Education Discovery: Paying For Flight School

Mission43’s Education Discovery Series: Aviation

In session 1 of Mission43’s Education Discovery Series: Aviation, we sat down with Shane McKenna, military instrument flight examiner and owner of Cloud Surfer Aviation in Boise, Idaho. Shane provides insight into using state education assistance benefits as a member of the Army National Guard, Part 61 and Part 141 flight schools, and the process to becoming a professional aviator.

Using State Education Assistance to Fund Flight Training

In Idaho, members of the Air and Army National Guard are eligible for state-funded education assistance, which can be used for education providers located in-state. While the GI Bill restricts flight school funding to Part 141 programs, state-funded education assistance allows members to attend Part 61 programs, provided that they are located in Idaho. 

Air Guard members eligible for the State Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) can receive reimbursement for flight training up to $4000 per year. 

Army Guard members eligible for the State Education Assistance Program (SEAP) can receive up to $5000 per year.

Part 141 vs. Part 61

Training standards for Part 141 and Part 61 flight schools are the same; both require the same standards of performance and knowledge when it comes to FAA tests. However, they are different in the style of teaching. 

Part 141 flight training is more structured, with FAA approved curriculum and more stringent oversight on maintained aircraft. Because of this, the number of hours of required training is reduced. By maintaining the high standards of Part 141, you’re receiving curriculum-based flight training, and you know exactly where you are in the process every step of the way. The school will retain your flight records so your flight training is seamless. 

Part 141 training requirements include: 

• Minimum of 35 hours flight time to earn your Private Pilot License

• Minimum of 35 hours flight time to earn your Instrument Rating

• Minimum of 190 hours to earn your Commercial Rating

If you are seeking a career in professional aviation and have the time to dedicate to a rigid training schedule, Part 141 may be a fit for you.  GI Bill funding can ONLY be used toward Part 141 programs.

Part 61 flight training is more flexible and relaxed than Part 141. Instead of a curriculum-based flight school, students have more control over their training timeline because flight instructors are typically more willing to work around their schedules. This opens up options for part-time instruction for people with busy or irregular schedules. With a Part 61 program, the student keeps track of their flying hours in their personal log-book. So, if your training is erratic or you switch instructors mid-training, you may require extra flight hours to keep your skills current and each instructor must sign off on your previous check-flights. 

Part 61 training requirements include:

• Minimum of 40 hours of flight time for Private Pilot License

• Minimum of 40 hours, plus at least 50 hours of cross country flight time for your Instrument Rating 

• Minimum of 250 hours for Commercial Rating

If you need a more flexible schedule or want to fly for personal reasons, Part 61 may be right for you.

Credentialing Assistance

The Military Credentialing Advancement Initiative (better known as COOL) can provide up to $4000 annually for courses and exams that lead to industry-recognized civilian credentials in an occupation of your choice, to include Airline Transport Pilot, Airplane Instrument Rating, Certified Flight Instrument Instructor Rating, and other aviation related ratings/certifications.

To learn more or apply, visit the links below: 

Army

Air Force

Scholarships

If you are willing to put in the work, there are quite a few scholarship opportunities available, both to military-connected members and the greater public. This list is not comprehensive, but provides a great starting point. 

AAERO Scholarship Program awards up to $2,500 for aspiring pilots who have not yet received their private pilot’s license. 

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association awards members up to $7,500 for training as a private, sport, or recreational pilot. If you are not an AOPA member, you can get a free 6-month student pilot membership.

Idaho Aviation Association has 4 different scholarships with varying requirements, to include three $3000 scholarships and one $1500 scholarship. Applicants can apply to only one of the available scholarships.

Leroy W. Homer Jr. Foundation awards one scholarship a year for people ages 16-23 pursuing professional flight instruction, not through a university, leading to certification as a private pilot. Scholarship applications open October 31st through January 31st. 

Stripes to Bars is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that assists veterans in their transition to aviation careers. Stripes to Bars provides annual scholarships, nationwide, for fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. Application window is open each year from January 1st to May 15th.

The Ninety-Nines Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Fund for female aviators offers five types of aviation scholarships, to include flight training and emergency maneuver training. 

Women in Aviation: Women Military Aviators Dream Flight Scholarship up to $2,500 awarded to female aviators pursuing flight ratings at an accredited institution or FAA Part 141 approved flight school.

Contact Us

If you’re thinking about starting a career in aviation and want more information, contact a Mission43 education advisor today!

Education Discovery: Veteran Student Flight School Experience

Mission43’s Education Discovery Series: Aviation

Session 4 of Mission43’s Education Discovery Series: Aviation features Chad Morris, prior enlisted Navy electronics technician and Assistant Chief Flight Instructor at Silverhawk Aviation. Chad provides insight into the veteran-student experience at Silverhawk.

Learn more and connect with the education pillar

Education FAQ: GI Bill

How do I apply for education benefits?

You can securely fill out your application for benefits online. Click here and scroll down to the green “find your education benefits form” button. You will need your social security number, military history, and education plan. The VA also asks for your direct deposit information so that allowances can be sent directly to your bank account.

When does the Gi Bill pay?

The VA pays your tuition and fees directly to the school, once enrollment has been verified. The Post 9/11 GI Bill also pays a housing allowance and book stipend directly to eligible students receiving benefits. Payments are issued at the beginning of the month for training that occurred during the previous month. For example, if you are enrolled in a program on September 1, the soonest you will be paid is October 1. If you have a class that ends on September 14, with another starting on September 18, you will receive a housing stipend from Sept 1-14, then for September 18-30. This is why your housing payments may not always look the same or be deposited at the same time.  

For information on Montgomery GI Bill benefits, click here.

Will the Gi Bill pay for school online?

Yes! Whether you attend in person or online, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will still pay tuition, housing, and supply stipend. View current rates here.

Which Gi Bill do I qualify for?

You could be eligible for Post-9/11 education benefits if you served at least 90 days active duty, either continuous or interrupted, after September 10, 2001. To learn more about your eligibility for Post-9/11, Montgomery, or other VA education benefits, visit this link or contact the VA Education Help Desk at 1-888-442-4551.

You can be eligible for more than one education benefit, but can only receive payments from one program at a time. The maximum amount of VA education benefits you can receive is 48 months, with an exception if you are eligible to use Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits first.

Can the Gi Bill be used by my spouse?

Yes! If you have transferred your benefits, or are eligible to. You may be able to transfer your Post-9/11 benefits if you are an active duty service member or in the Selected Reserve. All of these must be true:

• You’ve completed at least 6 years of service on the date your request is approved, AND

• You agree to add 4 more years of service, AND

• The person getting benefits has enrolled in DEERS.

If you have already exited service, your benefits cannot be transferred.

Will the Gi Bill pay for a Master’s degree?

Yes! The Post-9/11 GI Bill can be used for undergraduate and graduate degrees, vocational/technical training, OJT and apprenticeships, flight training, and more.

Can the Gi Bill be extended?

Sometimes. There are certain circumstances that can extend your eligibility period if your GI Bill has an expiration date. 

You may also qualify for an additional 9 months of tuition up to $30,000 if you are an eligible veteran or dependent in a high-demand STEM field through the Edith Norse Rogers STEM Scholarship.

Education FAQ: Veteran Readiness and Employment Benefit Changes

Recent changes could mean more Gi Bill Benefits for some veterans

What is VR&E?

The VA administered Veteran Readiness and Employment, formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, Chapter 31 benefit is designed to provide additional assistance to veterans and service members that have a service-connected disability rating that prevents or limits their ability to work. 

Under VR&E, eligible members can receive support services in 5 areas: re-employment, rapid access to employment, self-employment, employment through long-term services, and independent living.

You may qualify for additional education benefits

Under the long-term services track, veterans or service members that find it hard to succeed in their current employment path, due to their service-connected disability, could receive education and training benefits to work in a field that better suits their current abilities and interests. 

Retraining paths may include professional or vocational education to be marketable in their newly selected career field. This means you may receive additional funding for college, apprenticeship, or on-the-job training programs. 

While VR&E can provide education and subsistence funding, much like the GI Bill, the main focus is to provide resources that lead to quality employment that will not further aggravate a service-connected disability. You will work with a VR&E Counselor to determine entitlement and create an education and employment plan. At minimum, in order to receive benefits under this track, the VA requires all to be true: 

• You have an employment barrier or handicap, and

• You’re enrolled in VR&E, and

• Your service-connected disability makes it hard for you to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment (a job that doesn’t make your disability worse, is stable, and matches your abilities, aptitudes, and interests)

Recent VR&E Changes May Affect GI Bill Eligibility

The Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills provide up to 36 months of education benefits. Since many members qualify for more than one benefit, the “rule of 48” caps government funded education benefits at 48 total months. Now, if eligible members use VR&E benefits prior to using any other VA education program, such as GI Bill, they can still use up to 48 total months of the other educational assistance benefit programs. 

A recent update from the VA states that “effective April 1, 2021, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will no longer count the use of Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR&E) benefits (Chapter 31) against the 48-month limit on GI Bill education benefits such as the Post-9/11 GI bill.”

Veterans and service members currently using VR&E benefits may see a recalculated increase in GI Bill eligibility due to VR&E “charged” as prior VA training.

What should I do first?

Using GI Bill education benefits prior to VR&E will continue to count against the 48-month limit on Veterans Readiness and Employment benefits. Because of the way the law is worded, there is a distinction between the order of usage to get the maximum amount of education allotment.

Mission43 members that have a service-connected disability rating and think they may be eligible for VR&E benefits should consider using VR&E benefits prior to GI Bill, provided that their GI Bill benefit delimitation date does not occur prior to expected graduation or training completion date. 

Connect with the local VA Veterans Readiness and Employment Counselor, or visit eBenefits to apply. For additional clarification, members should contact the VA Education Help Desk at 1-888-442-4551.

Learn more

For more information, connect with Mission43’s education advisor today!

Completing your Community College of the Air Force Degree with Boise State University

Airmen have the option to complete their CCAF Associate degree online, with the support of Boise State University.

CCAF Explained

The Community College of the Air Force degree is an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) program, where Airmen receive credit for military training and can complete general education requirements to earn a degree that is associated with their Air Force Specialty Code.

BMT + Tech School + PME + General Education = CCAF

This program is a unique opportunity for Air Force members, and the Community College of the Air Force is the only degree-granting higher learning institution exclusively dedicated to enlisted personnel. Generally speaking, Airmen will earn 49 credits through military training, and are required to complete an additional 15 general education credits in areas of oral/written communication (6), mathematics (3), social science (3), and humanities (3).

The Air Force partners with civilian learning institutions to satisfy the general education requirements to maintain regional accreditation compliance. However, when the degree is granted, it is awarded through the Community College of the Air Force, not the institution the student attends to complete the general education credits.

General Education Mobile

The General Education Mobile, GEM, model is a partnership between CCAF and pre-approved partner colleges where Airmen can take online general education courses that transfer credit to CCAF. There are currently only about 125 approved GEM institutions nationwide.

Boise State is the only institution in Idaho that has the GEM partnership with CCAF.

This partnership allows Airmen the flexibility to complete their CCAF AAS degree online, anytime, anywhere. GEM is delivered via AFVEC. For more information on GEM, visit the Air Force Virtual Education Center.

CLEP Testing

Prior to taking college classes, Airmen should consider using College-Level Examination Program, CLEP, tests to earn college credit for what they already know. Each military installation will usually have a testing center hosted by a civilian learning provider.

On Mountain Home Air Force Base, Boise State University hosts the testing center.

Boise State advisors highly recommend that eligible service members make an appointment to test at Mountain Home AFB. There are over 30 test options across areas of electives, mathematics, communication, humanities, social sciences, leadership, and computer science. Airmen have the option to take each test once, for free.

Passing scores fulfill both CCAF and Boise State course requirements, and test scores are automatically recorded on the CCAF transcripts. Airmen could potentially pass a CLEP test for each required general education course, meaning they could earn their AAS degree without having to take a college class.

Getting Started

Mission43 and Boise State are working together to make it easier for every Airman in Idaho to earn their CCAF.

To get started, visit the Mission43 Boise State Toolkit and request more information. A member of the Boise State Military Programs Team will reach out directly to assist you in going through the process.

Military members are also required to complete a TA-101 briefing to ensure their TA eligibility as well as connect with an Air Force education counselor. For members at Mountain Home AFB, you can find answers to FAQs here or email ed.center@us.af.mil for information on TA briefings and connecting with a base education counselor.

Members will also want to ensure that they order their CCAF transcripts either through AFVEC (must access through a .mil network) or Credentials Solutions. If ordering through AFVEC, keep in mind that it could take up to 4 weeks for the college to receive them, so allow yourself a bit of flexibility when applying and starting courses. They can also be 3-day expedited through FedEx, for a fee, by using the Credentials Solutions option.

Taking Online Classes at Boise State

If an Airman gets to the point that they need (or want) to take classes to complete their degree, there are quite a few options available in each of the general education areas required to satisfy CCAF degree completion.

Most courses are accelerated, 7-week classes. Since a normal semester is 15 weeks, members enrolled in Online Degree Pathway GEM courses tend to have a week break between classes.

Airmen can expect to spend up to 20 hrs per week on course work to be successful. While these classes are designed with the working adult in mind, military members often need a bit more flexibility. Boise State advisors suggest taking no more than one class at a time, keeping an open line of communication between faculty and advisors, and preparing for those times when more flexibility is needed.

We know it can be difficult being in the military and trying to take classes sometimes. We’re here to support you through that.

Before applying, visit the Mission43 Boise State toolkit and request more information. Eligible military members can receive a code to waive the application fee.

Using Tuition Assistance

Eligible military members have access to Federal Tuition Assistance, which provides up to $250 per credit hour, up to $4500 per year.

Through Boise State’s TA Promise program, eligible military members enrolled in the online degree pathway GEM courses, using Tuition Assistance, automatically receive a scholarship, reducing their price per credit hour from $350 to $250, meaning zero out-of-pocket tuition cost to complete the CCAF AAP.

Free Tutoring and Support

Going to college for the first time can be scary, especially for those who have spent several years focusing on their military career. For many Airmen, the last time they actively talked about college was high school.

It’s ok to ask for help! You don’t have to do this alone!

Boise State is home to a unique program through TRIO, Veterans Upward Bound, which provides free tutoring and assessment services prior to getting started. This is a free service for military members who have never been to college, or have had a long break between learning experiences.

Airmen can receive one-on-one tutoring in areas like math and English to be better prepared for success in their GEM classes. For more Veterans Upward Bound information, contact Project Director Mario Pile at mariopile@boisestate.edu.

CCAF to AU-ABC

One of the most beneficial opportunities Airmen have after completing their CCAF is the option to complete a Bachelor’s degree in 60 credits or less through the Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative, AU-ABC.

With Boise State’s AU-ABC partnership, Airmen can apply all of their CCAF transfer credits to a Bachelor’s of Applied Science, Bachelor’s of Business Management, or a BA in Public Health.

This means Airmen can earn their Associate and Bachelor’s degrees in less time than it takes the traditional student to earn just one degree!

The CCAF isn’t just for career airmen looking to promote. With zero out of pocket tuition costs, it is an effective and efficient way for every airman to advance their military and civilian employment opportunities.

want to learn more?

COnnect with the M43 Education Advisor and Get Started on Your CCAF Degree

Using Your Gi Bill for Flight School

Guide to using your benefits in Idaho

Depending on your eligibility, you could use Post - 9/11 education benefits to fully fund pilot training.

In order to use a Gi Bill for flight training, the VA requires that you:

1. Qualify for a Post 9/11 Gi Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, or Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP).

2. Have a private pilot’s license, and

3. Have a second-class medical certificate valid for second-class privileges - or a first-class medical certificate if you want to pursue the Airline Transport (ATP) certificate. Click here to search for Aviation Medical Examiners in your area.

The three options for using Gi bill benefits toward flight training

The Post 9/11 Gi Bill (Chapter 33) can be used for Part 141* accredited flight training to get your Commercial Pilot License (CPL) or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, and can pay for flights, tuition, housing allowance, books, fees, and supplies. 

1. Attend a public university flight program for 100% tuition coverage,

2. Attend a private university and receive up to $24,476.79 annually, or

3. Take part in a non-degree seeking program and receive up to $13,986.72 annually at the time of this post. 

Click here for current Chapter 33 payment rates

*Part 61 programs are not eligible for VA funding

VA approved flight programs in idaho

Treasure Valley Community College in Caldwell, Idaho offers an Aviation Technology - Helicopter AAS degree in partnership with Silverhawk Aviation Academy. This is an FAA accredited, Part 141 program approved for VA education benefits. Members with Post 9/11 benefit eligibility could have up to 100% tuition and fees covered. 

Silverhawk Aviation Academy offers a Part 141 fixed wing, non-degree seeking program. While you would need to obtain your private pilot’s license at your own expense, you could be eligible to receive up to $13,986.72 annually with Post 9/11 benefits.

Which model is right for you?

If you’re having trouble deciding between fixed-wing and rotary, contact Silverhawk Aviation Academy and schedule a discovery flight with a 30-minute ground session and hour flight. This will give you the opportunity to see what the training is like in that airframe, take control of the aircraft with instructor supervision, and you get to account for that time in your log-book when you begin training. 

For more information, click “learn more” below, or connect with Silverhawk Aviation Academy Student Services directly:

Alisha Sweeney

alisha@silverhawkaviation.net

(208) 453-8577  

Aviation Scholarships

AAERO Scholarship Program awards up to $2,500 for aspiring pilots who have not yet received their private pilot’s license. Applications open May 2021.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association awards members up to $7,500 for training as a private, sport, or recreational pilot. If you are not an AOPA member, you can get a free 6-month student pilot membership.

Leroy W. Homer Jr. Foundation awards one scholarship a year for people ages 16-23 pursuing professional flight instruction, not through a university, leading to certification as a private pilot. Scholarship applications open October 31st through January 31st. 

Stripes to Bars is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that assists veterans in their transition to aviation careers. Stripes to Bars provides annual scholarships, nationwide, for fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. Application window is open each year from January 1st to May 15th. Click here for eligibility information and to apply. 

The Ninety-Nines Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Fund for female aviators offers five types of aviation scholarships, to include flight training and emergency maneuver training. 

Women in Aviation: Women Military Aviators Dream Flight Scholarship up to $2,500 awarded to female aviators pursuing flight ratings at an accredited institution or FAA Part 141 approved flight school. 

If you’re thinking about starting a career in aviation and want more information, or are a current aviator and would like to volunteer as a mentor, click “learn more” below to be connected with Mission43’s education advisor today!

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