INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Airmen will notice changes to military tuition assistance program regulations as the Air Force transitions to a centralized system for all applicants in the coming year.

"Now when you apply for TA, we here at the base will check your grades and all the normal requirements necessary to be eligible," said Carrie McGrew, 39th Force Support Squadron force development flight chief. "If everything checks out, we will send the approval to the central office who then pays out TA."

A central office will conduct work associated with TA. The office will handle the TA budget, invoice payments, grades management, student reimbursements, student waivers and TA approval. The central office personnel will work directly with base level education and training sections and academic institutions to resolve discrepancies, correct errors and gather information in order to ensure timely completion of approvals, rejections and other administrative actions. Centralization of TA approval and issuance is scheduled for January 2013.

After taking 15 credit hours with TA funds, applicants are required to maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average to retain TA for classes. Students must have an updated personalized degree plan from a civilian education institution indicating the degree being pursued and the courses needed before TA application can be approved, said an education specialist here.

"You have to meet the timeline because the central office has maybe 20 people doing TA for the entire Air Force," said McGrew. "They do not have the resources and time to make special acceptances. The business rule states you must have your TA submitted and approved before the first day of class or else you will not receive TA."

Base level education specialists will remain responsible for maintaining records in the Air Force Automated Education Management System to include, but not limited to, reviewing, approving and uploading degree and education plans to students' virtual education record and annotating student records with comprehensive counseling notes.

They will also continue providing information, resources and analysis to students such as accreditation and available program information to more advanced guidance including assessments of students' interests and long term goals.

There are no changes in the annual allowance of TA benefits. According to the AFI 36-2306 Voluntary Education Programs, the Air Force provides assistance for the combined cost of tuition and authorized fees, not to exceed $250 per semester hour credit and $166.67 per quarter hour credit. An annual cap of $4,500 applies to all eligible recipients.

Due to the new process, Airmen should apply for TA while giving themselves a grace period before the class start date.

"The most important thing to know is that you have to take responsibility," McGrew said. "We help, but we can't change the rules. This is your education and you have to take charge of it."