Distance Learning

Thank you for your Service!

For more information, please contact Veterans Services by phone at 417-625-3159.

Veterans' Services

http://www.mssu.edu/financial-aid/veterans.php

Military Servicemembers

Army National GuardGuardArmyAir ForceMarinesCoast GuardNavy

Missouri Southern State University supports and values your career, your military services and your daily commitments.

Servicemembers Benefits

If sudden deployments, relocation, or training missions interrupt your education, our military leave of absence policy allows you to take time off without financial or academic penalty. When your mission is complete, your online advisor will help you get back on track to complete your degree.

MSSU offers servicemembers:

  • Transfer credit for approved military training
  • Flexible military leave policy
  • A degree program that moves with you to any duty station
  • A rich community network of students, faculty, and graduates
  • Experienced military support team
  • Credit for CLEP and DSST examinations

Tuition Assistance

The Armed Forces offers soldiers, sailors, marines, guardsman, and airmen several programs to support their education goals including up to 100% Tuition Assistance for college courses, vocational training, and certificate courses taken during off-duty hours. Each service has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application processes and restrictions. This money is usually paid directly to the institution by the individual services. Tuition Assistance is not a loan; it should be viewed as money you have earned just like your base pay. Follow the links for your particular service to start taking advantage of this OUTSTANDING opportunity and check with your education service office before registering:

MSSU Memberships

Benefits Guides

The following guides will help you make wise use of your benefits (click on a link below to learn more):

Veterans 

At MSSU we pride ourselves in our ability to assist members of the military community in continuing their education. We are here to help you find the appropriate funding programs that are available to you as a current or former member of our armed services. Below is some information on the VA program benefits and can help you determine which one you qualify for:

The Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30): This program is for individuals who entered into active duty after June 30, 1985 and served continuously for three years active duty or who served for two years active duty followed by four years of Selected Reserve.

To be eligible, veterans must have contributed $1200 during their first year of military service. You cannot withdraw money paid into the fund. The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.

Veterans Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 32): This program is available to individuals who entered into active duty service between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 and who opted to make contributions from your pay to participate in this education benefit program.

If you served during this time and elected to make the contributions, the government matches your contributions on a $2 for every $1 basis. VEAP may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

The Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 33): This program provides educational benefits to individuals have served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. Persons eligible for Chapter 30, 1606, or REAP benefits may elect to receive benefits under the new Post 9/11 GI Bill. Please contact the VA to check your eligibility status.

Transfer of Post 9/11 GI Bill to Dependents (TEB): This program is intended for any the dependents of any member of the armed forces (active duty or Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted) on or after August 1, 2009 who is eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Qualifications include the following from the military member:

  • Has at least 6 years of service in the Armed Forces on the date of election and agrees to serve 4 additional years in the Armed Forces from the date of election.
  • Has at least 10 years of service in the Armed Forces (active duty and/or selected reserve) on the date of election, is precluded by either standard policy (service or DoD) or statute from committing to 4 additional years, and agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute, or
  • Is or becomes retirement eligible during the period from August 1, 2009, through August 1, 2013. A service member is considered to be retirement eligible if he or she has completed 20 years of active duty or 20 qualifying years of reserve service.
  • For those individuals eligible for retirement on August 1, 2009, no additional service is required.
  • For those individuals who have an approved retirement date after August 1, 2009, and before July 1, 2010, no additional service is required.
  • For those individuals eligible for retirement after August 1, 2009, and before August 1, 2010, 1 year of additional service after approval of transfer is required.
  • For those individuals eligible for retirement on or after August 1, 2010, and before August 1, 2011, 2 years of additional service after approval of transfer are required.
  • For those individuals eligible for retirement on or after August 1, 2011, and before August 1, 2012, 3 years of additional service after approval of transfer required.

 The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606): This program is for members of the Reserve elements of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and the Air National Guard. To be eligible, reservist must have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve signed after June 30, 1985. No contribution is required.

The Montgomery GI Bill Reserve Education Assistance Program (Chapter 1607): This program, known as REAP, was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a new Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress.

The Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (Chapter 35): Educational assistance available to spouses and children of veterans who died or are permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-related disability.

Transfer of Post 9/11 GI Bill to Dependents (TEB): This program is intended for any the dependents of any member of the armed forces (active duty or Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted) on or after August 1, 2009 who is eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Military Spouses - Career Advancement Accounts (CAA):  Spouses of Active duty military members in California, Georgia, and North Carolina are able to use the remaining Department of Defense and Department of Labor portable career training funds. The Military Spouse Career Advancement Account demonstration program (CAA) is still active for those spouses and spouses may choose to use the remaining eligibility under either spouse program (MyCAA or CAA). This is a demonstration program that is limited to those states and to specific posts only. If you're a military spouse and stationed at a post in one of these states, please check with us for additional guidance. Under the CAA program, spouses are still eligible for up to $6,000 of training. The eligible amount will cover books, training, and some supplies. Spouses are also eligible for this program even if their military spouse is outside of the 'MyCAA' restricted ranks.

Additional Resources
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