Army College Fund (ACF)

The Army College Fund (ACF) is a benefit that increases the monthly payout of the Montgomery GI Bill (the ACF can not be combined with the Post 9/11 GI Bill per the latest Human Resources Command enlistment incentive bulletin). The Army College Fund is only offered for military occupational specialties (MOS) that are suffering shortages or are deemed a critical MOS. Furthermore, your only opportunity to receive the Army College Fund is by getting it in your initial enlistment contract.

The complete eligibility criteria:

  • No Prior Service
  • Must have enlisted as active duty from July 1, 1985 to the present
  • Hold a high school diploma (no GED equivalent)
  • Scored 50 or higher on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (main score from the ASVAB)
  • Enlist in an MOS eligible for the Army College Fund at the time of enlistment
  • Enroll and participate in the Montgomery GI Bill
  • Have the Army College Fund listed on your enlistment contract

The last eligibility criteria is perhaps the most important. If the Army College Fund is not promised in writing on your enlistment contract, you will not receive the benefit. And of course you would not be able to get the Army College Fund on your enlistment contract unless you met the other conditions regardless. Department of Army (DA) form 3286-66 verifies entitlement to ACF and would be included as part of the enlistment contract.

Eligible Military Occupational Specialties until 3 January 2012 (early supersession possible)

The MOSs currently eligible for the Army College Fund are separated into levels 2 and 3 for payout classification. Level 1 is not eligible since the only MOS identified as Level 1 receives a very generous $40,000 enlistment bonus and is not eligible for other enlistment incentives.

Level 2 eligible MOSs: 35W (MOS 35W is a "gateway" to MOS 35N or 35P), 89D

Level 3 eligible MOSs: 14G, 14H, 25R, 25S

Army College Fund Payout

Previously, the Army College Fund was listed as a lump sum which included the Montgomery GI Bill entitlement. When the Montgomery GI Bill rate increased, this ate away at the actual benefit received via the Army College Fund. Army Human Resources Command now chooses to list the Army College Fund incentive as the amount received each month (for up to 36 months of usage). Choosing the ACF incentive also halves the enlistment bonus on offer except for 2 year enlistments, where no enlistment bonus is offered either way. The payout is as follows:

LEVEL 2 MOSs
3 YR 4 YR 5 YR 6 YR
1,000EB + 250ACF 3,000EB + 350ACF 4,000EB + 650ACF 7,000EB + 950ACF

2000EB + 250ACF means you receive a $2,000 enlistment bonus(EB) and $250 a month for the Army College Fund (up to a maximum of 36 months).

Forfeiture criteria for the ACF

  • Failure to finish MOS training or to remain qualified in the MOS.
  • Failing to complete their initial enlistment term (these soldiers will receive a pro-rated portion of the ACF as long as they are eligible for the GI Bill entitlement)

PLEASE NOTE: it is very tedious work weeding this information out of Army Human Resources Command so please do not copy this information. If you wish to share it with others, please link to this page at Army-Portal.com.

Article Last Modified: May 10, 2011

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