ALCOAST 012/09
COMDTNOTE 1560
SUBJ: TUITION ASSISTANCE POLICY CHANGE
A. COAST GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE (TA) PROGRAM, COMDTINST 1500.24
(SERIES)
B. PUBLIC LAW 110-181 SECTION 521
1. THIS ALCOAST IS AN INTERIM CHANGE TO REF (A). PEN AND INK
CHANGES ARE AUTHORIZED PENDING THE REVISED INSTRUCTION.
2. THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT 2008 (NDAA) PROVIDES
CHANGES THAT SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE THE COAST GUARDS TUITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM UNDER REF (B). CHANGES BROUGHT ABOUT BY
INCLUSION OF THE COAST GUARD PRIMARILY AFFECT ACTIVE DUTY OFFICERS
AND OFFICERS OF THE SELECTED RESERVE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE COAST
GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. COMPLIANCE WITH REF (B) WILL
RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO THE COAST GUARD TUITION
ASSISTANCE POLICY EFFECTIVE 1 APRIL 2009.
3. ACTIVE DUTY OFFICERS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE TUITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM WILL NOW INCUR A 2 YEAR SERVICE OBLIGATION FOLLOWING THE
COMPLETION OF THE COURSE(S) FOR WHICH THEY ARE USING TUITION
ASSISTANCE. OFFICERS OF THE SELECTED RESERVE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE
COAST GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WILL INCUR A 4 YEAR SERVICE
OBLIGATION FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE COURSE(S) FOR WHICH
TUITION ASSISTANCE WAS USED.
4. CHANGES TO THE SERVICE OBLIGATION FOR RESERVE AND ACTIVE DUTY
OFFICERS WILL BE REFLECTED ON FUTURE CHANGES TO THE COAST GUARD
TUITION ASSISTANCE REQUEST FORM (CG FORM 4147). UNTIL THIS CHANGE
CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS WILL AMEND THE
SERVICE OBLIGATION SECTION OF THE TUITION ASSISTANCE FORM TO
REFLECT THE CHANGE FOR ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE OFFICERS.
5. THE CHANGES TO EXISTING POLICY ARE EFFECTIVE 1 APRIL 2009. ESOS
ARE PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGED TO BECOME KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE CHANGES
TO THE TA PROGRAM. UPDATED REFERENCES ON THE ADMINISTRATION AND
CHANGES TO THE TA PROGRAM ARE AVAILABLE ON THE COAST GUARD
INSTITUTE HOMEPAGE AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/CGI.
6. RELEASED BY D. R. MAY, DIRECTOR OF RESERVE AND TRAINING.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.