ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FEDERAL TUITION ASSISTANCE (FTA) 

 

ARNG FTA OVERVIEW

Financial assistance through ARNG FTA will be provided for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a soldier’s professional or personal self-development goals per the following guidance.

ELIGIBILITY

(1) ARNG Traditional Service members. ARNG traditional service members in an active drilling status who are coded as a ‘satisfactory participant’ are eligible to receive ARNG FTA. In addition, ARNG traditional service members who are federally mobilized or serving on Active Duty (i.e. ADSW, ADT, etc…) who are denied TA due to funding limitations through their servicing Army Education Center are also eligible to receive ARNG FTA.

(2) ARNG AGR Service members. ARNG AGR service members (Title 10/32) are not eligible to receive ARNG FTA. AGR service members are eligible for TA through their servicing Army Education Center.

(3) ARNG Civilians. ARNG Civilians (Federal or State) are not eligible to receive ARNG FTA.

AUTHORIZED USES/ACCREDITATION

(1)ARNG FTA will only be used to pay for courses offered by institutions that are accredited or that have been approved as a candidate for accreditation by a national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). For non-degree bearing programs, secondary school accreditation or specialized accreditation (professional/occupational) is required. This requirement is applicable to classroom study, vocational/technical training and distance learning (DL) courses.

(2) To determine which colleges/universities are accredited, The Education Service Office uses the Accredited Institutions of Post-Secondary Education Guide, which is published in consultation with the American Council on Education (ACE). If a college/university is not in the guide, it is not accredited by a DOE recognized agency and is not eligible for ARNG FTA.

(3) A listing of accredited DL courses can be found by reviewing the DANTES Independent Study Catalog, DANTES External Degree Catalog, or the DANTES Nationally Accredited Distance Learning Programs Catalog which are in the ESO.

AUTHORIZED LEVELS

Service members may use ARNG FTA to receive one credential from each of the following levels.

(1) Secondary School Diploma or its equivalency

(2) Certificate (undergraduate, graduate, vocational, technical, licensure)

(3) Associate

(4) Baccalaureate

(5) Master’s or First Professional

Note. Only Service members who have not obtained a master degree are eligible to use ARNG FTA for a first professional degree. Examples of first professional degrees include Architecture, Certified Public Accountant, Podiatry (D.P.M.), Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D), Medicine (M.D.), Optometry (O.D.), Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), Pharmacy (D. Phar.), Law (J.D.), and Theology (M.Div or M.H.L.).

AUTHORIZED RATES

The following ARNG FTA rates are authorized for FY07.

(1) The total amount of ARNG FTA (including all fees) each soldier is entitled to receive during FY07 will not exceed $4,500

(2) 100% tuition with limitations of $250 per semester hour (SH) or $167 per quarter hour (QH) or $16.66 per clock hour (CH) for tuition.

(3) 100% of the cost associated with obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent to include tuition, books and related fees.

 (4)  Authorized fees are only those fees charged by the institution that are a requirement to ‘all students’ for enrollment purposes or are directly related to the instruction of the course for which ARNG FTA is being provided. ARNG FTA will not be used for the purchase of textbooks unless they are included in the institution’s published tuition rate.

GOAL DECLARATION & DEGREE PLANS

ARNG service members must declare an educational goal (i.e. degree, credential, certification or licensure) before ARNG FTA can be used/approved. 

ARNG FTA ADMINISTRATION

 The ARNG FTA Program is generally an ‘up front’ TA program. Under this program, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) makes a payment directly to the college/institution for the ARNG’s portion of the soldier’s tuition cost. It is very important that Service members establish an ‘up front’ payment system with the financial aid personnel at their colleges/universities in order to prevent you from having to pay tuition costs on your own and than receiving reimbursement later.

SERVICE COMMITMENT

(1) Enlisted service members and warrant officers must have sufficient time remaining before their current service obligation/Expiration Term of Service to complete the course unless involuntarily separated with an honorable discharge or will be subject to full recoupment.

(2) Commissioned officers must served at least 4 years of Selected Reserve service remaining from the date of completion of the course for which TA is provided.

HOW TO APPLY:

1. Go to the Virtual Armory website at https://www.virtualarmory.com (THIS IS A SECURE SITE)

2. Click the Education tab.

3.Go to Online Applications and then to Application for Federal Tuition

4. Check your AKO e-mail account in one to to weeks.  You will receive and email notifying you when our office imports your request and another email when you request is approved. If there is a problem with your application and/or it is disapproved you will receive an email notification to your AKO account.

NOTE: Army National Guard-Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) is a program that can pay up to 100% of a Service member's college tuition. This program is the same as the Active Army and the Army Reserve tuition assistance program,  It is a benefit not an entitlement and is paid out as funds are available.    Since this program became available we have never refused a soldier an FTA payment due to lack of funding.  Last year we paid out $2,855,802.00 to Mississippi National Guard Students under the FTA program.  

RECOUPMENT

Service members are responsible for verifying the course completion status (by submitting an official grade report) for all courses they  received ARNG FTA. Service member will be responsible for repaying funds provided for course that receive a failing grade or have not been completed. Recoupment will be started if Service members fail to submit grades within 30 days after course completion. .

(1) Commissioned officers who fail to complete the required 4 year obligation will be required to reimburse the amount of TA according to the following formula; Amount of TA divided by 48, multiplied by the remaining amount of obligation. For example, an officer receives $563 in ARNG FTA but departs 24 months before completion of the four-year obligation. $563/48 = 11.73 X 24 = $282 to be recouped.

For FTA Assistance:

Toll-Free Help Desk:	1-866-403-1289
Fax Number:	(601) 313-6507
DSN Fax:	293-6151