MyCAA Program Promotes Portable Careers for Military Spouses

Special Section: Back to School 2009

Get $6,000 for education expenses and help planning a career

The Department of Defense (DoD) has recently expanded the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program for military spouses worldwide. Military spouses can prepare for careers in many career fields and have much of their courses funded by the DoD. Under this program, MyCAA financial assistance pays up to $6,000 for expenses such as post-secondary education and training, tuition, licensing and credentialing fees.

Sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy, MyCAA is open to military spouses of active duty service members. Spouses of Guard and Reserve members are also eligible from the date of an Alert or Warning Order for Military Recall or Mobilization, through activation and deployment until 180 days following de-mobilization. Military spouses who are also service members are not eligible. Instead, these spouses should use their military Tuition Assistance benefit.

Many accredited institutions have been approved by the DoD to train military spouses. The cost of many training programs will be covered for military spouses who qualify for the MyCAA funds. Through the program, participating schools use the MyCAA’s AI Portal to bill the DoD electronically. For school and other payee officials who have questions about DoD’s direct invoice and payment processes, questions can be emailed to MyCAASchools@moscenter.us. Payment will be made after the spouse attends the first session of the course.

In addition to tuition, the program also pays for career specific exams, state certifications for teachers and medical professionals, and services required to become employed in a portable career field. Examples of such services include finger printing, security checks and drug screening tests.

MyCAA does not cover costs for computers, school application fees, graduation fees, student activity cards, childcare, parking, transportation, medical services or testing fees. If, on the other hand, the cost of a course includes books, supplies or other required equipment, MyCAA will pay that cost. Reimbursements for expenses previously incurred are also not paid.

Spouses may begin taking advantage of MyCAA by establishing an account at https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa. After the DoD verifies eligibility based on the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), spouses will be notified that their account has been officially established, and they can begin working on their career plan.
If the school or program a spouse wishes to attend is already listed in the MyCAA system, the request for financial assistance can proceed. For questions about which schools and other payees are participating in MyCAA, go to the MyCAA website, and click on “School Search”. Spouses can search by school name or state or scroll through the schools, which are listed alphabetically.

If a desired school or program is not listed, once an account and login is created, spouses can submit a request for DoD approval by clicking the “Are you having trouble finding your school?” link at the bottom of the pop-up window. Spouses can also speak with the school’s academic advisor to ask they request the MyCAA partnership, or spouses can speak with a Military OneSource (MOS) career and education consultant at (800) 342-9647 to make the request.

Spouses who are not interested in receiving MyCAA financial assistance may still establish an account and access MyCAA’s useful career planning resources, which include serving as a mentor to other spouses. A MOS consultant can answer questions spouses might have and provide assistance as they explore career fields of interest, job markets and salary ranges, choose a relevant course of study from a recognized school or program, learn more about the licensing and certifications necessary to meet their career goal, and complete their Career and Training Plan. MOS Consultants can also explain how financial assistance is paid directly by MyCAA to the school.

In this economic environment, many military spouses are interested in retraining and continuing their education to expand their skills sets. The MyCAA program serves as an excellent opportunity for spouses to pursue these rewarding new careers.

Get Started with MyCAA today!
To set up a MyCAA account and to learn more about the MyCAA funding opportunity, visit https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa.

Explore Portable Career options and establish a Career and Training Plan with a school or other program.
Call a Military OneSource (MOS) career and education consultant for assistance at (800) 342-9647. The MOS consultant may also be able to provide information about additional sources of financial assistance if necessary.