Another Awesome Advantage!

With Congressional authorization set forth in Public Law 110-417, 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 beginning in mid May 2009.

MyCAA is currently completing an extensive testing period with the help of
volunteer spouses, schools and other payees. Final administrative processes
are now being put into place. In mid May, MyCAA will officially open its
doors for eligible military spouses worldwide 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.

What is a Portable Career?

Portable careers are those that are likely to provide job opportunities in
most locations where military Service members are stationed. These might
include but are not limited to: business/management, construction trades,
education, financial services, health services, homeland security,
hospitality management, human resources, information technology, real
estate, etc.

Visit the Career One Stop Web site to take self-assessments, analyze your
skills, and explore careers and industries. Find your local One-Stop Center
by entering your zip code into the Service Locator. Visit the Career Voyages
Web site for information on in-demand occupations and high growth
industries.


Where can spouses get basic MyCAA information?

Spouses who wish to participate in MyCAA should seek basic information right
here! Keep reading!

There are several self-help steps that should be completed prior to
requesting an appointment with a Military OneSource Career/Education
Consultant to receive career and education counseling and MyCAA financial
assistance.


Determine your MyCAA eligibility.

If you are a military spouse married to an active duty or activated Guard or
Reserve Service member, AND you are interested in pursuing portable career
education, training, licenses or certifications, you are eligible to receive
financial assistance from MyCAA.


Here's what you have to do to get started.


Set a portable Career Goal that matches your career interests. (e.g. Become
a Certified Public Accountant; Become a Licensed Cosmetologist; Become a
Medical Transcriptionist, etc.).


Visit MyCAAs webpage from the Military OneSource website
(https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/default.aspx). Click on 'School Search'
in the left navigation. You can search by school name or state or scroll
through the schools which are listed alphabetically. If your school is not
listed, you can submit a request for DoD approval by clicking the "Can't
Find School" link at the bottom of the pop-up window.


Begin working with your school or other program counselor to list all school
and course of study requirements. Do not sign any financial documents until
after your MyCAA Career Plan is reviewed with a Military OneSource
Career/Education Consultant. This will become the basis for your MyCAA
Career Plan to which MyCAA financial assistance will be applied.


E-mail us if you have specific questions or need assistance prior to the
MyCAA launch in mid May 09.


For those who need website technical assistance, send an e-mail to
MyCAA@invernesstechnologies.com.


For those who have questions about which schools and other payees are
participating in MyCAA, go to the MyCAA website
(https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/default.aspx), and click on 'School
Search' under the Resources tab. You can search by school name or state or
scroll through the schools which are listed alphabetically. If your school
is not listed, you can submit a request for DoD approval by clicking the
"Can't Find School" link at the bottom of the pop-up window.


For school and other payee officials who have questions about DoD's direct
invoice and payment processes, send an e-mail to: MyCAASchools@moscenter.us
.
Who can help spouses develop a MyCAA Career Plan and explain how MyCAA
financial assistance will be provided?

Check information on:www.MilitaryOneSource.com/MyCAA regularly to find outthe exact MyCAA launch date.

In the meantime, keep exploring your Portable Career options and working on
your Career Plan with your school or other program counselor.
Once MyCAA is launched, call a Military OneSource Career/Education
Consultant (1-800-342-9647) for an appointment.
The MOS Career/Education Consultants can answer questions you might have and
provide assistance as you explore career fields of interest, job markets and
salary ranges, choose a relevant course of study from a recognized school or
program, learn more about the licensing and certifications necessary to meet
your Career Goal, and complete your Career Plan.
MOS Career/Education Consultants can also explain how financial assistance
is paid directly by MyCAA to your school or other program. They can also
help you find additional sources of financial assistance if necessary.
Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Details

MyCAA provides up to $6,000 of financial assistance for eligible spouses
directly to participating schools or other programs. If they are already
listed in the MyCAA system, a spouse and his/her school or other program are
ready to proceed with their request for financial assistance. If not, the
military spouse needs to click "Can't Find School" on the MyCAA website
(https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/default.aspx) to request that his/her
school or other program be added. MyCAA financial assistance will pay for
expenses such as post-secondary education and training tuition, licensing,
and credentialing fees. It does not pay for computers, school application
fees, graduation fees, student activity cards, child care, parking,
transportation, medical services or testing fees.