Army Vocational/Technical (AVOTEC) Soldier Program

Content

• What Soldiers, Schools & Counselors need to know!
• Background
• School Participation Criteria
• AVOTEC Soldier Enrollment Process
• Eligible Programs by State or online
• Guidance for Testing and Credentialing Organizations
• Eligible Testing and Credentialing Organizations
• AVOTEC News
• FAQ

What Soldiers, Schools & Counselors need to know!

·        Can I take more than one course at a time? 
No, programs should be taken consecutively, not concurrently unless there is some compelling reason for an exception to policy.
·        I am in the National Guard, can I participate in AVOTEC? 
Yes, any National Guard or Reserve Soldier on extended Active Duty for six months or longer, can use AVOTEC funds.
·        I want to sign up for a program offered later in the year, how far out can I apply? 
Registration for programs will not be approved more than eight weeks prior to the start date of training.   
·        What happens if I register for a program and pay for it?  Will AVOTEC reimburse me for the cost of the training?   
NO reimbursements, NO exceptions.
·        Why is there a “hold” on my account? 
Common “holds” include:  ETS date, Academic GPA, and Advanced Degrees.  All of these “holds” should be waived by Education Center and SFAC counselors to allow Soldiers to enroll in AVOTEC.
·        Is it true that I have to pay back money if I leave the Army before I finish the program? 
No, you must begin the program before you leave the Army. AVOTEC is a transition program and there is no requirement to remain in the Army or to pay back any money if you leave before your instruction is completed.
·        Which box do I use to fill in the cost of a program? 
The only box you fill in Course Cost section is the “Additional TA-eligible Fees” box.  The rest of the boxes will automatically populate with the correct information. 
·        How do I get AVOTEC correspondence to the right person? 
For all correspondence regarding the AVOTEC program, please be sure to include the word AVOTEC in the subject line of your e-mail. 

Background

Congress has selected the Army to participate in an education pilot program designed to provide expanded education opportunities for Soldiers, officers and Wounded Warriors serving on active duty -- to include National Guard and Reserve Soldiers on extended active duty.

The intent of this short-term pilot program is to provide training in high-demand career fields to help Soldiers find employment after they transition out of the Army. Army Education is working with technical and community colleges throughout the United States to build upon existing programs and develop new pilot re-training programs in high demand career occupations, such as rehabilitation, nursing, medical technology, and other health care occupations.

The Army Vocational/Technical (AVOTEC) Program was announced January 15 and Army Education Centers and Soldier and Family Assistance Centers will begin assisting Soldiers with enrollment beginning February 1.

The completed website will provide an up-to-date listing of community and technical college program submissions for inclusion in the AVOTEC Program. Soldiers are to consider enrollment in these programs for training or re-training. However, as the HQDA Executive Agent for the AVOTEC Program, HQ ACES reserves the right to disapprove programs that do not meet the eligibility criteria of the Program. Programs can be no longer than 18 months in length and should not exceed the maximum cost limit of $4500.00 per fiscal year.

All costs for instruction, certification, or license must be paid by September 30, 2009. No additional funds will be available after the ending date for this pilot program.

Community colleges and technical schools will be added to this website as their programs are submitted and approved.

Please revisit this website regularly for the latest up-to-date information on programs as they are approved and added to the website.

Thank you for all of your efforts and continued support of our Soldiers and their Families.

School Participation Criteria

AVOTEC Program History:

The Army is making available a substantial amount of money to support the Army's Soldier Vocational-Technical Training Program. This program is different from typical credit/semester hour-based occupational/technical programs which are available to Soldiers through traditional college programs offered to Soldiers on the GoArmyEd Portal. Programs that are part of an academic program (Semester or Quarter hour based) will not qualify. The Army already gives Tuition Assistance (TA) for those programs. However if the program is vocational and some of the classes can be use for dual credit then it would. Programs must lead toward licensure or certification at state or national level. A nurses aid program that will train someone to sit for a state or national certification would qualify. Traditional TA will not be used for this program.
All Soldiers on active duty to included National Guard and Army Reserve are eligible. However, this is not a veteran's program; THIS IS A PROGRAM FOR ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIERS ONLY.

There is no Additional Service Obligation (ADSO) for officers who participate in the AVOTEC program.

This new pilot program targets Soldiers seeking occupational training that provides a capstone test and/or certification.
 

Pilot program guidelines :

1. Non-degree based - certificate, licensure
2. Non-credit hour based - cannot be based on semester or quarter hours
3. No longer than 18 months in length
4. The FY Cap for all programs is $4500. Anything exceeding this $4500 cap will be the responsibility of the Soldier. For example; if a Soldier has been pursuing an academic degree and has used $2000 in TA--he has $2500 left that he can use for the AVOTEC Program.
5. Soldiers participating in the pilot program must be enrolled and approved in a community college, private trade or technical school program prior to 30 September 2009.
 

Criteria for school participation:

1. Community college, private trade and technical school programs approved by the Department of Education are eligible to participate in this program.
2. Institutions must agree to accept the Government’s Tuition Assistance Reimbursement (TAR) Form as promissory payment.
3. Participating colleges that do business with the government must be registered in Central Contractor Registration, ccr.gov online. Participating schools must complete this enrollment and registration process in order to receive payment from the government. Further invoicing or bill paying details are included on the Tuition Reimbursement Enrollment Form that the Soldier submits to the school.
4. Do not submit invoices prior to the class start date and provide a class roster with each invoice. Invoices will not be processed or paid prior to the individual start date of each enrollment.
5. Institutions must provide proof of Soldier enrollment (class roster).
6. Submit notice of Soldier’s completion of course.
 

Requirements for program submission:

1. Provide a list of the vocational non-degree producing programs (18-month maximum class length) that meet the criteria for inclusion in the pilot program.
2. Provide a link to the specific program website where Soldiers can find detailed information on the programs.
3. Submit information in the attached format (see program inclusion format attachment). Please send the Information to pay.ta@conus.army.mil and upon approval it will be posted for Soldiers on the Army Continuing Education System website.

For additional inquiries please send e-mail to pay.ta@conus.army.mil

Reference documents:

**LETTER FROM THE US ARMY**

AVOTEC Authorized Program Inclusion Form

AVOTEC Soldier Enrollment Process

1. Soldier must have an active account in GoArmyEd to enroll in AVOTEC.
a. If no GoArmyEd account, Soldier goes to Army Education Center for assistance in acquiring an account and access to the GoArmyEd Portal.

2. Once enrolled in the GoArmyEd Portal:
a. If Soldier has previously used the TA Reimbursement form, Soldier will log in and do the following:
- Click My Virtual Education Center
- Click Enroll or Drop a Course/Withdraw from a Course link
- Click the Launch Reimbursement Request link
b. If Soldier has not used the TA Reimbursement form, Soldier will log in and do the following:
- Click My Virtual Education Center
- Click Enroll or Drop/Withdraw from a Course
- Click Request TA and Enroll in a Course
- Review your account information. Click the Account Information Verified
- Click OK
- Select the term for your class start date
- Click Class Search radio button
-Click Search
- Click the statement, Click here if you wish to take a class from a college not listed, on the Search Course Schedule screen

3. Soldier types SVP in the college field on the Add Request TA Reimbursement screen. (Subject code and catalog Nbr will then auto populate.)

4. Start date
a. If enrolling for Program, Soldier types in course Start Date and clicks Add button.
b. If enrolling for certification/licensure exam, Soldier types in Exam date and clicks Add button.

5. On the enrollment form the Soldier fills in the following information:
a. If enrolling for program complete:
- Course Title
- End Date
- Instruction Mode
b. If enrolling for certification/licensure exam complete:
- Type of exam
- End Date
- Instruction Mode

6. Soldier fills in the Registrar Contact Information
a. If enrolling for program complete:
- Name of school (satellite campus if applicable) and POC
- Phone
- Email
- School Web Site
b. If enrolling for certification/licensure exam complete:
- Name of certifying Agency and POC
- Phone
- Email
- Certifying Agency Web site

7. Soldier fills in the Course cost:
a. If enrolling for program-place the program cost in the Additional TA eligible Fees block. (no other blocks in the course cost area should be filled)
b. If enrolling for exam for certification/licensure-place the exam cost in the Additional TA eligible Fees block. (no other blocks in the course cost area should be filled)

8. Soldier clicks Save to submit the form
 

Select your state below to view local eligible programs

*DISCLAIMER: These are the community and vocational and technical college program submissions that are potentially eligible for inclusion in the AVOTEC Program or for Soldiers to consider for possible enrollment and training or re-training. HQ ACES reserves the right to exercise HQDA disapproval authority for programs that do not meet the eligibility criteria of the Program.

Don't see the program you're looking for? Be sure to check back. Programs updated weekly.