All three San Diego Community College District colleges, as well as its Continuing Education campuses, will play a major role in the just-announced federal military spouse program, a three-year financial aid career advancement initiative that could be launched as early as Dec. 7 in the San Diego region.

City, Mesa and Miramar colleges offer the exact type of programs that Navy officials are encouraging spouses to become enrolled in. According to the Pentagon, the initiative's intent is to stimulate career development and preparation/college readiness for military spouses because, in large part, of the transient nature of military assignments. As a result, the financial aid program is designed to help military spouses train for high-growth, portable careers.

The initiative's targeted fields include teaching, health care, information technology, financial services and construction.

More than 150 two-year degree and certificate programs are offered at SDCCD colleges: City, Mesa and Miramar. This includes nursing, information technology, biotechnology, radiologic technology, automotive technology, accounting, building construction technology, graphic design, American Sign Language/Interpreting, manufacturing engineering technology and allied health care programs such as radiologic technology and dental assisting.

To accommodate active military and their spouses, they are eligible to enroll at the California resident fee, $20 per unit at City, Mesa and Miramar colleges. According to federal government news releases, military spouses may be eligible for up to $6,000 in financial aid for two years. The aid would cover tuition, books, necessary equipment and other expenses related to higher education.

Within the past two years, 2,377 active military and 1,537 military dependents or spouses applied for admission to City, Mesa and Miramar colleges, according to SDCCD records.

Meanwhile, SDCCD Continuing Education offers short-term programs including welding, business information technology, auto mechanics, auto upholstery and auto body and paint, commercial printing, welding and blueprint reading. Largely a career development and college preparation institution, Continuing Education has six campuses and an estimated 200 satellite locations throughout San Diego.

The Navy estimates that there are 43,000 military spouses within the San Diego region.

"The community colleges in the San Diego area have been very supportive in meeting all of the Navy's educational needs,” stated Raymond Sayre, Director, Navy College Naval Base San Diego. "We look forward to a long partnership and assistance in meeting the needs of our Sailors and their family members."

For more information on SDCCD programs, go to www.sdccd.edu. For the military program, go to www.MilSpouse.org
For a Power Point brief on the on the Military Spouse Career Advancement Program click here CAA Rev1.ppt

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