Virginia Beach, Virginia - Sailors planning to take college courses in 2018 can get a head-start on the process and beat the holiday rush by selecting courses and applying now for Tuition Assistance (TA)/Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) Distance Learning (DL) funding.

"TA and NCPACE DL applications are funded on a first-come, first-served basis," said Ernest D'Antonio, the Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center's Voluntary Education (VOLED) program director. "The number one reason for funding request disapproval is late applications; requests must be submitted and command approved between 120 and no later than 14 days before the start of the academic term. Applying early can eliminate delays and lock-in funding."

First-time Sailors planning to utilize TA and/or NCPACE DL programs are required to complete the following training before applying:

(1) Navy Tuition Assistance and/or NCPACE training, as applicable. This training covers the most recent information and changes to Navy TA/NCPACE polices and the WebTA/NCPACE DL application processes as well as the NCPACE Instructor Led enrollment process.

(2) The Navy Virtual Counseling 101 training helps students establish education and career goals, select and apply to an Academic Institution (AI), and understand the higher education life cycle. This training helps prepare for counseling appointments with a Navy College Education Counselor.

These training products, required only once in a career, are available under "My Training" after logging into your My Education Module at the Navy College Program (NCP) website. More details can be found in NAVADMIN 243/17, also posted on the NCP website.

Before completing each higher education level (certificate, associate, bachelor's or master's), all Sailors must also complete the following:

(1) Receive academic counseling from a Navy College Virtual Education Center (NCVEC) or overseas Navy College Office (NCO) counselor before talking with an AI. Sailors can schedule appointments via the online appointment scheduling tool on the NCP website at https://nrtc.netc.navy.mil/apt_schdlr/default.aspx .

(2) Upload an unofficial education plan (at a minimum) or official education plan, if available, to the My Education record before enrolling in any classes.

(3) Following counseling by an NCVEC or overseas NCO counselor, upload an official education plan or Service member Opportunity College Agreement to the My Education record within the first nine Semester Hours or equivalent, of instruction. This is the degree plan agreed to between the Sailor and the AI.

Emmett Williams, NCVEC supervisor, said that Sailors can take advantage of expedited TA/NCPACE DL funding if they meet the following conditions:

- The Sailor's AI has uploaded their courses and tuition costs in the Academic Institution Module (AIM) on the NCP website.
- The Sailor selected course and tuition information for their application from the My Education course and tuition pick lists.
- All Navy requirements are met (training, counseling, EAOS, no missing grades, etc.)
- The application is command approved after the Sailor submits it in My Education.

"Once the application process is complete, My Education automatically sends the service member a link to their My Education Module to locate and print the authorization voucher for signing and delivery to the AI," said Williams. "Sailors will still need to enroll in courses with their AI."

Questions about the TA/NCPACE DL application process can be handled by the NCVEC or online via the NCP website.

NCVEC hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST Monday - Friday and may be reached by calling (877) 838-1659 or DSN 492-4684. The URL for the NCP website is www.navycollege.navy.mil/index.htm.

In addition to the NCP website and NCVEC, the NCP Mobile Application offers access to the NCP planning tools, including required training and the counseling scheduler. Sailors can download the app from the Apple or Google Play store at no cost. Search 'NCP App' in the stores.