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AFH 1 · Chapter 7 · Section 7.26

Air Force Virtual Education Center

Part of Air Force Leadership · 3 sections · ~597 words · WAPS PFE study material

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Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC)

What AFVEC Is

AFVEC — Education Hub
The Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC) is the USAF's website for all higher education and credentialing needs.

Website: https://afvec.us.af.mil/afvec/public/welcome

What Airmen Can Do

Airmen may:

  • Create their own AFVEC account
  • Gain access to online customer service tools

What Airmen Can View

Airmen can also view information about:

  • Education benefits
  • Personal education records, which include:
  • Courses taken
  • Tuition caps
  • Degree plans

Online Applications

AFVEC Application Functions
AFVEC is the site for Airmen to apply online for:
  • Military tuition assistance for civilian college courses
  • USAF Credentialing Opportunities On-line (AF COOL) funding for specialty-related and leadership/management credentials

Military Tuition Assistance

Voluntary Education Program

VEP Goals
The Voluntary Education Program supports long-range USAF goals for:
  • Maintaining a high-quality force
  • Enhancing professional and personal development
  • Recruitment
  • Retention
  • Readiness

Three USAF Education Programs

Three Programs
The USAF offers three programs for enlisted personnel to help defray the cost of obtaining off-duty education:
  1. Military Tuition Assistance
  2. Montgomery GI Bill
  3. Post-9/11 GI Bill

Military Tuition Assistance — How It Works

TA Eligibility
To assist individuals in furthering their education, the USAF provides a tuition assistance program (with some restrictions) to all eligible USAF members.

What TA Pays For

The USAF pays the cost of tuition at regionally and nationally accredited institutions, not to exceed the hourly and annual caps established by:

  • DoD Instruction (DoDI) 1322.25, *Voluntary Education Program*
  • DAFI 36-2670, *Total Force Development*

What TA Does NOT Cover

TA Restrictions
USAF members cannot use tuition assistance to purchase:
  • Textbooks
  • E-books
  • Reference/instructional materials
  • Electronic equipment/supplies
  • Certificate/license examinations
  • Fees

…regardless of applicability to course enrollment or institutional reimbursement policy.

Top-Up Benefit

Top-Up Option
Students using military tuition assistance whose tuition exceeds the semester hour cap may use the top-up benefit in their:
  • Montgomery GI Bill, or
  • Post-9/11 GI Bill

…to cover the remaining portion.

Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill

Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)

Eligibility

MGIB Eligibility
Eligible individuals who entered the service for the first time on or after 1 July 1985 are enrolled in the Montgomery GI Bill.

Cost to Participate

MGIB Pay Reduction
Members who participate have their pay reduced by $100 a month for the 12 months following the election window.

Optional Buy-Up

$600 Buy-Up
Participants may also elect to contribute an additional $600, which adds a maximum of $5,400 to the total benefit package.

In-Service Use

MGIB In-Service Use
In-service use of the Montgomery GI Bill is permitted after 2 years of continuous RegAF status.

Benefit Expiration

10-Year Sunset
Benefits expire 10 years after separation or retirement.

Annual Adjustment

The amount of the total benefit is adjusted each year in relation to the cost of living index.

Post-9/11 GI Bill

Eligibility

Post-9/11 Eligibility
Eligible individuals who were on RegAF status on or after 11 September 2001 may choose to enroll in the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Transferability

Post-9/11 Transferability
This program allows Airmen to transfer GI Bill benefits to dependents if they have sufficient retainability.

Differences from MGIB

Compare to MGIB
The details and benefits of the Post-9/11 GI Bill are different from the Montgomery GI Bill.

Irrevocable Decision

Irrevocable Conversion
The decision to move to this program is irrevocable, so Airmen are recommended to get full details from the Veteran Administration prior to converting.

Website: https://www.va.gov/

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