Today's military spouses can take advantage of several educational benefits and opportunities which were once only available to servicemembers. Recognizing the importance of education and training for enhancing the employability of military spouses, the various services offer a variety of educational benefits to spouses.

However, as you'll quickly discover, there is no one-stop center for spousal education. You'll have to take initiative in uncovering the many benefits and opportunities for which you qualify, especially related to your particular spouse's service. Here's a quick snapshot of educational benefits and opportunities available to military spouses:

1. Career Advancement Accounts (CAA)

   This experimental joint U.S. Department of Defense/Department of Labor program is designed to help military spouses acquire the necessary skills and credentials (degrees, certifications, licenses) for pursuing an in-demand portable career.

   Now available in eight states and focused on such fields as health care, education, financial services, homeland security, hospitality management, and various skilled trades, CAAs pay up to $3,000 a year in fees for education and training and can be extended for another year for a maximum two-year benefit of $6,000.

   For more information on these programs, visit www.military.com/spouse or a Family Support Center, Voluntary Education Center, or One-Stop Career Center.

2. Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA)

   Available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, this special program is set aside for spouses and children of deceased servicemembers. It provides tuition assistance for up to 45 months of education relating to degrees, certifications, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training. Spouses can use this assistance for correspondence courses.

   To learn more about this program, visit the GI Bill website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH35/CH35_Pamphlet_General.htm

3. Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC)

   This is a network of over 1,750 colleges and universities that offer flexible learning programs for servicemembers and their families. Attending one of these schools enables you to seamlessly take courses with different institutions at different locations while earning an accredited degree.

   For more information on this program, visit the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges website: www.soc.aascu.org. Most services have their own SOC network for degree programs:

   • Army: SOCAD
   • Navy: SOCNAV
   • Marines: SOCMAR
   • Coast Guard: SOCCOAST

   The Air Force operates its educational program under the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) rather than under SOC.

4. State Education Assistance Programs

   Each state has its own policy on in-state versus out-of-state tuition for servicemembers and their families. Check with each state.

5. Scholarships and Grants

   More than $300 million are available for military- and veteran-related scholarships and grants. Check to see which ones you may qualify for as a spouse. Start with Military.com's online scholarship finder: http://aid.military.com/scholarship/search-for-scholarships.do

6. Service-Specific Educational Benefits/Opportunities

   Each service offers its own set of educational benefits for military spouses. For example, the U.S. Army permits servicemembers in certain occupational specialties (MOS) to transfer up to 18 months of GI Bill benefits to spouses and children.

   You'll need to contact your education and/or spouse assistance office for specifics on each of the service's benefits and opportunities. Here's a brief overview:

   Army
   

   • Army Emergency Relief Spouse Education Assistance Program: www.aerhq.org/Education.asp
   • Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability to Dependents: http://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/post-911-gi-bill-summary/transfer-of-benefits.html
   • Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program (OSEAP): www.aerhq.org/education_spouse_Overseas.asp
   • Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SSEAP): www.aerhq.org/education_spouseeducation_StateSide.asp

   Air Force
   

   • Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) of the Air Force Aid Society: www.afas.org/index.cfm
   • General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program: http://www.afas.org/Education/ArnoldEdGrant.cfm

   Navy and Marine Corps
   

   • Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP) of the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society: www.nmcrs.org/stap.html
   • VADM E.P. Travers Loan Program: www.nmcrs.org/travers.html

   Coast Guard
   

   • Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA): www.cgmahq.org

SOURCE: Adapted from Trudy S. Woodring and Ronald L. Krannich, Ph.D., The Military Spouse's Map Through the Maze Pocket Guide (Manassas Park: Impact Publications), pages 44-46. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Copying strictly forbidden.