Around this time last year, the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community & Family Policy introduced the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program, better known as MyCAA. The program provided $6,000 in financial assistance to put toward qualifying educational pursuits, which MyCAA describes as “military spouses who are pursuing licenses, certificates, credentials or degree programs leading to employment in Portable Career Fields.”
Unfortunately, on Feb. 16, the program was put on hold rather abruptly, with little to no warning to enrolled military spouses who didn’t happen upon the Web site’s announcement. The sudden news came in the form of a vague website posting.
“Effective immediately, the MyCAA program is temporarily halting operations. We are reviewing all procedures, financial assistance documents and the overall program. This pause will not affect approved financial assistance documents. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please check back for updates.”
Now, the program has been restarted for those of us who were enrolled, as of March 13. Thank goodness. Sadly, for those who were not enrolled before it’s halt, the ability to create new accounts has been suspended until further notice.
The school where I was taking classes called to inform me of the announcement the day it was made. Many weren’t so fortunate, receiving the news days or even weeks later. The emotional responses of friends who were looking forward to enrolling in the program or current account holders who were unaware of the halt remind us that we never know what we have until it’s gone.
Unfortunately, on Feb. 16, the program was put on hold rather abruptly, with little to no warning to enrolled military spouses who didn’t happen upon the Web site’s announcement. The sudden news came in the form of a vague website posting.
“Effective immediately, the MyCAA program is temporarily halting operations. We are reviewing all procedures, financial assistance documents and the overall program. This pause will not affect approved financial assistance documents. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please check back for updates.”
Now, the program has been restarted for those of us who were enrolled, as of March 13. Thank goodness. Sadly, for those who were not enrolled before it’s halt, the ability to create new accounts has been suspended until further notice.
The school where I was taking classes called to inform me of the announcement the day it was made. Many weren’t so fortunate, receiving the news days or even weeks later. The emotional responses of friends who were looking forward to enrolling in the program or current account holders who were unaware of the halt remind us that we never know what we have until it’s gone.