http://www.military.com/spouse/cf/0,,cf_CAA_111407,00.html
More Portable Career Opportunities for Milspouses
Departments of Defense and Labor Expands the Program to Help Milspouses Take Their Careers on the Road With Career Advancement Accounts

What are Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts?

The Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative provides assistance to military spouses seeking to gain the skills and credentials necessary to begin or advance their career. Career Advancement Accounts (CAA) cover the costs of training and education, enabling participants to earn a degree or credential in in-demand, portable fields in almost any community across the country.

CAA can be used to pay up to $3,000 in fees for one year, and may be renewed for one additional year, for a total two-year account amount of up to $6,000 per spouse.

Who is eligible?

You are eligible for a Career Advancement Account if you:

1. Have a high school diploma or GED
2. Are not currently receiving training assistance funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and
3. Are married to any active-duty servicemember/sponsor who:
* Is assigned to one of the installations participating in the pilot site or is deployed or on an unaccompanied military tour from the participating installation and
* Has a minimum of one year remaining at the current installation duty assignment (unless affected by a BRAC closure)

Eligible or potentially eligible spouses are encouraged to contact the local Family Support Centers, Voluntary Education Centers, or One-Stop Career Centers nearest to their installation for more information.

Which installations are participating?

* Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, Calif.
* Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
* Fort Benning Army Installation, Ga.
* Fort Bragg Army Installation, N.C.
* Fort Carson Army Installation, Colo.
* Fort Lewis Army Installation, Wash.
* Hickham Air Force Base, Hawaii
* Hurlburt Field Air Force Base, Fla.
* Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
* McChord Air Force Base, Wash.
* Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine
* Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.
* Naval Station Kitsap, Wash.
* Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
* Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
* Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
* San Diego Naval Station, Calif.
* Schofield Barracks Army Installation, Hawaii

If you are not located at one of the above installations, visit www.Military.com/Spouse for employment, education and training opportunities.

How can I get started?

Make an appointment with the Family Support Center or Voluntary Education Center (find locations and contact information). They can assist with career counseling, finding education and training resources, and starting the application process, including determining whether or not you are eligible for a Career Advancement Account

What can I use the Career Advancement Account to pay for?

FIELDS OF STUDY -- You may use Career Advancement Accounts to receive training or education in one of these fields:

* Health Care (including jobs such as nurses, radiologic technicians, dental hygienists, pharmacy technicians, and more)
* Education (teachers, child care workers, teacher's assistants, and more)
* Financial Services (claims adjusters, real estate sales agents, credit analysts, bookkeeping clerks, bank tellers, and more)
* Information Technology (computer support specialists, network analysts, database administrators, and more)
* Skilled Trades (carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and more)

RECENTLY ADDED FIELDS OF STUDY:

* Human resources
* Business management
* Hospitality management
* Homeland security.

For more information, visit www.Military.com/Spouse or MILSpouse.org/caa

WooHoo! Just wish it was available where I'm stationed!

this is not available to CG spouses or reserve spouses.

It would be nice if they would have offered it in places such as Guam (Andersen) where the scale is so tipped into the locals favor that our mainland spouse can use any help possible. Spousel prefference is a huge joke as well since it is well known that the Guamanians will only help their own. It should be illegal what they are doing, Oh wai t it is but getting someone to listen has been like pulling teeth. Maybe it is about time to get a congressional memeber involved.

Well they have redone this to where it now doesn't matter what Rate/Rank your spouse is. Before it was limited to E1 to E5 & O1 to O3 spouses. So maybe they will work on the locations. I would sure like to go to college since it is very difficult to get work here.

That's good to hear (about the rank restrictions being lifted).

I too hope they work on the locations.

quote:

Originally posted by mmt4:
That's good to hear (about the rank restrictions being lifted).

I too hope they work on the locations.

I honestly think that if you are in a OCONUS location this is something that should automatically be available to you. Especially when often you are limited to the jobs you can or are allowed to get. This then gives you a chance to better your education in which helps support the family in the long run.

That ^^ WOULD be nice...