The Secretary of the Army today announced the immediate suspension of the Army's tuition assistance program.  The suspension is a budget move and will affect all active duty, Reserves and National Guard.  No new applications will be taken until there's a change in the current budget, but those already enrolled will not be affected.

The following is a statement from the Secretary of the Army:

The Secretary of the Army has approved the suspension of Tuition Assistance effective March 8, 2013. Soldiers will no longer be permitted to submit new requests for Tuition Assistance. However, Soldiers currently enrolled in courses approved for Tuition Assistance are not affected, and will be allowed to complete current course enrollment(s).

This change in the Army Tuition Assistance program applies to all Soldiers, including the Army National Guard and Army Reserves. The Army understands the impacts of this decision and will re-evaluate the decision if the budgetary situation improves.

In the interim, Soldiers can continue to access their GI Bill benefits, if applicable, either the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) or the Post 9/11 GI Bill, or use other funding sources (i.e. grants, scholarships, or Army National Guard Soldiers using state Tuition Assistance where available).

Soldiers should contact their local education centers with questions and to get updates. Updated information will also be posted to www.goarmyed.com.

Although nowhere is the word "sequestration" used, one would guess that's what is being implied with "budget concerns".  Congress mandated cuts after sequestration was enacted Friday, March 1st, and the suspension of the Army Tuition Assistance Program appears to be one of the first visible effects of the automatic cuts.

How will this affect you and/or your family.  Does this put your enrollment in school on hold?  We'd love your feedback in the Comments section.

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