Military spouse career advancement account program to resume

  • Published
  • By Eliza Nesmith
  • HQ USAF/A1SA
The Department of Defense recently announced the long-term strategy for the resumption of the military spouse career advancement account program, MyCAA, following a comprehensive review. The program will be available to spouses of service members in the pay grades of E1-E5, W1-W2 and O1-O2 beginning October 25 at 8 a.m. EDT.

Eligible spouses will receive a total of $4,000 in DoD-funded financial aid, with an annual cap of $2,000 per fiscal year. Funding must be used within a three-year time period from the start date of the first class and must be used to obtain an associates' degree, licensure or certification. A waiver may be granted when fees for licensure or certification require an up-front fee greater than $2,000 and up to the total maximum assistance of $4,000.

The changes announced today reflect a return to the original intent of the program - to assist spouses of servicemembers in the paygrades of E1-E5, W1-W2, and O1-O2 achieve portable careers. The changes also align the program with responsible fiscal planning by the Defense Department.

Under the new guidelines, education counselors will work with all military spouses to help develop career and education goals and plans, and assist them in navigating all available federal education benefits toward these goals.

Additional new guidelines are as follows:

· Spouses must use their funding within a three-year time period from the start date of the first class;
· Funds must be used in support of an associates' degree, licensure or certification;
· Regardless of their participation in the funding component of MyCAA, education and career counseling will be available to all military spouses in pursuit of portable careers in high-demand, high-growth occupations.

DoD is committed to investing in military families. We believe the new program guidelines will help sustain the program.