The government will pay for spouses to go back to school and/or pay for licenses and certifications associated with moving from state to state. How long this program will be funding is still uncertain, so it’s important that spouses act quickly. Spouses of an active duty Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine service member, or activated Reserve and National Guard members in pay grades E1-E5, W1-W2, or O1-O2 are eligible to apply. MyCAA accounts will be limited to the new $4,000 maximum benefit with a $2,000 fiscal year cap. Spouses must finish their program of study within three years from the start date of the first course. However, the funding is limited to only Associate’s degrees, certifications and licensure programs.
Military Spouse Preference (MSP) – Military Family Act of 1985 offers employment placement preference in Department of Defense (DoD) civilian personnel positions to military spouses who meet certain criteria. The program applies to DoD vacancies only, and there are variations and exceptions that allow local hiring authorities to tailor their policies to meet their requirements. There are some candidates and individuals that are given higher preference status, such as disable veterans and those civilians returning from overseas are some that qualify.
You must register in the program to receive the preference. It can take some time to register, so don’t delay. Register as soon as you relocate to maximize your status.
