The decision to suspend the tuition assistance program for members of four of the five service branches has caused a significant amount of controversy. Members of the military community believe they are not in the clear just yet, with some analysts expecting the Department of Defense (DOD) to suspend Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) programs in the coming weeks, SpouseBuzz.com reports.
MyCAA first launched in 2009 as a way to help spouses of active duty servicemembers further their careers. Originally it provided up to $6,000 in tuition assistance, but its popularity proved too much for the funding to handle and the benefits had to be cut. Still, it has offered vital assistance at a time when unemployment among military spouses is much higher than the civilian population. Although there's no confirmation, experts foresee the DOD taking some action regarding MyCAA in the near future.
"I would expect DOD to suspend MyCAA very soon," Terry Howell, the education benefits expert for Military.com, told the website. "Like [tuition assistance] the DOD is being very quiet about their next moves."
The MyCAA program was a big help to military spouses who were earning certifications and licensures. Transferring these across state lines is often a problem for families who have to frequently move. Dr. Jill Biden recently called on governors to make it easier for spouses to transfer such credentials from state to state.