Initial Counseling Briefing 30 FSS/FSDE Overview Vandenberg AFB - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Initial Counseling Briefing

30 FSS/FSDE

• Vandenberg AFB Education Office Hours and Phone #
• Air Force Education Benefits
• MilTA Policy and Step-by-Step Procedures
• Student Responsibilities
• Supervisor Responsibilities
• On-Base Colleges
• Air Force Testing and CLEP/DSST Testing
• Community College of the Air Force
• Air Force and CCAF Initiatives
• General Education Mobile (GEM)
• Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative (ABC)
• CSP (Career Skills Program)

Resources

• Peterson’s Educational Tools

Overview

Vandenberg Air Force Base Education Office

We are open: 0730-1600 Monday – Friday

(Closed 3rd Thur, 1300 for training)

We are located at: 641 Utah Avenue Bldg 13640 Phone: 605-5904

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

Air Force Education Benefits

• Tuition assistance provided to AD/RES/ANG

AF provided you do not hold degree at that level (CCAF Exception)

• $3750 per fiscal year
• $250 SH
• $166.67 QH
• No Fees paid

Degrees/Credentialing Available

CCAF Degree

• Associates Degree (obtain this first if you want civilian

degree and CCAF)

• Bachelors Degree
• Undergrad degrees - max is 124 SH (186 QH)
• Masters Degree
• Maximum is 42 SH (70 QH)
• AF COOL (AF Credentialing Opportunities on-

line) based on AFSC, pays up to $4500/lifetime, fees for exam(s), prep courses, books, etc, plus recertification fees Can obtain more than one!

• https://www.my.af.mil/afvecprod/afvec/Public/COOL

Air Force Education Benefits

• Logon to AFVEC - www.my.af.mil
• Check accredited schools (left side under MOU)
• Understand regional and national accreditation
• Talk to other students (for CCAF – discuss with

counselor)

• Research, research, research!!! Use TADECIDE (can

compare up to 3 schools at a time)

• Apply to school, receive degree plan (No Degree Plan is

needed for CCAF)

• Now time to create education goal, E-degree plan, and

upload degree plan – evaluated or non-evaluated

STEP 1 – DECIDE ON GOAL

STEP 2 – CREATE GOAL/E-DEGREE

• Education Goal
• Create in AFVEC
• No Degree Plan is needed for CCAF
• Use tutorial on AFVEC (QH checkmark)
• Degree Plans
• Unevaluated (off website) You can only take two courses
• n an unevaluated degree plan
• Evaluated - lists all required courses
• Includes transfer credits (courses, exams, etc.)
• Includes student’s name, remaining credits required, signature of

Registrar

• Plan will need to be approved by Ed Center (can take

up to 2 days, so allow plenty of time)

STEP 3 – APPLY FOR TA

• ***IMPORTANT: *** CAN ONLY APPLY 45

TO 7 DAYS PRIOR TO TERM START DATE Click “Start a Funding Request”

• Select current goal
• Ensure all fields are correct
• Select EXACT start/stop dates; cost per unit

(fees will not be paid by AF)

• Review for accuracy
• CAC signature

Helpful Tips: Funding Request

Give Yourself Time: Be aware of the 45-7 day window for submissions. It’s your education. It’s your responsibility to get it submitted on time. Double Check Your Work. Make sure to review before you sign and send. Make sure of the following:  Did I choose the correct Goal? (CCAF vs. Bachelor’s goal)  Are the TERM dates are correct? Class start date vs. Term start date.  Course Codes. Should read as ENG 101. Check your degree plan.  Verify the Course Cost Information: SH vs QH, credit cost, total cost…etc. Make sure you’re taking the correct courses. Ask yourself if the course is

• n your degree plan. Remember, there is a lifetime cap with credits so make

sure you’re taking the right courses that are approved for your degree program. Check to ensure your supervisor is listed correctly and that they are present to review/approve.

Incorrect TA Funding Request

Mil TA Policy

• Application window
• No sooner than 45 and no later than 7 days prior to

TERM start date

• Course approval
• MilTA does NOT pay for retakes of courses already

passed

• Begin by taking one class at a time. Then advance to
• two. Per AFI, you can take up to 9 credits at a time

based on grade history (includes ALL grades!)

• Apply for TA before you sign up for classes.

• Automatic Disapproval if you are currently
• n/have
• UIF
• Failed PT Test/Non-Current
• Referral EPR/OPR
• Control Roster
• Low GPA (all grades count towards academic

performance after 15 SH taken for undergrad, 9 at grad)

• Undergraduate 2.0
• Graduate 3.0
• Supervisors have the right to disapprove TA

request for any reason

Mil TA Policy

• If TA not available to you, use alternate funding

sources

• GI Bill / Post 9-11
• Pell Grants
• On Base Private Orgs

ALTERNATE FUNDING

Mil TA Procedure

• Degree/Program
• Allowed change of program one time
• Keep in mind the Maximum is 124 SH for

Undergraduate, 42 SH for Graduate

• Ensure you’re aware of:
• Retainability requirement (DOS & class end date)
• ADSC (Active Duty Service Commitment) Officers Only
• Supervisor Info correct
• Rater/Anyone in chain of command
• Verify email address/availability of approver

Mil TA Procedure

Reimbursement - we encourage you to work with

your school if you need more time to finish

• “I” (incomplete) grade - not converted to a passing grade

within 120 days of class end date

• You will pay back your TA cost if
• You receive “D” or “F” grade at the undergraduate

level

• You receive “C” “D” or “F” grade at the graduate level
• You can retake a failed class after it has been processed

for reimbursement - contact Ed center to process TA request

Mil TA Procedure

Withdrawals

• Immediately contact school & Ed Center
• If you decide not to take a course PRIOR to class start

date, officially drop with school, then you can delete your TA document

• If you withdrawal AFTER the class start date but

PRIOR to the drop date for the school, provide Ed Center a letter from the school stating there is no cost incurred

• For withdrawals due to no fault of your own-i.e.

emergency situation and/or mission changes, a waiver may be requested through milta.reimb@us.af.mil

Student Responsibilities

• Apply in advance (45-7 days) of TERM date
• GPA – 2.0 Undergrad / 3.0 Grad - calculated after 15

semester hours for undergraduate and 9 semester hours for graduate courses

• Deployment & TDY (verify internet connectivity)
• Provide TA document to your school if required (check

with your school)

• Choose the right degree for you
• College Fees (not covered by Mil TA)
• Foreign Transcripts Review (see Ed Center for info)
• Students are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of

their records and for timely updates, changes, etc…

• Grades (multiple auto emails will be sent to you - before, after

class end date - these are reminders)

• School is responsible for updating grades/you contact them

after 30 days from class end date

• Missing grades
• Contact Ed center if 45 days from class date and multiple

attempts have been made to contact school to input grade

• Reimbursement will begin 60 days from class end date
• E-mail for reimbursements is Milta.reimb@us.af.mil
• Separating/Retiring - grade has to be posted 2 weeks

before

Student Responsibilities

Supervisor Responsibilities

• Discuss strategies for success
• Approve/Disapprove TA
• Do not just auto approve
• Think about course load, work duties, family life
• Explain financial liability
• Debt/Reimbursement Notification
• Supervisors receive same email as member

• Allan Hancock College – Room 215
• Associates degrees in a variety of disciplines
• Online/DL, In-Class, On Base
• University of La Verne – Room 228
• Bachelors degrees
• Management, Business, Public Administration, Information

Technology

• Masters degrees
• Leadership/Management and Business (with

concentrations)

• Online/DL, In-Class, On Base

On-Base Colleges/Local Options

• CLEP and DSST Testing and Proctored exams
• Test out of needed credits (check with school if they

accept)

• Register/Schedule through University of La Verne
• Free for active duty (First time)
• Study/preparation are needed to pass
• Military Testing
• WAPS Testing
• All PME testing
• DLPT/DLAB (foreign language testing)
• CDC testing Tuesday only at 1300 (see your UTM)

Uniform is required for AF testing

Air Force and CLEP/DSST Testing

• Five-Level Internship
• First Priority
• Worth 8 semester hours (SH)
• Residency: Sixteen SH through "affiliated school" coursework or internship credit
• Sixty Four Total Semester Hours: in five areas
• Physical Education (4 SH): satisfied through AF Basic Military Training
• Technical Education (24 SH): tech school, internship, 6 SH in computer science
• Management/LMMS (6 SH): normally completed through ALS; ALS provides 9 SH
• Program Electives (15 SH): extra credit from tech ed, LMMS, gen ed; natural science
• General Education: 5 areas--oral/written com, math, social science, humanities
• Degree Requirements must be completed BEFORE separation,

retirement, or commissioning

Community College of the Air Force

Air Force Initiatives

• General Education Mobile (GEM)

www.my.af.mil/afvec/Public/GEMPlans.aspx

• Take courses through schools in GEM program

without being “enrolled” in program at school

• Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative (ABC)

www.my.af.mil/afvec/Public/ABCPrograms.aspx

• Schools in ABC program will accept ALL military

credits toward Bachelor’s program

Resources

• Base Education Center -- 605-5904
• Initial, Academic and CCAF counseling
• GI Bill Informational Brief (monthly)
• Commissioning Panel (quarterly)
• Accessing Higher Education (AHE)
• Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC)

www.my.af.mil

• Department of Veteran Affairs for info on GI Bills

www.gibill.va.gov

• College Preparation-http://www.petersons.com
• Peterson’s Online Academic Skills Course (OASC)
• CLEP Practice Tests
• DSST Practice Tests
• Military and Academic Test Preparation
• AFCT and AFOQT preparation
• Additional information
• Undergraduate and graduate degree search tool
• Scholarship money search tool

Peterson’s Educational Tools

QUESTIONS?