do spouses of active military personal get any money for college?

Question

My husband is active duty in the Army, we just recently got married and i'm trying to finish college. I would ask him, but he is in Iraq right now so i don't hear from him much. Id appreciate any help you guys can give on the subject.

yes my husband is wonderful. And for the few of you who want to respond rudely... being an military wife isn't as hard as being in the military... but it isn't an easy job either. Its more than you could possibly understand unless you've been one. I take 25 units and work about 25-30 hours a week as well. I have been in college for less than 2 years and am set to finish in Dec. with 2 bachelors degrees. One in accounting, one in business administration. So i'm not trying to mooch... but we are a young couple and are hoping to make a future for ourselves. I'm just looking for ways to supplement my college fees.

and thank you to those who support our military and military families.

Lexi, i bet you spend every night with your husband. I bet you get to see him or talk to him whenever you want. I don't. Thats the difference between us. Don't tell me that military families don't make sacrifices. I see my husband once every few months. He risks his life everyday so you can have freedom. No i don't risk my life, but i don't get the time with him that you do with your husband. I sit here worrying about him, i'm the one that cringes when a soldier has been killed. I'm the one that helps him deal with the tragedy he has witnessed. I'm the one who keeps things in order while he defends you and your rights. What does your husband do? what do you do for this country? So don't pretend you know what i'm going through or what my life is like. Go ahead, take advantage of everything you're given... its because of people like my husband you get those things. And trust me when i say most soldiers couldn't do what they're doing without the support of their loved ones behind them.

Answer 1

Many military orginizations (spouses groups, DeCA, unit clubs, veteran groups) offer scholorships for military members or dependents. These are no different than scholorships offered by any clubs to members or children of members or ones that are avialable only to people of certain career fields or ethnic groups (for the folks here who will shout unfair). Also, many colleges will let military members and dependents qualify for instate tuition rates. Sometimes you will need to meet the other qualifications for in state, some schools allow military members to claim it immediately. Some schools, especially online or schools that run college courses on the base itself, also offer lower tuition for military and family members. Finally, members stationed overseas (and thier dependents) can qualify for special tuition at the colleges running classes on base. Generally, those schools (on overseas bases) only cover the general courses needed during the first two years of college and four year study in very limited majors.

I think some folks aren't aware of exactly how little most military folks make. Military pay charts can be found in the public domain online. Since her husband is probably only just joined and may be a lower enlisted rank, he is brining home less than $1000 every two weeks. He may be entitled to more if his family is living off base, but that is guided by where he lives and by rank, so again he is probaly only getting between $500 and $1000 for housing...and in this market, in most areas, that doesn't give much for utilities. My husband has been enlisted for over 17 years. His take home last year was just under $38,000.00. We live in the metro DC area, which is outrageously exspensive, and even with my part time job (we have a special needs child who can not do daycare, so my ability to work must be built around my husband's ability to be home to cover kid duty), we barely make ends meet. This is so common in the military. Many families in the lower ranks qualify for things like subsidized housing (we could actually qualify in this area if military were allowed to apply), WIC and food stamps. Men and women who are willing to die for thier country have to apply for state aide to feed thier families. The rate of bankruptcy for military families is higher than the average and most military families have a higher debt ratio than civilian families in a similar tax bracket. My family is proud to serve our country, but I do think is sad that so many military families live paycheck to paycheck. So before you blast someone for looking for scholorships or programs to help get her through college just because you think she is already getting a free ride of some sort, do some research. Like everyone else out there, we can all use all the help we can get.

Answer 2

In the Army, you DO NOT get any help if you are a spouse. Other then filling out the FAFSA and looking into scholarships (some only for military spouses). The GI bill does not extend to family members in the Army. The upside, if you don't work since the military isn't exactly paying big bucks, you will make out of as far as qualifying for things like the Pell Grant. Where are you exactly, in GA they have the Hope grant (or scholarship DOn't know exactly what it is called) but the state pays the cost to receive your Associates Degree (but not bachelors). Your best bet is to fill out your FAFSA and see what your EFC ends up being. I am also a military spouse ( 3 deployments under the belt so I feel your pain) I am also a full time student so I am speaking from personal knowledge seeing as I am going through all of this every semester when I have to pay tuition. Maybe one day they will extend the GI to us but for now they don't. For the old guy who was in for like 22 years, they may have done it way back then, but they don't know and haven't for the past 10 years that I have been a spouse of a soldier.
Also when they say Army Wives have the hardest job in the Army, they aren't lying and until you all walk a week, month or year in our shoes you have no idea. I have spent years as a "single" mom, not only dealing with usual house hold things, but answering question and drying tears when my boys want to know why daddy can't be there. I had to look into my kids eyes and tell them that even though I said Daddy would be home in 2 days, the Army still needs him for 4 more months in Iraq. So until those of you who have no idea what a military spouse does, just keep your mouth shut.

Answer 3

i'm a military wife too, so i totally understand everything you go through. don't pay attention to anything anyone says badly about the military and military spouses. chances are they have no idea what it's like.
talk to your base education office. make a few phone calls. but i suggest you do it soon if you're graduating in december.
however, i don't recieve any assistance right now. i know that the GI bill doesn't intale spouses, but maybe something else does? just make a few phone calls!

Answer 4

Marine wife, and sorry, but no. There is a bill in congress to allow the G.I. bill college money to be given to spouses, but it is essentially a dead bill that nobody is pushing. I'm having to pay for everything out of my own pocket. It's stupid---but the government is tight with the money.

Answer 5

First of all, yes. Go to your Post/Base education office and you'll find some great assistance. Won't pay for everything, but will offset it quite a bit. Secondly, you should receive full assistance despite what some jerks answered. My spouse suffered through 27 years of service with 22 years overseas duty as she basically raised our children alone. The stories are endless regarding her sacrifices and I am sure your stories are ongoing. You, she and all military spouses should receive much, much more for their contributions to our freedom. Thank you for doing so and good luck with your education.

Answer 6

Of course, you being a military wife, you're supposed to get benefits for health, family/child care, and college. You should definitely check into this.

Answer 7

I have never heard of the actual military paying for them but i know that there are programs on bases that can help spouses and family members receive scholarships.

Hey Lexi , blow your ignorance out your a s s, You get free money too, like financial aid and grants so stop playing the victim here. If you didnt then thats not our fault you didnt take advantage of that stuff. I know I did , and my GI Bill.

Answer 8

No you do not get any money, but there are some colleges that extend extra benefits to military spouses. Coastline Community College just offered on-line classes at $59/unit, no registration or application fees, and free textbooks to spouses. Check them out.

http://military.coastline.edu/spouse2_tempa.cfm

Answer 9

Hey, sweetie, you've already got some good answers, but I would like to add a little. I found being new to the Army a little overwhelming, so if you need help finding something, go to ACS. If you don't know where that is, google the nearest post and visit their web site, look for MWR or ACS. All those negative people can kiss my @$$, they have no idea what it is like, and I dare them to sacrifice what we do!!! Good luck to you!

Answer 10

currently there are no provisions in place for spouses to use the GI Bill. however most bases have Officer spouse clubs that will offer scholarships, and there are other avenues as well, like the education office on base.