The U.S. Army’s Tuition Assistance Program was suspended on Friday because of the $85 million in cross-government budget cuts that took effect last week, but soldiers now enrolled in courses will be able to complete them, officials said.
More than 200,000 soldiers receive tuition assistance,
The Army Times reports.
“Soldiers who are in courses now can complete those courses, but they will not be allowed to enroll in new courses,” Lt. Col. Tom Alexander, spokesman for the Army’s personnel chief, told The Army Times.
“This suspension is necessary given the significant budget-execution challenges caused by the combined effects of a possible year-long continuing resolution and sequestration,” Alexander said.
“The Army understands the effects of this action and will re-evaluate should the budget situation improve,” he told The Times.
One of the Army’s most-popular benefits, the Tuition Assistance Program has 201,000 Army, National Guard and Army Reserve participants. They are enrolled in classroom and online courses at 3,100 colleges and universities across the country, The Times reports.
Payments are limited to $250 per semester hour of instruction, up to an annual total of $4,500.
The Army spent $373 million for tuition assistance payments in fiscal 2012, The Times reports.
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