July 17, 2009
Story and photo by Dan Bowen, CFAY Public Affairs

Military spouses are now able to receive $6,000 for education expenses courtesy of the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy. MyCAA financial assistance can be used for secondary and post-secondary education and training programs, tuition, licensing and credentialing fees. The program also includes funding for degree programs, continuing education classes, Bar, CPA and other exams, state certifications for teachers, medical professionals and similarly licensed professionals. Spouses who are interested in the program can get more information, make an account and apply at the MyCAA Web site, https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa. Interested individuals may also get more information and some face-to-face answers from the Navy College Office at the James D. Kelly Fleet Recreation Center. Navy College Education Technician Cynthia Cross has been actively promoting the program in Yokosuka and encourages people to come to the Navy College Office to learn more about this opportunity. “It’s not a Navy College program, it’s not a Department of the Navy program; but, because of our knowledge of the program, we are able help,” said Cross. “[Interested parties] then can talk to a counselor through the Web site and [MyCAA counselors] are the actual ones who approve the plan.” The program is set up to be quick and easy from start to finish. Once a profile is created with an individual’s information, the Department of Defense will verify MyCAA eligibility through the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and if eligible, will credit the spouse’s MyCAA account with $6,000. Navy College volunteer Traci Gabriel, who will be taking advantage of the program from August, was especially thankful for the ease and efficiency of the enrollment process. She had been debating going back to school for more than a year but hadn’t taken the initial steps of getting enrolled anywhere. However, when she heard about the MyCAA program, she knew that it was a perfect time to get started. “I just told them where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do,” said Gabriel. “I kept waiting for the catch… waiting to hear if I would get approved and when they told me 'you’re approved, you’re funded,' I thought, ‘is that it?’” In fact, the most difficult part of the process is to just get started choosing a program, a major course of study, the school you’d like to attend and creating a MyCAA account. “I think a lot of people think that the program is too good to be true; they think there is a catch to it. Right now, the only catch is you have to be an active duty spouse and the sponsor has to have at least two years left on active duty,” said Cross. “What school to attend, what program to enroll in? That’s really the hardest part.”




(Left) Navy College volunteer Traci Gabriel and Education Technician Cynthia Cross look over the MyCAA fact sheet at the Navy College Office located in the James D. Kelly Fleet Recreation Center July 7. The MyCAA program offers military spouses $6,000 in education funding for a variety of degree plans, licensing and credentialing fees and tuition.

This program is currently on hold to new accounts.

yea that really sucks that this is on hold...

I'm watching it, though. I hope they restart it soon. I could use that for my certs. :-)

is this still on hold?

I think it is open again but it is major crap! spouses e1-e5 cwo1-cwo3 and o1-o4 are able to use it. i think it is major crap! i could write a paper on how messed up it is. but i am going to be gateful that they are allowing us that had the account before the crappy changes went in to effect the chance to go to school this semster and the first one of the spring but other other then that it is major CRAP!
oh, and now there is a 4000 limit and you can only spend 2000 a term.

Yea, I agree with you all the way. I am frustrated that they approved us and are taking it back I don't think that is right. They should have the new rules for new spouses not the ones already established.