DoD issues statement on MyCAA program

WASHINGTON (WAVY) - Following days of silence after the abrupt suspension of the popular Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) program, Tommy T. Thomas, the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy, issued a statement Wednesday:

"In the days following the announcement of a temporary pause of the Career Advancement Account - MyCAA - we heard the concerns expressed by many program participants.

"For those of you who have approved financial account documents, your documents will be honored. We encourage those spouses who were in the process of developing their career plans to continue to do so.

"An operational assessment of the program had been planned after the first year of operation. The pause announced last week resulted from an unforeseen, unprecedented spike in enrollments. In January 2010, MyCAA applications increased six-fold and that trend continued in February. These applications were overwhelming the system intended to support the program and almost reached the budget threshold. Please let me assure you that this temporary pause was done in the best interest of all. We are looking to ensure the viability of this valuable program.

"We are reviewing all procedures, financial assistance documents and the overall program. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We expect to announce our long-term strategies very soon."

Tommy T. Thomas
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense
Military Community and Family Policy

MyCAA, which offers military wives and husbands up to $6,000 to pay for career training, certifications, and degree programs, was suspended on Feb. 16th. At the time, officials said they wanted to conduct a "top-to-bottom" review of the program's services.

The abrupt nature of the suspension combined with the lack of details concerning the reasons for the halt prompted many spouses who applied for, or were in the program, to contact WAVY.com.

According to defense officials, nearly 133,000 military spouses have applied for the program since it launched last March. To date, about 98,000 spouses are enrolled in courses or have been approved for financial assistance.

The program offers spouses assistance with training, job readiness and employment and career services. Through the program, spouses can receive financial assistance to pursue education and training, free career counseling and access to military-friendly employers.