The MyCAA scholarship is open to spouses of active-duty service members, National Guard and reserve members under qualifying Title 10 orders in pay grades E-1 through E-9, W-1 through W-3 and O-1 through O-3. The authorization of the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act allows military spouses to remain eligible for the financial assistance offered through the MyCAA Scholarship if their sponsor is promoted above the eligible ranks as long as the spouse has an approved Education and Training Plan in place.

• Spouses of service members in the National Guard or reserve in the pay grades listed above.
• Spouses who have completed high school or obtained a GED.
• Spouses who have financial assistance documents approved before the active-duty service member’s date of separation or the active-duty service member’s release from Title 10 military orders.

The following are not eligible for the MyCAA Scholarship:

• Spouses married to service members in pay grades W-4 and above and O-4 and above, unless a spouse has an approved Education and Training Plan in place prior to their sponsor’s promotion above the eligible ranks.
• Spouses who are a member of the armed forces currently on Title 10 orders.
• Spouses who are married but legally separated, or under court order or statute of any state or U.S. territory, from a member of the armed forces on Title 10 orders.
• Spouses whose National Guard or reserve military sponsor is in a warning orders/alert, post deployment/demobilization or transition status.
• Spouses who are unable to apply for financial assistance while their military sponsor is on Title 10 orders or before the sponsor’s date of separation.

Read more on the MyCAA website.

Yes, the Air & Space Forces Aid Society (AFAS) offers the “Bee” Arnold Spouse Tuition Program that provides funding for spouses to pursue entry-level job training to help secure immediate, viable employment through short term programs/certifications (3-12 weeks) or spouses pursuing a PART-TIME undergraduate degree at an accredited 2-4 year college, university or vocational/trade school approved by the U.S. Department of Education for participation in federal aid programs. Applications are now available at https://portal.afas.org/. Detailed instructions on how to complete the application can be found here. 

Yes, MyCAA benefits cover up to $2,000 for qualifying licensing and certification exams. Learn more about this on the MyCAA website. If you wish to have the certification exam bundle included with your tuition, please contact BCI before or immediately after enrolling. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to our MyCAA representative at info@blackstone.edu or call 800-826-9228.

Education, training and certification/licensure in portable career fields will greatly increase military spouse employment opportunities and reduce the period of time spouses are unemployed between moves.

This funding will allow eligible military spouses to invest in education and training programs that can be completed in less than two years in programs that will enable them to obtain employment and advance in high-growth, high-demand, and nationally portable career fields. Spouses can use their MyCAA Scholarship to pay for expenses directly related to post-secondary education and training, including tuition, fees, books, equipment necessary to complete the education or training, and credentialing and licensing fees.

Blackstone Career Institute’s tuition falls below the maximum MyCAA benefit of $4,000.

The total amount of MyCAA financial assistance is $4,000, with a limit of no more than $2,000 per year (however, annual cap waivers may be granted if costs exceed $2,000, up to the maximum education benefit of $4,000).

A military spouse can begin the application process online at https://mycaa.militaryonesource.mil/mycaa/get-started

Due to their frequent moves, military spouses need access to education and training for careers that are portable and high-growth nationally. Therefore, accounts awarded under the demonstration will be targeted to nationally identified high-demand industry sectors that provide the greatest opportunity for career portability. Military spouses may use their MyCAA scholarship to receive education or training in one of these fields:

• Health care (for jobs such as nurses, dental hygienists, and pharmacy technicians);

• Information technology (for jobs such as network analysts and database administrators);

• Education (for jobs such as teachers and teacher’s assistants);

• Financial services (for jobs such as claims adjusters, credit analysts and bank tellers); and

• Construction/skilled trades (for jobs such as carpenters and electricians).

Participating military spouses may receive career counseling, interest and aptitude testing, skill assessments, and career guidance from One-Stop Career Centers and their military installation Voluntary Education Centers or Family Support Centers. Spouses may also receive referrals to supportive services, such as child care and transportation assistance, through these organizations. Spouses can visit www.careeronestop.org/reemployment/jobsearch/changecareers/findcareeronestopcenter.aspx to find out more information about how to locate these programs.