By Travis J. Tritten Stars and Stripes, October 18, 2011

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The Marine Corps announced Tuesday it has slashed tuition assistance by 75 percent for servicemembers who take classes on their off-duty time.

The change went into effect immediately and reduces the maximum education assistance available from the Department of Defense standard of $3,500 per year to just $875 per year for Marines — about enough to cover two university courses, according to a service-wide bulletin.

The Marine Corps said the new rate is equal to the average class load taken on by Marines who use the tuition assistance program and is a more focused use of the service’s tuition funds.

Cuts in military tuition assistance programs have been expected this year as Washington wrestles with reducing costs, though the Marines are the first to enact any changes, said Stephanie Styll, a spokeswoman for University of Maryland University College Asia at Yokota Air Base in mainland Japan.

FULL STORY:
http://www.stripes.com/news/marine-corps/tuition-assistance-slashed-by-75-percent-for-marines-1.158049