Mycaa Military Spouse Accounts – Funds Reinstated!

Are you an active-duty military spouse that had to put their education on hold after losing your MyCAA funds?  On March 13, 2010, the Department of Defense (DoD) made a very special announcement concerning MyCAA military spouse accounts – funds will be reinstated for accounts that are currently open.

This means that military spouses who have existing accounts will have access to the entire MyCAA Web site. This includes the ability to create and have financial documents approved.

This good news follows a previous DoD announcement that stated the MyCAA program would be temporarily on hold for an unspecified amount of time.  Now, military spouses who opened MyCAA accounts can do what they originally set out to do – pursue their education.

Do you have questions about how MyCAA works?  Here's a brief overview of the program to get you started:

What is the MyCAA program?

The DoD Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program provides military spouses with up to $6,000 of financial assistance for pursuing an education that will lead to a license, certification, credential or degree and a portable career.

Who is eligible?

Under the recent changes announced by the DoD on March 13, you must meet the following in order to be eligible for MyCAA:

• Be a spouse of an active duty service member or a spouse of an activated member of the National Guard/Reserve who are on Title 10 orders
• Currently have an existing/open MyCAA account

What does MyCAA cover?

• Education and Training Courses
• Professional Licenses, Licensing Exams and related prep courses
• Certifications
• Credentials
• Continuing Education (CEU)
• Degree Programs
• High School Completion Courses and ED Tests
• English as a Second Language Courses (ESL)

Does MyCAA cover the costs of materials and items related to obtaining my education?

The following items are not covered under MyCAA:

• Computers
• Miscellaneous Electronic Items (laptops, iPods, etc)
• Application Fees
• Association Membership Fees
• Student Activity Cards
• University Entrance Exams or Related Preparation Courses
• Health Care Services
• Child Care Services
• Transportation and Parking Fees
• Graduation Fees

I have an existing MyCAA account.  How are the funds provided to my educational program or school?

Using your existing MyCAA account, you will need to create a Training Plan. Your Training Plan will include your career field of interest, a job description/occupation, the name of the training program or school and course information (i.e. costs, course name, course code, etc). You will need to provide information for at least one course.

Next, your MyCAA Financial Assistance (FA) request will be submitted. Once approved, your MyCAA funds will be provided directly the program or school you specified on a course by course basis.

How do I go about selecting the right portable career?

As a military spouse, you have probably endured your share of PCS moves. So, why not use MyCAA funds to train for a portable career?  And there are some great options to consider.  For example, you can use your MyCAA funds to enroll in an online school (also portable) and pursue a health care career in the medical transcription field.

In fact, many medical transcriptionists work from home, and with the right training and experience, often begin their own transcription businesses!  This is a beneficial career option for busy military spouses who want to contribute to their family's financial stability, but must also juggle the responsibilities of being a single parent while a spouse is deployed.

If you haven't decided on a career path, Medical Transcription is among the exciting, portable career options that are worth looking into. If you need assistance, consider contacting a MyCAA Career and Education Consultant (visit the military one source Web site for the most up-to-date contact information).

If you have an open MyCAA Military spouse account, don't let the opportunity to pursue your education pass you by.