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The US Army is planning significant reductions to the Army Credentialing Assistance program (Army CA) for next year, aiming to slash costs in a move that could significantly affect enlisted soldiers’ benefits.

Launched in 2020, Army CA initially offered soldiers $4,000 annually for civilian credentialing outside of traditional college degrees, covering areas like coding, cybersecurity, and commercial driving licenses to aid their transition to civilian roles or enhance their military careers. However, the proposed changes would see this benefit reduced to $1,000 per year, with a career cap of $4,000, and restrict the credentials to those relevant to a soldier’s military occupation.

This revision marks a significant change from the program’s original intent and scope, raising concerns about its adequacy to cover high-quality civilian courses and licensing costs. Critics argue that this move does not fulfill the initial promises made to soldiers, potentially affecting military recruitment and the attractiveness of military service for individuals seeking substantial educational benefits.

The reduction in benefits comes amid broader challenges faced by the Army in delivering educational benefits. Technical issues with Army IgnitED, the platform responsible for processing tuition payments, have resulted in soldiers paying for their education out-of-pocket, a situation only rectified last summer after significant delays. Additionally, states like Virginia and Texas have implemented restrictions on education benefits for National Guardsmen.