Command Approver Checklist

Command Approver Certification Criteria
All command approvers should be familiar with the criteria to determine a Sailor’s eligibility to receive TA funding prior to granting a command endorsement of the TA request.

Eligible Requirements:

1. OFF-DUTY EDUCATION WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY
   1. Sailor will have time to pursue an off-duty education, balance military obligations, and is successfully progressing or has completed professional qualifications.
   2. Courses funded by Tuition Assistance or NCPACE MUST be completed while on active duty.
   3. Sailors may be enrolled in up to a maximum of two concurrent courses. Required laboratory courses with unique course identification numbers are exempt from this limit. OPNAVINST 1560.9B.
   4. Per OPNAVINST 1560.9B, all enlisted personnel must have a minimum of three years of service before becoming eligible to use TA or NCPACE funding for courses. This may not be waived.
   5. Officers with a minimum of 8 years of prior enlisted Active Duty service (Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, Coast Guard) including limited duty officers (LDO) and chief warrant officers (CWO) are eligible to use TA or NCPACE at all officer ranks. All other become eligible upon promotion to O-3. OPNAVINST 1560.9B.
   6. Active Component (AC) and Training and Administration of Reserves (TAR) enlisted Sailors with less than 16 years of service must have at least 6 months remaining from the official course start date until their end of active obligated service (EAOS) or as extended. OPNAVINST 1560.9B.


2. NCPACE
   1. For NCPACE - Must be assigned to a type 2 or 4 UIC, TAD to a type 2 or 4 UIC or an IA/OSA/GSA (serving OCONUS) for the duration of the term requested.


3. ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBLE, PHYSICAL FITNESS ASSESSMENT and RECOMMENDED FOR ADVANCEMENT
   1. Advancement eligible Sailors must have taken and passed their most recent advancement exam (may not be waived). Sailors voluntarily choosing not to take the exam are ineligible for TA/NCPACE. COs/OICs may waive participation until the next advancement cycle if Sailor missed exam due to factors outside of their control.
   2. Sailors shall have passed the most recent physical fitness assessment or been medically waived from most recent PRT. If medically waived, must have still passed the body composition assessment. COs may approve TA for Sailor who subsequently pass a mock physical readiness test or body composition assessment before the next cycle. Pregnant and post-partum Sailors remain eligible until required to participate. COs may approve TA for Sailors placed on limited duty before being able to participate in an official or mock physical readiness test or body composition assessment.
   3. Sailors must receive individual trait marks of 3.0 or greater on their most recent observed performance evaluation or fitness report.
   4. Sailors must be recommended for promotion or advancement on their most recent evaluation/fitness report.

Ineligible Requirements:

1. NON-JUDICIAL OR COURT MARTIAL, APPELLATE LEAVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION
   1. When convicted at a special or general court-martial and sentenced to a punitive discharge or confinement.
   2. When found guilty at a summary court martial or awarded non-judicial punishment in the previous twelve months.
   3. Sailors on appellate leave.
   4. Sailors pending administrative separation.


2. ENROLLED IN NAVY TRAINING OR EDUCATION PROGRAMS
   1. Sailors participating in initial skills training or in a duty-under-instruction (DUINS) status.
   2. Sailors participating in a Navy education program such as, but not-limited to, Graduate Education Voucher, Advanced Education Voucher, and any Navy-sponsored scholarship program.
   3. Sailors enrolled in an officer accession program involving full-time instruction at a civilian institution.
   4. Sailors participating in U.S. Naval Community College (USNCC) may not receive TA funding if the term overlaps with the USNCC term
   5. Sailors may not receive TA and NCPACE funding if they have not reimbursed the government for previously funded courses that were not successfully completed. OPNAVINST 1560.9B

Reservist Requirements:

1. ENLISTED RESERVISTS
   1. Must be on active duty orders, have at least 6 months remaining from the course start date until the end date of AD orders and the official term end date must occur before the end date on their orders OPNAVINST 1560.9B.
   2. Meets all other TA or NCPACE eligibility requirements.
   3. For NCPACE - Must be assigned to a type 2 or 4 UIC, TAD to a type 2 or 4 UIC.


2. OFFICER RESERVISTS
   1. Must be on long-term orders which allow them to fulfill the 2 year statutory Active Duty service obligation per 10 USC section 2007 without a subsequent set of orders.
   2. Meets all other TA or NCPACE eligibility requirements.
   3. For NCPACE - Must be assigned to a type 2 or 4 UIC, TAD to a type 2 or 4 UIC.

NOTE: Tuition Assistance applications must be command approved (electronically via MyNavy Education) between 120 and 7 days prior to the institution's published term start date IAW OPNAVINST 1560.9B.