Destroyer, Coast Guard cutter to dock in Mobile Friday Updated Feb 25, 2019; Posted Feb 25, 2019 The destroyer USS James E. Williams will visit Mobile for Mardi Gras 2019, the U.S. This page contains a list of United States Coast Guard stations in the United States within the United States Coast Guard's nine districts. There are currently many stations located throughout the country along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Ocean and Great Lakes.
The U.S. Navy destroyer USS James E. Williams and the Coast Guard cutter Manowar are scheduled to dock in Mobile on Friday as part of the city’s Mardi Gras celebrations.
The USS James E. Williams' visit, as previously reported, is part of a full slate of Navy Week activities that start Wednesday. A schedule of events appears below.
The ship, designated DDG 95, is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built by Ingalls in Pascagoula. It is named in honor of a South Carolina native who served during the Korean and Vietnam wars, becoming the most highly decorated enlisted man in the history of the U.S. Navy, according to the ship’s official website. He received the Medal of Honor in 1968 and went on to serve as a U.S. Marshal.
Fog and fanfare: Destroyer USS Mitscher arrives in Mobile for Mardi Gras
It's rare for a U.S. Navy warship to arrive in a friendly port and immediately come under bombardment, but it happened Friday in Mobile: The USS Mitscher had barely docked when people started throwing Mardi Gras beads to the sailors aboard.
According to information released Monday by the Alabama State Port Authority, the destroyer is expected to arrive at Pier 2 late Friday morning, with a welcoming ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m. Pier 2 is just to the north of the Arthur R Outlaw Mobile Convention Center; gates will open at 9:30 a.m.
Public tours will be offered 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday through Tuesday, March 2-5.
Also on Friday the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Manowar will dock at the GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico. It will be open to public tours from 8 a.m. to p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3.
Planned Navy Week activities include a wide range of school appearances, speaking visits and other functions not open to the general public. The following highlights emphasize events that are open to general interest. More information can be found at https://www.outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks/Mobile/.
Wednesday, February 27
8 a.m.: Rear Admiral Ronald Fritzemeier meeting and proclamation with Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson.
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Navy Community Service Project with MLK Avenue Redevelopment Corp.
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Activities at GulfQuest Maritime Museum including: USS Constitution Sailors, Navy Meteorology/Oceanography, Navy History and Heritage Command
Thursday, February 28
4 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team members will conduct a diving demonstration at Mardi Gras Park.
Friday, March 1
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.: U.S. Navy at Gulf Coast Exploreum – various events, including: Navy Oceanography and Meteorology
4 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team members will conduct a diving demonstration at Mardi Gras Park.
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Navy Band Southeast’s brass band will perform a concert at Mardi Gras Park.
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Navy Band Southeast’s rock band will perform as part of the Crewe of Columbus Parade.
Saturday, March 2
8 a.m. – 11 a.m.: USS James E. Williams will be open for public tours at Pier 2, adjacent to the Convention Center. Additional displays on the pier include Navy Meteorology/Oceanography and Navy History and Heritage Command.
11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team members will conduct a diving demonstration at Mardi Gras Park.
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: USS Constitution Color Guard and other U.S. Navy Sailors to participate in Saraland Mardi Gras Parade.
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: USS James E. Williams crew and other U.S. Navy Sailors to participate in the Floral Parade.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.: USS James E. Williams will be open for public tours at Pier 2, adjacent to the Convention Center. Additional displays on the pier include Navy Meteorology/Oceanography and Navy History and Heritage Command.
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.: Navy Band Southeast’s parade band and other U.S. Navy Sailors will participate in the Mystics of Time Parade.
Sunday, March 3
8 a.m. – 11 a.m.: USS James E. Williams will be open for public tours at Pier 2, adjacent to the Convention Center. Additional displays on the pier include Navy Meteorology/Oceanography and Navy History and Heritage Command.
12 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team members will conduct a diving demonstration at Mardi Gras Park.
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: USS James E. Williams crew and other U.S. Navy Sailors to participate in the Floral Parade.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.: USS James E. Williams will be open for public tours at Pier 2, adjacent to the Convention Center. Additional displays on the pier include Navy Meteorology/Oceanography and Navy History and Heritage Command.
1 p.m. – 6 p.m.: Navy Band Southeast’s brass band will perform concerts throughout the afternoon at Mardi Gras Park.
2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.: USS Constitution Color Guard and other U.S. Navy Sailors will participate in the Joe Cain Parade.
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Navy Band Southeast’s rock band and other U.S. Navy Sailors will participate in the Le Krewe of Bienville Parade.
Monday, March 4
8 a.m. – 11 a.m.: USS James E. Williams will be open for public tours at Pier 2, adjacent to the Convention Center. Additional displays on the pier include Navy Meteorology/Oceanography and Navy History and Heritage Command.
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: U.S. Navy Sailors will conduct a community service project at Feeding the Gulf Coast Food Bank.
10 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team members will conduct a diving demonstration at Mardi Gras Park.
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: USS James E. Williams crew and other U.S. Navy Sailors to participate in the King Felix III Parade.
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Navy Band Southeast’s parade band and other U.S. Navy Sailors will participate in the Floral Parade.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.: USS James E. Williams will be open for public tours at Pier 2, adjacent to the Convention Center. Additional displays on the pier include Navy Meteorology/Oceanography and Navy History and Heritage Command.
7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. USS Constitution Color Guard and other U.S. Navy Sailors will participate in the Order of Doves Parade.
Tuesday, March 5
8 a.m. – 11 a.m.: USS James E. Williams will be open for public tours at Pier 2, adjacent to the Convention Center.
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.: U.S. Navy Sailors will conduct a community service project at Feeding the Gulf Coast Food Bank.
10 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team members will conduct a diving demonstration at Mardi Gras Park.
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Navy Band Southeast’s parade band and other U.S. Navy Sailors will participate in the King Felix Parade.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. USS James E. Williams will be open for public tours at Pier 2, adjacent to the Convention Center.
Education benefits are one of the military’s most popular and valuable benefits. Using Tuition Assistance or the GI Bill to obtain a degree can not only improve your military career prospects, but it can improve your lifetime earning potential. In fact, college education benefits are one of the top reasons people join the military.
The GI Bill is the most popular and well-known military education benefit. But it is mostly associated with taking college courses after leaving the military. Military members also have the option of using Tuition Assistance (TA) benefits while serving on active duty to take college courses.
Using TA can be a great way to get a head start on your education. It’s also what I used to complete my degree while serving on active duty in the Air Force.
Each branch of the military offers Tuition Assitance benefits. The DoD authorizes each branch to provide education benefits of up to $250 per semester hour, for up to $4,500 in TA each year. However, each military branch can authorize different amounts.
Today, we will cover the Coast Guard Tuition Assistance Program, including eligiblity, benefits amounts, and other information you need to know.
FY 2019 Coast Guard Tuition Assistance Benefits
The Coast Guard updated their Tuition Assitance benefits, effective October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019. The rates after that will depend on the approved Coast Guard budget.
Coast Guard Tuition Assistance Rates
The Coast Guard will fund tuition cost not to exceed $250.00 per semester hour, $166.67 per quarter hour, or $16.67 per clock hour.
TA has an annual maximum or “cap” of $2,250.
The annual cap falls within each fiscal year (1 October to 30 September).
Once the member uses the maximum allotted amount per year, no waivers will be granted for additional money.
The established TA cap does not mean the Coast Guard guarantees to pay the full amount. Budget constraints may require further TA policy changes.
See below for more ways to pay for your college education.
What Does Coast Guard TA Cover?
Tuition Assistace is available for undergraduate & graduate courses up to Master’s Degrees. TA covers tuition up to $250 per semester hour, $166.66 per quarter hour, or $16.67 per clock hour.
TA cannot be used for books, fees, or other non-tuition expenses. Any other college expense not listed as tuition is considered a fee (e.g. lab, graduation, internet usage, etc.).
Schools authorized to receive TA funding must participate and have a signed MOU with the DoD. The authorized school list can be found at the following website: www.dodmou.com.
Reimbursement of TA will be required from the service member if the student does not successfully complete the course(s). For the purpose of reimbursement, a successful course completion is defined as a grade of a C or higher for undergraduate courses, a B or higher for graduate courses, and a pass for pass/fail grades.
Eligible Study Programs
Tuition Assistance is only available for Coast Guardsmen seeking their first degree at the Associate, Bachelor, and Masters levels. TA will not be granted for coursework at the same level or lower than a degree already possessed by the student. In other words, you can use TA to achieve an Associates or Bachelors Degree if you do not already have a degree at that level, but you can’t use TA to achieve a second degree at the same level.
TA can also be used for the following programs:
High School Completion Programs:
Tuition for approved high school completion programs will be fully funded for personnel who have not been awarded a high school or equivalency diploma.
Developmental Courses:
Developmental courses may be authorized if required by the Institution prior to taking a higher-level course.
Many colleges require a developmental course in Math, English and reading if the member has been out of school for several years.
Usually these courses (usually numbered starting with zero “0” as the first digit) are “not transferable”
Coast Guard Tuition Assistance Eligibility
Tuition Assistance eligibility has undergone a few changes as well, similar to those recently enacted by the Air Force and Marines.
TA is available to Coast Guardsmen who meet the following criteria:
Member must be on Active Duty or a Reservist on long-term orders greater than 180 days,
COs, OICs or first O-6/GS-15 in the chain-of-command are expected to ensure members meet the following eligibility criteria:
(1) Satisfactory progress toward completion of unit quals,
(2) Satisfactory progress toward watch station quals,
(3) Satisfactory proficiency of craft, and
(4) Satisfactory conduct during the six months prior.
Service requirements – Enlisted
Active duty enlisted members must meet all requirements set forth in the latest ALCOAST or standing policy in order to utilize TA.
Active duty members must complete the TA authorized course(s) on or prior to RELAD, discharge or retirement.
If member is going to RELAD and provides documentation showing that he/she will be in the SELRES, then TA authorized course(s) may begin in active duty status and be completed in SELRES status.
Service requirements – Officer
Active duty officers must meet all requirements set forth in the latest ALCOAST or standing policy in order to utilize TA.
Lifetime Learning Credits:
Lifetime credit hour limits for TA are as follows: 130 semester hours for undergraduate work and 40 semester hours for graduate work. Once a member has reached credit hour limits, TA will no longer be authorized regardless if the member has obtained a degree or not.
Who is not eligible for Tuition Assistance benefits:
According to the All Hands Blog, the official Coast Guard Workforce site, “Tuition assistance benefits will not be extended to civilian employees, Coast Guard Reservists in a drilling status and those active duty Coast Guardsmen pursuing a graduate degree or another degree at the same level which they already possess. Additionally, tuition assistance will not be available to active duty members who do not demonstrate satisfactory progress toward watch station qualifications, sufficient proficiency of craft and good conduct.”
Here is the new Coast Guard Tuition Assistance Policy.
Alternative Funding Sources for Coast Guard Members
Any form of Tuition Assistance benefits is a great benefit and can help you achieve your education goals more quickly. However, with the rising cost of tuition, the $2,250 annual cap on Coast Guard TA benefits doesn’t go very far.
These TA limits don’t mean Coast Guardsmen won’t be able to achieve their educational goals. It just means they need to be a little more creative when planning their coursework.
Coast Guard members may be eligible to complete coursework or earn college credits through other means. For example, you can also view the Coast Guard Education and Training Quota Management Command (ETQC) website funding and reimbursement programs for education expenses.
In addition, Coast Guardsmen are still eligible to take CLEP and DANTES courses. These credit by examination courses are free and offer college credit upon passing. These exams played a large role when I achieved my degree while on active duty.
Many institutions of higher education also offer credits for military service, potentially eliminating some required coursework en route to achieving a degree.
Additional funding sources for college credits include utilizing the Montgomery GI Bill, Post-9/11 GI Bill, scholarships, grants, and other ways to pay for college.
Non-Coast Guard (federal and state) sources for need-based or merit-based financial aid can be found at https://studentaid.ed.gov (including Pell grants, scholarships, and loans).