The Air Force has suspended military tuition assistance for airmen for the remainder of Fiscal 2013 as a result of the budget sequester, announced service officials on Tuesday. Effective March 11, airmen are not permitted to submit new requests for tuition assistance, according to a service release. “This is an additional step the Air Force unfortunately had to take to operate within mandated budget limitations,” said Air Force Secretary Michael Donley. “Believe me, this was a tough decision because our Air Force truly values education,” said CMSAF James Cody. He added, “We’re still looking at the impacts for Fiscal 2014 and will do our best to have TA reinstated, although we’ll likely need to review the eligibility requirements to ensure sustainability.” This change does not affect airmen currently enrolled in courses, or approved for future courses; they are allowed to complete those courses, states the release. The Air Force’s action followed the Army and Marine Corps; those services cancelled their tuition assistance programs on March 8. (Washington, D.C., report by SSgt. David Salanitri)
The U.S. military is doubling down on non-space-based alternatives to GPS, the ubiquitous position, navigation, and timing service provided by the U.S. Space Force, with new funding for the development and testing of operational prototypes of quantum-based devices that don’t depend on easily jammable signals from satellites.
