Army education & incentives office
The Education and Incentive Branch connects Soldiers of the Iowa Army National Guard to the benefits and opportunities available as a result of their service.
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Help Desk: (515) 252-4468
Education Services Officer: (515) 252-4517 Fax: (515) 252-4025
Education & Incentives Branch, Bldg. 3586, Camp Dodge, 7105 NW 70th Avenue, Johnston, Iowa 50131-1824
ng.ia.iaarng.list.g1-education-services@army.mil
Iowa National Guard Service Scholarship
INGSS is a state funded tuition assistance program available for eligible Iowa National Guard Soldiers and Airmen. This benefit can be used in conjunction with the GI Bill, and Federal Tuition Assistance if the Service Member meets eligibility for all three programs.
DEADLINES: Submit your FAFSA and IFAA by the deadlines below. Application window opens on 1 October for the following Academic Year:
1 July
For the upcoming fall and spring semesters.
1 December
For the upcoming spring semester only (if you did not apply by the previous 1 July deadline).
https://iowacollegeaid.gov/iowanationalguard has links to both applications and additional program details.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Exception to Policy Template
WHO TO CONTACT: Considering joining the Iowa Army National Guard? Your local recruiter can as
sist you!
Current members of the Iowa Army National Guard can contact their unit full time staff or the Education Services Office at 515-252-4468.
Federal Tuition Assistance and Credentialing Assistance
FEDERAL TUITION ASSISTANCE BENEFITS (FTA)
FTA is available to Soldiers of the Iowa Army National Guard meeting the current Department of Defense eligibility requirements. Soldiers must complete Advanced Individual Training (AIT) or Basic Officer Leaders Course (BOLC) to use towards an undergraduate degree or graduate degree. If Soldiers used Federal Tuition Assistance towards their undergraduate degree, they must complete Advanced Leader Course (ALC), Warrant Officer Advanced Course (WOAC), or Captains Career Course (CCC) before they are eligible to use Federal TA towards a graduate degree. Up to 16 semester hours of support is available per Federal Fiscal Year (1 October – 30 September) at a maximum rate of $250 per semester hour. Full program details are available and Soldiers must apply at ArmyIgnitED.
CREDENTIALING ASSISTANCE BENEFITS (CA)
CA provides up to $4,000 per FY to complete professional credentials and certifications, with few exceptions. CA is applied for through ArmyIgnitED, and can be used towards both training and testing. For a searchable database of credentials approved for CA funds visit the Army COOL website. **Some flight related credentials limit usage to $1,000 per FY (see policy linked below).
Soldiers may use both FTA and CA, however, the combined usage shall not exceed $4,000 per FY.
Examples of popular credentials: Certified Personal Trainer (NASM), CompTIA Security+, Project Management Professional (PMP), CompTIA Network+, and Private Pilot Airplane Single Engine (ASE) Rating.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
ArmyIgnitED – https://www.armyignited.com/app/
COOL – https://www.cool.osd.mil/
Information – Federal TA
Information – Credentialing Assistance
CA Aviation Funding Policy – 20 Jan 2022
WHO TO CONTACT: Considering joining the Iowa Army National Guard? Your local recruiter can assist you!
Current members of the Iowa Army National Guard can receive support from the Education Services Office at 515-252-4468, or their chain of command.
Army Personnel Testing
Army Personnel Testing (APT) program is a testing system encompassing standardized tests to determine eligibility for specialized training and to support the Army’s personnel selection and classification process, including language proficiency testing and flight aptitude. Tests are requested by the Soldier through their immediate Commander, then forwarded to our office email. A Test Examiner will contact the Soldier directly to schedule an exam if all requirements are met. Units may request the appropriate DA 4187 for their Soldier by contacting the Education Services Office.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Armed Forces Classification Test – The AFCT is primarily used to increase line scores (ASVAB scores) to meet a training requirement prerequisite. The entire test must be taken. Your scores for all line scores will update, even if lower than a previous exam. Can only be taken every 6 months without waiver.
Selection Instrument for Flight Training – The SIFT test is used to select Soldiers for the Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) program. Soldiers must have a 110 GT to be administered the SIFT. The SIFT may only be administered twice in a career (no exceptions), with 45 days between tests minimally.
Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) – This test is used to determine language aptitude for Soldiers applying for language training and certain MOSs such as Special Forces and military intelligence career management fields.
Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) – These tests are used to evaluate language proficiency or to add a language Identifier to a Soldier’s MOS. Linguist MOS or Foreign Incentive Language Pay (FLIP) qualified must test once every 12 months. No more than two iterations of the same DLPT may be administered in 12 months. Linguist must successfully complete required language immersion training before taking DLPT.
Student Loan Repayment
The Iowa Army National Guard offers a variety of incentives designed to attract and retain talented people into our organization. Loan Repayment Programs are among those incentives. Program details and availability are subject to change at any time.
Pre-existing student loans in good standing can be reviewed for inclusion into a loan repayment incentive for qualifying Soldiers, Health Professionals, and Chaplain Candidates.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Please read your contract and understand your requirements as a LRP recipient, and map out when to request your payments.
Information – Iowa SLRP Tax Exemption
Information – Public Service Loan Forgiveness
WHO TO CONTACT: Considering joining the Iowa Army National Guard? Your local recruiter can assist you!
Current members of the Iowa Army National Guard should contact their unit full time staff or Battalion Retention NCO to learn what incentive options are available. Unit personnel or the Education Services Office Chaplain or Health Professional LRP questions should be directed to the specialty branch NCOIC at (515) 252-4683.
G.I. Bill Programs
GI Bill benefits help you pay for college, graduate school, and training programs. Since 1944, the GI Bill has helped qualifying Veterans and their family members get money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training. GI Bills programs have expanded since their inception and making sense of program eligibility can be confusing. Learn more about GI Bill benefits at https://www.va.gov, by viewing our additional information area, or by contacting our office.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
https://www.va.gov – Primary website for information regarding programs, applying for benefits, and comparing programs.
http://www.gibill.va.gov/wave – Web Automated Verification of Enrollment, for all programs except Chapter 33 Post 9/11.
https://inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub/buildSearchInstitutionCriteria.do – Institution Locator Tool to find programs approved to receive VA Benefits
PROGRAM FLYERS:
How to Apply for GI Bill Benefits
Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB)
WHO TO CONTACT: Considering joining the Iowa Army National Guard? Your local recruiter can assist you!
Current members of the Iowa Army National Guard can contact their unit full time staff or the Education Services Office at 515-252-4468. ***If you receive a denial letter when applying for G.I. Bill benefits contact the Education Services Office directly, and be prepared to provide a copy/scan of your denial letter.***
Other Resources
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Education Programs and Services
College Planning and Assistance
INSTALLATION ACCESS REQUESTS:
Academic Institutions: We’d love for you to visit with our Soldiers and provide an informational brief, but there are certain steps we must take to protect your DoD MOU status.
- The Iowa Army National Guard Education Services Office must verify your status and approve your visit to any Iowa Army National Guard assembly.
- Approval to attend by the unit or event coordinator does not imply Education Services Office approval. They can occur in any order, but the installation access request must be specific to the date/time/location of the event/unit activity.
- Please call with questions! We appreciate your desire to speak with our Soldiers and want to make this process easy for you!
- Installation Access Request Form
