Spouse Career Advancement Accounts

The Department of Defense is expanding the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts -- MyCAA -- for military spouses of active duty and activated Guard and Reserve service members worldwide. MyCAA officially opened its doors in May 2009 for eligible military spouses worldwide, allowing qualified individuals to receive up to $6,000 of financial assistance to help pay for licenses, certifications and education in high growth, high demand portable career fields.

The following list of questions pertains to DoD’s MyCAA procedure and policy.

1. Who is eligible for a Military Spouse Career Advancement Account?
    
   • Spouses married to an active duty or activated Reserve Component (Guard or Reserve) Service member (e.g., your Military Sponsor) are eligible to participate in MyCAA. This includes Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) and Coast Guard deployed with the Navy.
      
2. How will my MyCAA eligibility be verified?
    
   • The DOD will use DEERS to verify eligibility for MyCAA based on your sponsor’s social security number.
   • If your sponsor has not registered you in DEERS or your personal information in DEERS is out-of-date, please contact DEERS at Toll-free: 1-800-538-9552; TTY/TTD: 1-866-363-2883; or visit their website.
   • If you need assistance, contact your Military OneSource Career/Education Consultant (1-800-342-9647).
      
3. Will I still need to demonstrate my eligibility for the Coastline Military Spouses Program?
    
• Yes, you will still need to demonstrate your eligibility for the Coastline Military Spouses Program. Additional information about eligibility for Coastline's Spouses Program may be found at the eligibility webpage.
   
4. If my Military Sponsor has a Date of Separation in DEERS that is less than a year away, am I still eligible?
    
• Yes, if your Military Sponsor is on active duty or activated Guard and Reserve, you are eligible now and will remain eligible for Financial Assistance until you finish your Career Plan. If you have questions, contact your Military OneSource Career/Education Consultant (1-800-342-9647).
   
5. If my Military Sponsor is activated Guard or Reserve, but his/her orders aren’t for a full year or more, am I still eligible?
    
• Yes, you are eligible now and will remain eligible for Financial Assistance until you finish your Career Plan. If you have questions, contact your Military OneSource Career/Education Consultant (1-800-342-9647).
   
6. If my Spouse and I are both members of the armed forces, am I still eligible for funding through MyCAA?
    
• No, the MyCAA legislation specifically excludes spouses who are members of the armed forces. You are not eligible if you are active duty, Guard, Reserve or Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR).
   
7. Can I have MyCAA Financial Assistance if I already have a job?
    
• Yes, if you need a license, certification, credential, education, or training in order to seek or maintain employment or move up your career ladder, you are eligible for MyCAA Financial Assistance.
   
8. How do I apply for MyCAA Financial Assistance?
    
   • Set up a Profile on MyCAA.
   • Review and digitally sign (by entering your user name and password) the MyCAA online Statement of Understanding (SOU) Terms and Conditions.
   • Call a Military OneSource Career/Education Consultant to begin establishing your career goal and Career Plan (1-800-342-9647).
   • Use the School Search function under the Resources tab to select Coastline as your home institution.
   • Please go to the Steps to Register page for instructions on applying to Coastline.
   • Each term, enroll in your selected block of study or course at Coastline.
   • Let your MOS Career/Education Consultant know you’re ready to start your Career Plan.
   • You will need to apply for Financial Assistance in your MyCAA account each session for the courses for which you register for that respective session.
   • Financial Assistance is paid directly to Coastline.
   • Obtain a copy of your Financial Assistance Approval by selecting the “Print FA” button next to the courses for which you have registered. Forward a copy to of the Financial Assistance Approval to Coastline prior to the close of registration. It may be emailed to milspouses@coastline.edu or faxed to (714) 241-6270. It is the military spouses responsibility to forward the Financial Assistance Approval to us each term.
      
9. Does adding classes to MyCAA Career Plan also enroll me in the classes at my School?
    
• No, you still have to apply and register for the courses at Coastline.
   
10. If I finish my Career Plan and then relocate, can I use MyCAA again?
     
• Yes, as long as you have not used the entire $6,000, you may continue to use MyCAA Financial Assistance.
   
11. Are there costs which are not covered by MyCAA Financial Assistance? Will I still qualify for the textbook incentive with Coastline?
     

• Financial Assistance does NOT include the following: Separate payments for books, supplies, or equipment (e.g., costs not directly incorporated into the billing for the block of study); computers; graduation fees; child care, student activity cards; application fees; transportation; parking; or medical services testing fees. Free textbooks are a feature of Coastline Spouses Program. MyCAA participants must register and submit the Financial Assistance Approval to us by the published deadlines (see Academic Calendar) in order to obtain free textbooks.

Department of Defense.(2009). My Career Advancement Account. Retrieved on June 2, 2009, from AI Portal.Website: https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/User/Home/Home.aspx