Military Tuition Assistance (TA)

Army TA Basics:  

Tuition Assistance funding is capped at $4,500 per year OR 18 semester credit hours.  Tuition Assistance only covers the tuition portion of your bill and it does not cover any associated fees or textbooks for the class(es). 

Funding and Approval: 

Tuition Assistance Requests (TARS) may be submitted 60 days prior to the start of the term your class is in and must be approved  no later than 7 days prior to the start date. TARS will only be approved for classes that apply toward the declared program/major with the school.  Requesting TA does not enroll you in a RRCC class--it only secures funding. TA funded classes that do not receive a grade of "C" or higher are subject to recoupment by  the Army. This includes withdrawing from the class. 

Key Deadlines:  

• 60 days prior to start of class - TARS may be submitted
• 7 days prior to start of class - TARS must be submitted and approved
• Semester drop date – deadline to pay fees 

Army TA Required Additional Steps:  

1. Set up your ArmyIgnitED v.2 account: this is required even if you had an old ArmyIgnitED account in V.1. Please call the Ft Carson Army Ed Center at 719-526-2124 for any issues.
   1. What you need:
      1. Your CAC card
      2. Your RRCC student ID number
      3. Your declared major at RRCC
2. Account Activation:
   1. Go to Army Ignited
   2. Insert CAC card and follow the instructions to log in.
3. Set up your Educational Goal
   1. Click on "Educational Goal”
   2. Select your goal type -- you will select Associates Degree in most cases.
   3. Select your Academic Institution—Red Rocks Community College.
   4. Select a Degree Program--this should match your declared program with RRCC.
   5. Check the box that says "No Degree Plan File" and Next (you will upload an Evaluated Degree plan later)
   6. Select Semester Hours and Next
   7. Review and Submit. Once approved or disapproved, you will receive a message in the student message section of ArmyIgnitED.  Contact the Education Center at 719-526-2124 if you have questions.
4. Virtual Briefing and TA User Agreement
   1. You must complete the Virtual Briefing and accept the TA user agreement annually--this covers TA regulations and should be read carefully.
   2. Face to Face TA Briefings and open lab hours to assist with ArmyIgnitED are offered by the Fort Carson Education Center, call 719-526-2124 for details.
5. Create your Kuder Journey Account and complete the Kuder Career Assessment
   Complete the Assesment
   1. Create an Account - Select “Sign up” and complete the account registration process.
   2. Begin the Assessment – Once logged in, select “Take Assessments” from the top left menu on the Home Page.
   3. Complete the Career Interest Assessment
   4. Upload Results to ArmyIgnitED – Save and upload the Assessment Results to your ArmyIgnitED account for counselor review.
   5. Engage with your Counselor – Discuss your Assessment Results with your counselor.  

6. Create a Tuition Assistance Request (TAR) no later than 7 days prior to the start of term 

   Note: Do not submit multiple classes on the same TAR.  Repeat the steps below for each class.   

   1. Locate your Detailed Student Schedule from the Student tab of The Rock with start and end dates.
   2. From your ArmyIgnitED dashboard select "Apply for Funding".
   3. Verify your contact information is correct and update if needed.
   4. Read the User Agreement and select "I Agree Continue.”
   5. Confirm that Red Rocks Community College is showing and Main Campus is displayed (you do not need to change if taking a class(es) at the Arvada campus)
   6. Enter your RRCC Student ID Number and select Next.
   7. Look at your class schedule and identify the start and end dates. Enter the appropriate dates and select Next.
   8. Select your course by subject and course number (i.e. ENG 1021).
      1. Verify the Code, Title, Level, Location, Credit Hours, and Credit Type is correct.

• Example:  
  • Code: ENG 1021 
    Title: English Composition I 
    Level: Undergraduate 
    Location: Campus 
    Credit Hours: 3 
    Credit Type: SH 
• Enter the Cost per class
  • Select Active-Duty Military Online rate for online classes only
  • Or... Traditional Tuition with COF for all other classes
    • Only choose Traditional Tuition without COF if you have used up your Lifetime COF credits.

1. Submit the TAR
   1. You will see a "Tuition Assistance Request Application: Application Submitted” confirmation page. Print a copy for your own record. YOUR Army Education Counselors can assist if an approved TAR needs to be edited (section cancelled so you enroll in a new part of term, etc.).
   2. If you drop a class by the drop date, we will reject that TA during the invoicing process.
2. After completing 6 credit hours at RRCC, create and upload your Evaluated Degree Plan (EDP)
   1. On the Dashboard of The Rock, select the DegreeCheck icon.
   2. Confirm that all of your previous schools (if applicable) and your JST have been evaluated.
      1. This needs to be done before you submit your EDP.
      2. You should see the transferred classes on your DegreeCheck or have received a notification that no credits were transferred in.
3. Select the Print icon in the upper right corner of your DegreeCheck.
4. Print as a ‘pdf’ and save a copy.
5. Log into ArmyIgnitED and upload the pdf to your Educational Goal. 

AF/SF TA Basics:  

All active duty Air Force and Space Force personnel are required to receive TA approval from the Education Service Officer prior to enrolling in college classes.  

Key Deadlines:  

• 45 days prior to start of class – TA requests may be submitted
• 7 days prior to start of class – TA requests must be submitted and approved
• Semester drop date – deadline to pay fees
• Evaluated Degree Plan – required after completing 6 credit hours at RRCC 

AF/SF TA Required Additional Steps:  

1. Attend a TA Briefing at your Base Education Center
2. Log into the Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC) to select your class(es) and enter the TA request information.
   
   Log into the Air Force Virtual Education Center
   1. Class information and dates can be found on your Detailed Student Schedule located on the Student tab of The Rock.
      1. Tuition information can be found at the bottom of Tuition Rates
      2. Select Active-Duty Military Online rate for online classes only
      3. Or Traditional Tuition with COF for all other classes
         1. Only choose Traditional Tuition without COF if you have used up your Lifetime COF credits.
3. Your TA request, once approved, will digitally route to the RRCC Cashier’s Office.
4. After completing 6 credit hours at RRCC, request an Evaluated Degree Plan (EDP).
   1. Request your CCAF Web Progress Report
      1. Log into your AFVEC account.
      2. Select ‘CCAF Student Services’ tab on the right menu.
      3. Select your degree program title.
      4. Save a copy of the progress report that displays.
5. Locate unofficial transcripts from all previous schools
   1. Save a copy
6. Email RRCC.Veteran.Services@rrcc.edu to request your EDP. Attach your CCAF Web Progress Report and any unofficial transcripts from other schools.
7. Your EDP will be created and emailed to you within 5 business days.  

Follow your branch’s request for benefits process. Approved forms should be sent to RRCC.Billing@rrcc.edu for processing and invoicing. Be sure to include your student ID number in all communications. Your Education Center is your best resource for completing the benefits process.

• Navy: Request Benefits 
• Coast Guard: Request Benefits
• Marines: Request Benefits
• Colorado National Guard: Request Benefits