x4324; DSN 785-6565, x4324
FAX: (937) 656-7080, DSN 986-7080
E-mail: afit.coding@afit.edu
