Spouses and Dependents

Federal Benefit Summary:

Chapter 35: The Department of Veterans Affairs processes Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance GI Bill® (Chapter 35) benefits. To fully determine your eligibility for this benefit, please contact the Department of Veteran Affairs directly at 888.442.4551.  Chapter 35 provides assistance to dependents of military service members with a service-connected, permanent, and total disability or who were MIA, POW or died in connection with a service-related disability. Students are paid directly by the VA on a monthly basis while attending courses.

Fry Scholarship:  The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship is for children and spouses of certain Veterans.  If your parent or spouse died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, while serving in the Armed Forces, or was a member of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability, please click the name of the scholarship to go to va.gov for more information and a comparison of Fry scholarship to Chapter 35, as they are mutually exclusive. You may have only one.

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship: The Edith Nourse Rogers Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Scholarship allows eligible Veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill or dependents using the Fry Scholarship to get added benefits. Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply by clicking the name of the scholarship to go to va.gov for more information.

State Benefit Summary:

Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP)

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) provides education benefits to spouses and children of military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who served in covered military combat and has been rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of such service. Military service includes service in the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, the Virginia National Guard, or the Reserves. Armed conflict includes military operations against terrorism, on a peace-keeping mission, as the result of a terrorist act, or any armed conflict.

The purpose of VMSDEP is to promote access to high-quality education at Virginia’s public colleges and universities for survivors and dependents of qualified Veterans. Benefits are available for up to 4 academic years. Download the VMSDEP flyer here. Apply online at www.dvs.virginia.gov.

NOTE: A Veteran’s 90-100% permanent disability must have been directly caused by the Veteran’s involvement in military operations: 1) against terrorism; 2) on a peacekeeping mission; 3) as a result of a terrorist act; 4) an armed conflict. The service connected disability cannot have incurred during active duty that coincides with, but was not the direct result of, one of the listed events or missions.

My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) for Spouses of Active Duty Military members.

MyCAA: MyCAA is a career development and employment assistance program sponsored by the Department of Defense.  Camp remains committed to the education of military members and their spouses. We’re an approved school for the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program. MyCAA allows military spouses to receive up to $4,000 in financial assistance for licenses, certificates, certifications or Associates Degrees (Excluding General Studies and Liberal Arts) necessary for gainful employment in high demand, high growth portable career fields.

Eligibility: Spouses of Active Duty Service Members:

• Pay Grade E-1 to E-6, W-1 to W-2, and O-1 to O-2
• Will complete education coursework while spouse is on Active Duty Title 10 Orders
• Includes spouses of activated National Guard and Reserve components in pay grades