Author: Jeanette Price
Did you know as an active duty military spouse you may qualify for education benefits with MyCAA? I mean money. Free money. Go back to school and get it paid for… what do you have to lose?
As a military spouse education advocate I run into a lot of misconceptions about MyCAA. This benefit is amazing. You may have never heard about it, or you may need to get answers to how it can help you.
No matter what your educational background is, you can use MyCAA.
Let’s get started with the basics
MyCAA stands for My Career Advancement Account. MyCAA is administered through Military One Source and Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO). MyCAA was developed by the Department of Defense to help military spouses have mobile careers and have better employment opportunities. It’s a great program and isn’t used enough by spouses.
Who qualifies? It is urgent to know about this opportunity because it is only available for a limited time. You qualify for this education benefit if your spouse is in the ranks of E1-E5, O1-O2, or W1-W2. You only qualify while they are active duty (on Title 10 orders). As a spouse, you cannot be on active duty, and you have to be legally married.
Let’s Get Back to Free Money
$4,000 of free money. However, the first thing to know is that this money will never be reimbursed to you. MyCAA pays schools and programs directly on your behalf.
What’s a potential problem with free money? Scams. There are a lot of scams out there that see military spouses as…money. And sadly these programs have gone through the hoops of getting MyCAA approved. They look legitimate, but use deceitful marketing practices and offer no value for what your education benefit is paying for.
So what can the $4,000 of education funding be used for? It can be used on licenses, certificates, continuing education credits, tests, and associate’s degrees. You can use MyCAA no matter what level of education you have. I have had friends use MyCAA with a high school diploma, and I used it to advance my career even though I already had a Master’s degree.
Resources & Important Links
To find out greater details visit Military Spouse Education and contact SECO by Military One Source.
Get more education tips by following Military Spouse Education on social media and follow the Motivated Milspouse group on Facebook.
The rules of MyCAA might sound restrictive but they have actually gotten easier to use! To help military spouses, MyCAA now is available for a wider variety of career options and I truly believe that every spouse can pursue a passion using these benefits.
No matter where you are in your career or life you can find a passion you can pursue using MyCAA. You can use it to earn credentials that help you grow a business, negotiate a higher salary, or learn a skill you have always wanted to learn.
When is the best time to use MyCAA? Now.
Free money isn’t guaranteed. This education benefit is provided through the Department of Defense and relies on congressional approval. Use the benefits now while you know you still have it.
In conclusion: If your spouse is on active duty and in the ranks of E1-E5, O1-O2, or W1-W2 you qualify for a $4,000 educational scholarship called MyCAA (free money)! The first thing to know is that MyCAA will not reimburse you, it pays the school on your behalf. You have to beware of scams that target military spouses because of our education benefits. The best time to use MyCAA is now.
About the Author
Jeanette is the Veteran spouse, teacher, and the founder of Military Spouse Education.
“I have used these benefits myself and know the ins and outs of making the most of them.
There are a lot of specific rules for using MyCAA. What it will pay for, what it won’t pay for, what programs you can use it on, and if they will pay for it when they will pay for it. But don’t be discouraged- that is what this website is for!
I am here to help you use your benefits in the best way for you- not a scam, just sharing what I know, and if you’d like to get advice I am here for that too.”
